theoldwizard1
Well-known member
New batteries but no one cleaned the terminals - NO/WEAK CRANK !
Voltage Drop, Do We Really Need To Know It!?
Voltage Drop, Do We Really Need To Know It!?
Real world example on why clean battery connections matter
- Thread starter theoldwizard1
- Start date
Scanner Danner, Sullivan and others really push the importance of performing a VD test for circuits. It really does save time and money for the technician.
Hopefully car manufacturers/engineers will adopt this practice and start writing it in their tech manuals
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hopefully car manufacturers/engineers will adopt this practice and start writing it in their tech manuals
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
zkdiesel
Well-known member
Always measure loaded circuit voltage, never open circuit. If it’s low then proceed with voltage drop testing to narrow it down
matt_i
Well-known member
LOL story, some years back a ferocious storm blew thru taking out the residential power. A neighbor was running around outside (atypical) messing with his generator. I was out seeing if there was a single shingle left on the house, and I asked him what was up.
His NG backup generator would not start. Some time between losing power and now, he had put in a new battery. He said the new battery was junk and had sent his wife to go get another. I look in and feel the B+ cable and its loose as a goose, can easily twist it around. I say, the B+ cable doesn't have a good connection, its missing a nut for the retention bolt! He says, that doesn't matter. (I said to myself Right!!!) and I said to him, Let me go grab a hex nut (he had a single carry box of all random bare bones tools, no mates, no sets, etc) I get back and tighten it up with a crescent wrench, and say, lets try it now. VROOOOOM! He immediately grabs his cell phone and dials his wife and says "WE DONT NEED THAT BATTERY"...
He then admitted to dropping the original hex nut down in the bottom of the thing where it couldn't be retrieved but was convinced it would all be good without that optional feature.
It still makes me laugh thinking about it.
His NG backup generator would not start. Some time between losing power and now, he had put in a new battery. He said the new battery was junk and had sent his wife to go get another. I look in and feel the B+ cable and its loose as a goose, can easily twist it around. I say, the B+ cable doesn't have a good connection, its missing a nut for the retention bolt! He says, that doesn't matter. (I said to myself Right!!!) and I said to him, Let me go grab a hex nut (he had a single carry box of all random bare bones tools, no mates, no sets, etc) I get back and tighten it up with a crescent wrench, and say, lets try it now. VROOOOOM! He immediately grabs his cell phone and dials his wife and says "WE DONT NEED THAT BATTERY"...
He then admitted to dropping the original hex nut down in the bottom of the thing where it couldn't be retrieved but was convinced it would all be good without that optional feature.
It still makes me laugh thinking about it.
when I was younger and a lot dumber I had to make a parking lot service truck call for a "crank but no start" on my car.
Young guy showed up, but instead of just giving me a jump, he pulled a battery brush out of his jacket pocket, took off the cable ends, cleaned the cables and posts, put it all back together and said "Lets try it now"
It was running within 2 revolutions.
He then told me it was his first week out of some school his boss had sent him where they had told him the 85% of roadside no starts were because of dirty terminals.
Young guy showed up, but instead of just giving me a jump, he pulled a battery brush out of his jacket pocket, took off the cable ends, cleaned the cables and posts, put it all back together and said "Lets try it now"
It was running within 2 revolutions.
He then told me it was his first week out of some school his boss had sent him where they had told him the 85% of roadside no starts were because of dirty terminals.
driftpin
Well-known member
hahahahaaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Always use your 'protection!!!!!' No STD's that-way!
you can try but can't beat the engineers with their snuts up their forehead...
This is something that happened to my Jetta.... note the second pic... the fuse did not blow, just the connection melted. due to heat and resistance from the dirty terminal cause by the fumes...
https://i.stack.imgur.com/R79QA.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160512/fccdc7f033a11646f6d3c78a654c80e3.jpg
This is something that happened to my Jetta.... note the second pic... the fuse did not blow, just the connection melted. due to heat and resistance from the dirty terminal cause by the fumes...
https://i.stack.imgur.com/R79QA.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160512/fccdc7f033a11646f6d3c78a654c80e3.jpg
Super Mech
Well-known member
When I owned a AAA station we would see this often. Customer installs his own battery in the dark and only sees the red cap on the positive terminal. After that they would call for a tow truck.
Fuse not blowing is not a surprise ? Correct ?
Fuses only protect in over current situation.
So it will NOT blow in a high resistance circuit failure.
We do understand that the fuse will not blow because the amperage draw was NOT excessive. The heating and melting is caused by excessive resistance ( poor connection) which heats up. No difference in a house fire caused by frayed extension cord or poor connection where there is overheating not over current.
Yes Common Problems on "Some" Generation of the VW.... Because some Genius decided that the top of the battery is a great place for the main fuse box.
When I first had that problem, I posted, people thought I was just making stuff up
10 years ago, waited till every year "other" people (not multiple of me) posting pics ...But it is in-line with the OP's title
.... sort of... in this cause you can't really "clean"