Battery/or starter/ or alternator

[BUB549]

My 1999 l2500 would after not start after a stall, and need a "jum" or even just a couple minutes on the charger then it would fire right up, for days untli happening again. Finally decided I'de buy a new battery, thuoght troubles were behind me....same thing happened again with new battery...I cked alternator..battery is 14.4V when running, and 14.4 is coming directly off alternator wire.... where else to I ck from here...if acts JUST like a dead battery when it won't start, but a very quick charge gets it fired right up and it may not happen again for das

thanks

 

[meanjean]

What do you mean when you say it acts like a dead battery?

I would start by cleaning ALL connections.
Sounds like an intermittent problem.

 

[BUB549]

I only say that as I question if the battery reaaly is dead or not as only 1 minutes on the charger and the tractor will fire right up again..then go for days or weeks before doing it again.....

 

[gktilton]

Clean connections to battery and where the battery ground wire connects to the frame. Sounds like you wiggle things just enough when you jump/charge to get things connecting.

 

[Bulldog]

Had about the same thing happen to me last year after a new battery install. I had mowed hay for 16 hrs and shut the tractor off to eat supper and went to crank it and all I got was a click. Acted just like the batt was dead. I had cleaned the terminals when I changed it but after I took the cables off again I found a hard crust had formed on the post and after a good cleaning it fired right up. I would try cleaning the post and cable ends again and see how it does.

 

[cmorningstar01]

I would start by cleaning the battery post and cable ends , I use dielectric grease on both cables and battery terminals to keep them from corroding, If the problem is not with the battery connections then look at other electrical connections such as the cable to starter and ground wire, It does not sound like a dead spot on the starter because ususlly with a dead spot you have to turn the starter a little to get it past the dead spot to get it to crank again, Another possibility could be the solenoid could be going bad or possibly the ignition switch but it sounds more like a bad electrical connection so that would be my first things to clean to eliminate the problem.

 

[meanjean]

Quote Vic:
cut them off and replace both cable ends or cables as necessary.

Make sure to disconnect the battery first.
Don't ask.

 

[Bulldog]

That's a good reminder about the cables SDV. It's so easy to over look and will drive you nuts at the same time.

Meanjean, I'm not going to ask but it might ease the pain to get that story off your chest.

I saw the aftermath of a wrench falling out of a guys back pocket across the terminals of a 8D battery on a fork lift. All that was left of the battery was the bottom and part of one side. It blew the seat clean off. A couple of the men who were there said the driver looked like a cross between superman and a wounded duck. I would say it wasn't pretty.