Battery/charging problem

[nucknoel89]

Okay, so for a while my alternator had been screwy.  The voltage was all over the place, the needle would jump all around, anywhere from under 12 to 16+.  The gauge wasn't the problem cause things like my lights would dim or brighten depending on the low or high reading.  Anyway I went to the local parts store and got myself a remanuactured alternator, and it stabilized the voltage.  But about a week or so ago I started having problems with starting.  I figured the old alternator may have not properly/fully charged the battery.  On Saturday afternoon I did a fast charge on it.  For about the first hour it charged at a 10 amp rate, then after a while it went to about an 8 amp rate, then later about a 6 amp rate, etc.  Anyway about 4 hours later I came out and the charge rate was basically 0 and the "Full Charge Indicator" on the charger was on.  My truck seemed to start fine but that evening I went out somewhere, went into a store for 5 minutes, and when I came out my engine barely cranked and I had to get my buddy to give me a jump.  Since then I've still been having problems, I can't re-start right away, I usually have to wait at least an hour and then I maybe have just barely enoguh juice to get it going.  At first look my battery seems okay.  It's not bulging at all and when charging I feel no heat or anything on the case.  Does anyone have ay idea what might be the problem?

[VileZambonie]

you probably have a dead cell. Load test the battery or check the specific gravity in each cell after you charge it. Make sure you remove the surface charge by leaving the headlights on for 30 seconds.

[nucknoel89]

Just tested with a different (2 month old battery, close to same CCAs as my original) and I had the same result so I'm guessing the problem lies in the starting circuit.  I'm gonna look through one of my Heavy Duty mechanics text books (John Deere FOS: Electronic and Electrical Systems, great deatiled book), but if ayone has any ideas please let me know.  Seems maybe there's some sort of increased resistance somehow?  I'll have to look at the starter connection.

[Irish_Alley]

what about a bad starter and timing be to advanced

[nucknoel89]

what about a bad starter and timing be to advanced

Timing isn't the problem, it runs fine but the cranking is extremey sluggish.  Starter could be bad I guess.  However, it cranks at a pretty normal speed if I have some sort of boost on it like another vehicle or charger.

[topp]

Have you cleaned all your connections ?

[nucknoel89]

Just did that a few minutes ago and still the same thing.  The volt gauge is reading over 12 volts when I key on just before cranking.

[jaredts]

Get a set of jumper cables and run one of them from your battery negative to a starter mounting bolt.  If it starts up just fine like that then you have a ground issue.

[nucknoel89]

Get a set of jumper cables and run one of them from your battery negative to a starter mounting bolt.  If it starts up just fine like that then you have a ground issue.

You, my freind, are a genius!     It started up perfectly.  But what do I do now?  Check the engine ground to the frame?

[nucknoel89]

Well I cleaned up and tightened my frame ground and my alternator bracket ground and now it works perfect.  Thanks everyone for the help!