fridayman
Well-Known Member
After converting my truck to a single battery on Sunday, it ran fine for a couple of days, until this morning... Turned the key, and it sounded like the starter made half a turn before it stopped and the dash lights just dimmed. Several further attempts sounded exactly like a flat battery (with dash lights dimming). When I tried to jump it off the batteries that I removed at the weekend, it made no difference so I just assume that something had drained the Odyssey and it was so flat that the original batteries were being pulled down too. So I stuck it on a charger (without testing the battery...). Several hours later I went back and tested the battery - 13.5V. So tried to start it but when I turn the key the dash lights dimm and nothing else happens. After a few goes I tested the battery again, which stayed around 12.6 - 12.7V (even after a few more attempts). So I tested the original batteries and both are 12.6V. Then I tried starting it in neutral - no joy. Back into park and still nothing. Then after a few more attempts it started rattling very loudly when I turn the key. So I don't think the battery is the problem.
Where do I start to figure out what is wrong? Could it be that fitting fatter cables has pushed something that was nearing the end of its life, over the edge? Should I be looking at the starter? A relay somewhere? Anything else?
While I'm very glad it happened at home, the truck is parked on a down slope with its nose between 2 gate pillars. Not ideal for working on the starter because I can't get the wheel off...
Where do I start to figure out what is wrong? Could it be that fitting fatter cables has pushed something that was nearing the end of its life, over the edge? Should I be looking at the starter? A relay somewhere? Anything else?
While I'm very glad it happened at home, the truck is parked on a down slope with its nose between 2 gate pillars. Not ideal for working on the starter because I can't get the wheel off...
(usually by deap discharge- and gel batteries really don't like deep discharge). Not giving enough current can leaad to sulfation- the way these chargers seem to work is by varying the voltage, ampage and some sort of frequency (whidh i really don't understand as its DC not AC). Without enough juice the battery is constantly trickled charged which i beleive leads to sulfation. what you want is the battery to discharge for a while, then give it a HUGE whack of electricity to reverse the sulfation and bring it back to health. Without enough charge you never get the battery back to health. 
