mjwalfredo

So last night my battery cheap ass battery I bought in a pinch finally crapped out on me after almost four years. It's kind of funny actually, I bought the battery after getting stranded after camping at Foster Falls in below freezing temps with my girlfriend. Now, I am getting ready to go camping with just my girlfriend for the first time since then and the battery dies again! I think somebody is looking out for me by having it die right before we set off for the weekend this time.

Anyway, I dropped the cabbage to get a Diehard Platinum Size 35 and put it in on my lunch break. All I can say is, wow I really needed a new battery. It cranked like never before, the windows roll up and down like new and the stereo even sounds more full.

I do have a question on making sure this battery lasts as long as it should though. Should I be worried about my alternator? I mean, I know the battery lasted a good while for the amount of times I discharged it listening to music and the amount of wires I have running off of it. But, the truck is a 97 with 220k miles on it now. Also, the battery I replaced couldn't charge on a trickle charge more than a few minutes before it reported as being fully charged. I have a multimeter, could I use it to find out if the alternator working as it should?

__________________
-Marcus
1997 4Runner Limited 4x4, E-Locker, Bilstein HDs, Air Springs, Deckplate Mod, 265/75/16R Bridgestone Deuler A/T Revo

4Crawler

Check the battery voltage while the alternator is running and charging the battery:
- http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Proje...Alternator.htm

__________________
1985 Toyota 4Runner SR-5, 22REC engine, dual t-cases, 4.88 gears, dual ARBs, 33x10.50 BFGs.
r.c.brown@ieee.org
TruckEditor@tlca.org
Project: 4Crawler
4Crawler OffRoad
Gettin'Off 4WD Club

mjwalfredo

Thanks 4crawler, you are the man!

__________________
-Marcus
1997 4Runner Limited 4x4, E-Locker, Bilstein HDs, Air Springs, Deckplate Mod, 265/75/16R Bridgestone Deuler A/T Revo

mjwalfredo

Thanks for the link 4Crawler. The voltage seemed to fall within spec for the Alternator test according to my cheapie analog Radio Shack multimeter. I did a camping trip this weekend and the battery seems just a strong today as when I bought it on Friday.

EDIT: I just noticed the title, whoops! Supposed to be battery died last night. I must be seeing things that aren't there..

__________________
-Marcus
1997 4Runner Limited 4x4, E-Locker, Bilstein HDs, Air Springs, Deckplate Mod, 265/75/16R Bridgestone Deuler A/T Revo