Keystone State Thread

In the middle of repair season on my '93 Volvo 240 wagon. I've got the timing belt off, water pump off, 3 front oil seals replaced, new alternator in place, and am ready to reinstal the new pump/belt/tensioner, etc. somewhere in the next few days.

Battery topic... somebody give me a quick and dirty advice here. How can I test my battery to make sure its up to snuff before actually starting the car up and burning out the brand new alternator (which was the worst part of this whole job to do and I thought it would be like 10 minutes because everything was already out of the way!)? Maybe if somebody could please pass me a pic of a tool and how to use it to test my battery?

 

And I caught and fixed the spelling error I just made (test my battery... not test my batter). Nobody that saw that post a pic of someone licking cake batter off a spatula.

 

I just watched this, about testing batteries. Any votes as to whether that's sufficient enough tutorial without being completely wrong about some things?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COJr7OB23Hw

 

That's pretty much all you can do for a battery. Otherwise, parts store. ChrisFix is pretty good

 

This is essentially how i diagnosed my bad voltage regulator on my bike. Looks like it should give you a good idea anyhow. I'm definitely not a mechanic, but i can't see or have ever heard of your concern for frying a new alternator. As long as your leads are not shorted, then there should be zero risk to run with a low battery. I don't know anyone that charges a battery after putting a new alternator on to see if it worked. Just my .02

 

Thanks guys. A part of me wonders whether a parts store (or the DEKA factory outlet round the corner here where I buy my batteries, as "seconds") would just say its bad to make a buck? Might be untrusting of me, sorry. So, I like DIY as much as possible. This battery was a new "seconds" from this summer. So I'd like to think its still good, but I assume a bad alternator can kill a battery fairly fast.

Armyhater458, the alternator comes with a huge caution tag on it you have to manually remove so you cannot miss it... that you must have a good, or new battery to start with so you don't kill the new alternator. I'm not a mechanic either, but I have heard of the topic before I started this job, and a quick googling kinda confirms its a thing. I'll just leave it at that cuz I'm not a mechanic.

 

I guess good to know for future reference.

 

what GFM I must of missed it , ive been absent for a while ?

 

The Ford Alternators were known for taking out the Diodes trying to charge a discharged battery !

When installing a new or rebuilt alternator the battery should be charged with a charger prior to starting the engine.

Remember The Alternator is not meant charge a discharged battery

 

Hey Fellas! Im actually going to be out on Lake Harmony this weekend. Anyone know any good trails in the surrounding area?

 

Because the Post office sucks and only works a one plac . Slow.

 

She just ate 4 ounces which puts me at 8 for the day. Needs to be at 21 then hopefully the next day we can bring her home. Taking a nap though although she really wants to roll over and can’t cause if her arm thingy. Anyone know how to get a 5 month old to eat? Maybe I’ll go outside and get her some always works for me

 

Don’t bring that up, it’s like saying Voldemort. @HolyHandGrenade started a GFM for @blackout14 who is having some insurance issues with his daughters helicopter ride.

At this point you may have to leave unmarked bills on his neighbors doorstep if you want to donate.

really no reason to delete this one guys

 

Like I just posted in the NJ thread



Yeah. Looks like I lost my temper a bit prematurely... which is so unlike me.

They could have sent me a PM letting me know why it was taken down and given me an opportunity to do it right.

Or... just read the story and warned me. I mean, it’s obviously not a fund raiser for a lift.

 

It’s not like @blackout14 is some smuck with 14 post, well I guess he is now, yeah contact you and say what are you doing, who is this. He deleted his account with 40,000+ post he is no one now.

 

You did good Tim, you did good. 1675$ not bad.

 

It’s like when Jen and obo wan are fighting the droids in phantom menace. They have shield generators you can’t win.

I’m going back to real life and decide if I want to do hell’s revenge solo.

Did you get in the canyon lands any?

 

those moccasins are old and wet throw that shit out.