ok tonight i got out of work late, around 8:30pm and it was 20degrees, when i went to go warm up my truck to let it run a couple mins it took like 4 times to start it, it was turning over not the starter but i thought it was the batery getting kinda low??? havent had this truck threw winter yet and looks like it has never had a batery change and i do run 2 7" off-road lights with it and a couple other things, could this be the prom just alow batery because it should start right up i put belden wire kit and platnum plugs so should be no prob.
if it is ill put my charger on and save some $$ for a Red Top optima

Thanx Nick

 

the cold really does it damage on batteries, especially old ones. if you still have a stock looking motorcraft battery in there, i would change it out before it leaves you stranded. go with the red top, you wont regret it

 

ok does that sound like a batery issue more than anything else?? i put good charge on it tomorrow while i snowblowing.

nick

 

yes but even charging it wont help, its at the end of its service life, and the cold weather will kill it, a battery has to work its hardest in the cold. seriously, if it hasnt been changed in the last 4 years or so, do it now before you get stuck somewhere. if you take to an auto parts store that can do a load test on it, it may catch the battery as bad, it cant hurt

 

ya i going ot test tomorrow i electrican ill check then prob order a red top on fri

Thanx Bob for ur help!

 

np, let us know

 

what shiuld it chow on my gauge ?? i saw on here befor but i wore houses not cars is 12v right

 

you need to do a load test, with the truck NOT running and all the accessories on, the stereo blasting, all the lights on, anything electronic, you should still have around 10.5-11 volts at least

if you take it to an autoparts store, they have a machine that can do a big load test on it. the nonload test doesnt show anything, like if you test the voltage with evetyhing off, even a bad battery can show 12v then, its under load thats important

 

i get it!!!! AND THANX AGAN!! lol u helped like twice in 5mins lol

 

ok i just checked the colts with my off-road lights radio blasting and every bell and wistle in there and it held steady at 11.6v so it must still be good, the batery isnt stock its actualy a Powervolt batery i never herd before, prob a blue light special from walmart lol, i also started it and its 18 degreese now and it did it once but not as bad, maby just the stupid gas but its from Mobil usualy good gas, any other things i could check??

Thanx!

 

if u have any doubts on the battery take it to ur local parts chain store and have them test the charging system.

quick test u can do is start the engine with a volt meter on the battery to see how much it is drawing down during initial start up. obviously u will need someone starting or watching.

that will show how much is being drawn off the battety during tart up and see if it has enough voltage to start. id just have the parts store test it, eaiser and quicker.

 

thanx i try that next, the batery thats in it now liks like a motorcicle batery its so SMALL!

thanx
Nick

 

if you look at the battery, there should be a number for cold cranking amps (CCA) whats that number?