clarky666 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 (edited) Ola ! Ok after finally getting my car back a couple of weeks ago i was already in the habbit of using the missus' motor from when it was in the body shop and kept this up rather than drive the Sup. Went to jump into it last night to head to 5's and it was dead. Wasn't too worried as it's been a week plus since i last turned it over so the cold has obviously bitten the battery at this time of year. Left my jump start pack (cracking inventions!) charging over night and gave it a bang this morning and started first time without any issues. Left her idling for 5 minutes to heat up and tick over whilst i got ready for work. Came back out and she drove to work fine albeit it's only a 10 minute drive......however when i came in to park in front of the building i noticed the lights dimming after i came off the accelerator which imediately had me worrying alternator. Switched engine off and tried to put it back on, small huff and puff before it died. Now i would have thought that this may initially be the alternator but since the car had only been on 5-10 minutes and it's a short drive to work that the car would surely have failed or died on the trip once the booster pack was disconnected ? So i was thinking a bad battery cell or just a duff battery not holding a charge with it being in the cold so long as opposed to the alternator? Had similar problems with one of my old cars so i will get out tonight before it's too dark with the multi-meter to check voltage across battery terminals. From memory it should be 12v-12.5v when off and upwards of 14v when idling to prove the alternator is functioning ? Edited December 11, 2009 by clarky666 (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesy Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Sounds more like alternator mate, you say you left it idleing for 5 minutes, then a 10 minute drive to work, should be more than enough to keep the battery happy i would have thought dude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty71 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Your Memory is near enough spot on mate:d The voltage with the engine not started should be in the region of 12.6v With the engine running and ticking over on idle should be in the region of 13.5v - 14.3v ish. Scotty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarky666 Posted December 11, 2009 Author Share Posted December 11, 2009 Ok guys cheers, just thought if it was the alternator then the lights / wipers / ECU would have killed the juice from the battery within that time assuming that the alternator wasn't working ? Whilst on topic, incase i need one, is there any difference for alternators on the Supra between N/A and TT or manual and automatic ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dude Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 If the lights are going up and down with revs thats prob telling you the one thing that is working is the alternator!!!! I would say a duff battery dude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarky666 Posted December 11, 2009 Author Share Posted December 11, 2009 Thanks dude. Just nipped out at my lunch break to do some more checks and the car is not turning over at all now from jumper pack and reading 3 volts across the battery with engine switch off. Safe to say battery is goosed i think ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty71 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Thanks dude. Just nipped out at my lunch break to do some more checks and the car is not turning over at all now from jumper pack and reading 3 volts across the battery with engine switch off. Safe to say battery is goosed i think ? yup;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suprab1 Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Thanks dude. Just nipped out at my lunch break to do some more checks and the car is not turning over at all now from jumper pack and reading 3 volts across the battery with engine switch off. Safe to say battery is goosed i think ? I'd say battery aswell. Usually if its your alternator the battery light stays on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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