Dead Battery help!!!!!!!

[66Sprint6]

Ok,
I FINALLY got things goin with the stang. Dan got it runnin to take to the exhaust shop. I took it over and picked it back up today. It sounds WICKED, but neways, it ran great but I could hear some squeeking, alternator probably, but then I shut it down at the bank and go in. When I come out, it wont even crank!!!! The lights wouldnt work except for the interior lights. Battery dead is what I think, I somehow got it started but later on it wouldnt do a thing. Is there any way that the squeeking coming from the alternator probably being loose could be connected to the dead battery? If it is that the alternator is loose, how do I tighten it, just loosen the top bolt on the braket and slide it out?? Also, how do I keep it from getting too tight etc. Any help would be awesome, I wanna get it goin for the weekdn guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matt

 

[61Futura]

If your battery has a shorted cell, it will work the alternator pretty hard which can squeal the belt if it is not tight enough. Unless you know electricity fairly well, I'd take that problem to a place like sears auto repair shop and have them test the electrical system. I believe it is still pretty cheap to have that tested.

 

[66Sprint6]

Ok,
So does that mean that there is no way its the alternator being loose? Man, I dont wanna take it anywhere because I dont have alot of money, but if thats what its gonna take then thats what Ill do. I was hoping for it to be the alternator tho, any other oppinions???
Matt

 

[strat1960s]

I would take the battery and alternator to a parts store that has free load testing. If my memory serves me right, Checkers does this. That last thing you want to get into is replacing parts in place of troubleshooting. That is an expensive way to fix a car.
Please let us know how it turns out.

Ted

 

[CoupeBoy]

*most* parts stores Checker/Schucks/Kragen/AutoZone/Advance Auto have mobile testers that can test your battery/alternator/starter on the vehicle. If you get lucky you might even run into a store that has the old testers that allow you to rule out the voltage regulator. They do this testing for free in hopes that they can sell you something. I would start with them and if they cant figure out anything then take it to a real shop and pay somebody to look it over.

Before you do though you should
1. check your cables, grounds and positives.
2. Make sure the battery isnt low on fluid
3. check the alt belt tension
4. check the connections on the alternator itself
5. check the starter cable and make sure that your motor/trans has a good ground from body to motor.

And you said that at some point it would not crank over but the interior light came on? What about other "features" (headlights/horn)?

-ron

 

[66Sprint6]

I tried to tighten my alternator, nothin. I tried again and again nothing. So I took it to a place my mom does the taxes for and got them to check it out. They replaced the battery, alternater and voltage regualtor. I still have a squeek but they say it sounds like its coming from the fuel pump. I will take it back tomorrow and let them fix that and then it should be real close to done! It runs soooo nice right now and man, its not the fastest thing Ive driven but it sure whoops how it used to run, and it still needs a final day of tuning etc!! Im excited
Matt

 

[kirkallen143]

Just for future references, to check to see if an altenator is working (this is on vehicles without alot of electronics...efi, computers,etc...) while the engine is running, remove the positve(+) lead to the battery and the engine should stay running. If it quits, the altenator is not producing enough voltage to run the engine.

Kirk Allen Jorden ' 73 bronco