Battery meter at zero, changed battery and still nothing

Former4banger · November 15th, 2011, 03:13 PM

So I was driving home and noticed the volt meter really low. After a few minutes it was in the red, my stereo turned off and lights were dimming. I made it home and I just assumed my battery was toast. Sodthis morning I went and bought a new one put it in and it wont start now. It seems like the battery is dead. I put jumper cables on it and still wont turn over. Could it be my alternator?

iPAPKE · November 15th, 2011, 04:49 PM

Id say it is your alternator, seeing as the voltage meter continued to drop. Take it off and get it tested. But if you jumped the battery, it should still turn over with a bad alternator

Former4banger · November 15th, 2011, 05:22 PM

Im going to see if I can get off work tomorrow and get it tested. I can take it to my local auto parts store and test it right? If its not my alternator, any thoughts on what it might be. I forgot to mention that its a 1992 2.3 lx. Yeah I jumped it but still wont turn over. Just cranks and sounds like the battery is drained

Jackal13 · November 15th, 2011, 05:25 PM

Check your positive cable from battery to solenoid.

Former4banger · November 16th, 2011, 12:52 AM

Ok so I got home from and I went to move my mustang(it was parked facing the wrong way on the street and I got a fine) and I put the key in the ignition and turned it to the on position to unlock the steering wheel so I can push it and the dome light was very very faint. I just put a new battery in it this morning and it seems like its dead. So it must be my alternator then?

Cgross609 · November 16th, 2011, 01:25 AM

Not necessarily. Your starter might be fried, since the positive wire from the battery goes into the starter solenoid. If i were you i would take a look at my starter first. Check your ground connections as well. If it wasnt't charging when you were driving then there is a discontinuity of power somewhere. Starter is your best bet.

Mikel89us · November 16th, 2011, 12:27 PM

I am going to have to say that your best approach is to check for bad connections everywhere, ground and positive side. It may have a bad alternator, but that could be cause by bad connections forcing the alternator to work its ass off, and in turn burning it out. If it has a good battery and the lights are dim, it is MOST LIKELY a connection issue. I hope you get it figured out.

Former4banger · November 16th, 2011, 01:52 PM

I replaced my starter about 7 months ago so that shouldnt be the priblem. We will see. Hope I get it figured out. I have to work tomorrow.

Former4banger · November 16th, 2011, 03:37 PM

Alright giys, thanks so much for the help.....it started!!!!! It was a connection problem. I went and bought some new battery conncetions put them on the new battery and startes right up.the volt meter was alittle low at start up up butits reading now alittle under the middle. I decided to switch the headlights on just to try it out and when I did the volt meter went down. I think I might still meed an alternator. Is there a way to test it without takn

Former4banger · November 16th, 2011, 03:39 PM

Taking it off and take it to get tested? I heard that if you start the car, remove the negative battery cable from battery, and if it stays on ypur alternator is good. Of it tirns off its bad. Is that true? Sorry I hit the post reply button on accident.

Jackal13 · November 16th, 2011, 06:02 PM

So it was the connection between the battery and the solenoid. That is why i had said about the postive cable to the solenoid. In the past had a ford escort replaced battery, starter and come to find out it was that stupid red wire.

Former4banger · November 16th, 2011, 09:17 PM

Volt meter reads normal now. Yeah it was the connection but th he meter was still low so I took the alternator off and got it tested. It was fried so bought a new one and its fixed. Thanks for the guys. I knew I could count on this forum to help solve the problem. Thanks again

November 15th, 2011, 03:13 PM	#1
Former4banger Regular 1992 2.3l lx hatch Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 105 iTrader: 0 reviews	Battery meter at zero, changed battery and still nothing So I was driving home and noticed the volt meter really low. After a few minutes it was in the red, my stereo turned off and lights were dimming. I made it home and I just assumed my battery was toast. Sodthis morning I went and bought a new one put it in and it wont start now. It seems like the battery is dead. I put jumper cables on it and still wont turn over. Could it be my alternator?

November 16th, 2011, 01:25 AM	#6
Cgross609 Regular 93 Mustang LX 2.3 T-5 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Vegreville, AB Posts: 270 iTrader: 0 reviews	Not necessarily. Your starter might be fried, since the positive wire from the battery goes into the starter solenoid. If i were you i would take a look at my starter first. Check your ground connections as well. If it wasnt't charging when you were driving then there is a discontinuity of power somewhere. Starter is your best bet. __________________ 93 2.3l LX U.S. 15x7 ten hole rims Calypso green Moates QH T-5 Conversion Dual 2.5" Exhaust with Thrush Welded muffler

November 16th, 2011, 12:27 PM	#7
Mikel89us Regular 1991 Mustang 2.3L 11:42 @ 61 in the 1/8th Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Logansport, IN Posts: 362 iTrader: 0 reviews	I am going to have to say that your best approach is to check for bad connections everywhere, ground and positive side. It may have a bad alternator, but that could be cause by bad connections forcing the alternator to work its ass off, and in turn burning it out. If it has a good battery and the lights are dim, it is MOST LIKELY a connection issue. I hope you get it figured out. __________________ 1991 Mustang LX 2.3L 5 Speed convert 1989 Ranger 4X4 2.3L 5 Speed Entire turbo kit waiting to be used again.

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November 15th, 2011, 04:49 PM	#2
iPAPKE iPoopke Regular 2004 Mustang Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 835 iTrader: 0 reviews	Id say it is your alternator, seeing as the voltage meter continued to drop. Take it off and get it tested. But if you jumped the battery, it should still turn over with a bad alternator

November 15th, 2011, 05:22 PM	#3
Former4banger Regular 1992 2.3l lx hatch Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 105 iTrader: 0 reviews	Im going to see if I can get off work tomorrow and get it tested. I can take it to my local auto parts store and test it right? If its not my alternator, any thoughts on what it might be. I forgot to mention that its a 1992 2.3 lx. Yeah I jumped it but still wont turn over. Just cranks and sounds like the battery is drained

November 15th, 2011, 05:25 PM	#4
Jackal13 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 33 iTrader: 0 reviews	Check your positive cable from battery to solenoid.

November 16th, 2011, 12:52 AM	#5
Former4banger Regular 1992 2.3l lx hatch Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 105 iTrader: 0 reviews	Ok so I got home from and I went to move my mustang(it was parked facing the wrong way on the street and I got a fine) and I put the key in the ignition and turned it to the on position to unlock the steering wheel so I can push it and the dome light was very very faint. I just put a new battery in it this morning and it seems like its dead. So it must be my alternator then?

November 16th, 2011, 01:52 PM	#8
Former4banger Regular 1992 2.3l lx hatch Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 105 iTrader: 0 reviews	I replaced my starter about 7 months ago so that shouldnt be the priblem. We will see. Hope I get it figured out. I have to work tomorrow.

November 16th, 2011, 03:37 PM	#9
Former4banger Regular 1992 2.3l lx hatch Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 105 iTrader: 0 reviews	Alright giys, thanks so much for the help.....it started!!!!! It was a connection problem. I went and bought some new battery conncetions put them on the new battery and startes right up.the volt meter was alittle low at start up up butits reading now alittle under the middle. I decided to switch the headlights on just to try it out and when I did the volt meter went down. I think I might still meed an alternator. Is there a way to test it without takn

November 16th, 2011, 03:39 PM	#10
Former4banger Regular 1992 2.3l lx hatch Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 105 iTrader: 0 reviews	Taking it off and take it to get tested? I heard that if you start the car, remove the negative battery cable from battery, and if it stays on ypur alternator is good. Of it tirns off its bad. Is that true? Sorry I hit the post reply button on accident.

November 16th, 2011, 06:02 PM	#11
Jackal13 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 33 iTrader: 0 reviews	So it was the connection between the battery and the solenoid. That is why i had said about the postive cable to the solenoid. In the past had a ford escort replaced battery, starter and come to find out it was that stupid red wire.

November 16th, 2011, 09:17 PM	#12
Former4banger Regular 1992 2.3l lx hatch Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 105 iTrader: 0 reviews	Volt meter reads normal now. Yeah it was the connection but th he meter was still low so I took the alternator off and got it tested. It was fried so bought a new one and its fixed. Thanks for the guys. I knew I could count on this forum to help solve the problem. Thanks again

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