please help i need to wheel again!
- Thread starter ConstantFix
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Gerdo
New member
You britts crack me up.
You have multiple issues.
1800 watts at 12 volts is close to 180 amps. The 150 amp alt is not going to keep up with the draw. Plus the other draw of headlights, radio, fans, marker lights, etc.
Wire required for the 180 plus amps is at least #2 and that is pushing it. a constant draw requires a 00 wire.
You do want positive to positive and negative to negative. It sounds like you have that.
When you have two or more batteries in parallel must be the the exact same brand/model/type/and lot number. If not, the one with the lower voltage will try to charge of the one with the higher voltage (no matter how slight). This will cause the one that HAD the higher voltage to go lower and it will try to charge off the other. This is an endless cycle till both batteries are dead. Battery isolators are another option. Not your starting issue at this point.
When did the non start issue start?
It sounds like a ground issue for most of your problems.
You have multiple issues.
1800 watts at 12 volts is close to 180 amps. The 150 amp alt is not going to keep up with the draw. Plus the other draw of headlights, radio, fans, marker lights, etc.
Wire required for the 180 plus amps is at least #2 and that is pushing it. a constant draw requires a 00 wire.
You do want positive to positive and negative to negative. It sounds like you have that.
When you have two or more batteries in parallel must be the the exact same brand/model/type/and lot number. If not, the one with the lower voltage will try to charge of the one with the higher voltage (no matter how slight). This will cause the one that HAD the higher voltage to go lower and it will try to charge off the other. This is an endless cycle till both batteries are dead. Battery isolators are another option. Not your starting issue at this point.
When did the non start issue start?
It sounds like a ground issue for most of your problems.
ConstantFix
New member
i appreciate your reply.
as for the alternator not being sufficient for my rig, thanks. ill deal with that later. maybe see how it goes. afterall, i rearely use all 1800 watts at the same time. the non start happened about a week ago, but thats how long ive been struggling wiht this issue. ive redone the contacts over a month ago and have been working perfect, so id rule them out. ive redone all wiring bwteen the starter, batter, alternator, fuse box. all of it. i see that you mentioned 2 guage or even 0.0 ill think of that another time i can get 50 feet of 4 guage for 23.00!!! THE problem is so weird. i tried boosting the car with the wifes rig as well, but the lights on the instrument cluster are still dim. and the fact that its only a couple of them that dim, not all of them.
i think i forgot to add that my accessories do not function properly. though they will come on they will be rediculously dim.
again i appreciate your feedback mate
as for the alternator not being sufficient for my rig, thanks. ill deal with that later. maybe see how it goes. afterall, i rearely use all 1800 watts at the same time. the non start happened about a week ago, but thats how long ive been struggling wiht this issue. ive redone the contacts over a month ago and have been working perfect, so id rule them out. ive redone all wiring bwteen the starter, batter, alternator, fuse box. all of it. i see that you mentioned 2 guage or even 0.0 ill think of that another time i can get 50 feet of 4 guage for 23.00!!! THE problem is so weird. i tried boosting the car with the wifes rig as well, but the lights on the instrument cluster are still dim. and the fact that its only a couple of them that dim, not all of them.
i think i forgot to add that my accessories do not function properly. though they will come on they will be rediculously dim.
again i appreciate your feedback mate
Gerdo
New member
#4 gauge wire is thinner that #2.
I would start by disconnecting things. I would disconnect all of the lights and accessories off the batteries and see if you have the starting and dim light issues. Then I would disconnect the second and third batteries to see if you have issues. I would try to get back to stock, or close. If anything above fixes the issues, start connecting things back up and keep trying. When the issues reappear, then you know what is causing the issues.
I would start by disconnecting things. I would disconnect all of the lights and accessories off the batteries and see if you have the starting and dim light issues. Then I would disconnect the second and third batteries to see if you have issues. I would try to get back to stock, or close. If anything above fixes the issues, start connecting things back up and keep trying. When the issues reappear, then you know what is causing the issues.
ConstantFix
New member
thanks alot guys. i didnt realize i posted this thread twice so this one i wasnt paying attention too. got it sorted out. my stock starter was pooched. (said the *expert* at autozone) so i got a new one. threw it in and still had nothing. THEN remembered theres two grounds to the engine, one on the top valve cover and one just above the oil pan. that one i had removed when i was redoing all my wiring. i forgot to do a ground there. that was my issue. starter wasnt grounding. but thats to all
much appreciated help.
much appreciated help.
downpour11
New member
Glad you got it figured out! So now the least you can do is get another picture of all your light output for us with those vampire killers
ConstantFix
New member
spoke too soon FFS!!!
well god bless my ability to fix any god darn thing! so the starter and alternator seem to be working fine. cranks right up, i can disconnect the batteries and the engine still runs fine...but doesnt pass a load test on the ALT. i cant turn everyting inside on. i cant have the interior vent fans, rtadio, headlights and wipers on. i can barely have my headlights on and my guages start becoming possessed. so is it that maybe this alternator is no good?
well god bless my ability to fix any god darn thing! so the starter and alternator seem to be working fine. cranks right up, i can disconnect the batteries and the engine still runs fine...but doesnt pass a load test on the ALT. i cant turn everyting inside on. i cant have the interior vent fans, rtadio, headlights and wipers on. i can barely have my headlights on and my guages start becoming possessed. so is it that maybe this alternator is no good?
ConstantFix
New member
ive added two more grounds to the octopus. i grounded from the tranny to the frame and a ground from the intake manifold to the battery...
ConstantFix
New member
Gerdo
New member
Hmmm
I would also replace the small gauge ground/negative stock wire. The one that connects the negative post of the battery to the body. It's about 6" long.
ConstantFix
New member
thanks gerdo. that ones been done long ago. i rerouted it down to the frame. im starting to ground everything straight to the frame to rule out possibilities
awpsome
New member
this sounds like a ground issue right off the bat.
you say you have 3 batteries and its probably that the car is running off what might seem like only the rear battery because after you load test and check the front two which seem to be connected correctly.
so maybe whats happening is that your WHOLE car is running off a really dead rear battery which you think is connected but may have lost connection to the front bank.
so easiest way to know before looking for an issue is to remove the rear battery ground connection completely and try to turn on the ignition again.
if you have no dash lights off the bat then i can bet that is the issue.
ive seen this happen to a friend before and we were stumped then later realized the entire car was running only off his secondary battery because the fuse blew between the front and rear bank.
so check it out and i can almost assure you if this is the issue your rear battery is completely shot and you will have to buy another.
nothing against you either but if i remember correctly your batteries in the front for both positive and negative you have used the same red colored wire.
this is fine but if anyone else works on your car or you make a mistake thinking one wire is positive versus negative this can back fire on your later.
try to get a black wire maybe or different color at least to help easily differentiate between positive and ground.
you say you have 3 batteries and its probably that the car is running off what might seem like only the rear battery because after you load test and check the front two which seem to be connected correctly.
so maybe whats happening is that your WHOLE car is running off a really dead rear battery which you think is connected but may have lost connection to the front bank.
so easiest way to know before looking for an issue is to remove the rear battery ground connection completely and try to turn on the ignition again.
if you have no dash lights off the bat then i can bet that is the issue.
ive seen this happen to a friend before and we were stumped then later realized the entire car was running only off his secondary battery because the fuse blew between the front and rear bank.
so check it out and i can almost assure you if this is the issue your rear battery is completely shot and you will have to buy another.
nothing against you either but if i remember correctly your batteries in the front for both positive and negative you have used the same red colored wire.
this is fine but if anyone else works on your car or you make a mistake thinking one wire is positive versus negative this can back fire on your later.
try to get a black wire maybe or different color at least to help easily differentiate between positive and ground.
ConstantFix
New member
Thanks alot. The third battery isnt wired with the olther two. As of now its been powering my rear facing light bar. Its being solar charged for now. Aventually i want to wire it parallel with the other two. Ive disconnected thr second battery and just ran it off the stock battery but the problem persists. Im almost positive its a ground somewhere because when i turn on half my lights (800 watts) , anda this is with the key off, they com on very dim and trigger some dash lights to come on for some reason lol. So im guessing my problem is a ground somewhere....but wherer!!!!!!
awpsome
New member
instead of adding or locating grounds, try remove ALL grounds attached to your battery bank and run straight the only necessities.
ground to block, to frame and to body.
positive to alt, positive to fuse box, and STOCK positions..
start there and try again if problem still persists you have a major problem.
ground to block, to frame and to body.
positive to alt, positive to fuse box, and STOCK positions..
start there and try again if problem still persists you have a major problem.
ConstantFix
New member
i was thinking we could be friends...until you said MAJOR PROBLEM lol
its just gotta be a ground somewhere. it acts like a ground.
Gerdo
New member
You MUST also have the body grounded. "The big three" are: body, frame, engine. All three MUST be grounded.
awpsome
New member
:hungry:
Did you try my method or are you still continuing to add grounds and lines everywhere?
Did you try my method or are you still continuing to add grounds and lines everywhere?
