I was over at a friends home helping him start a car he has not started in several years,
a 1967 pontiac le mans with a 389 pontiac engine he had previously installed when the original 350 had thrown a connecting rod, after almost 200K miles.
the battery was obviously not charged so he had used a HF battery charger over night,
this one (ITS COMPLETE JUNK, IN MY OPINION DON,T BUY ONE)
https://www.harborfreight.com/10250-amp-12v-manual-charger-with-engine-start-60581.html
too hopefully recharge the battery in the car,
but I found with a multi meter that the existing battery ,
was not charged after all night and most likely in need of replacement
(this has zero to do with the battery charger being used)
he did not have decent jumper cables , a multi meter showed the corroded connections on the cheap set,
he did have were useless, even ignoring the 10 ga wire.
I had a decent set and we jumped the car and got it started with the old battery,
and the alternator was putting out the required 14.5 volts,
but even after running for 20 minutes the old existing battery was dead.
obviously If you are in a similar situation, you need the car to have fresh fuel,in the tank,
spark at the plugs, the timing correct, and you need to verify fuels reaching the carb,
, basically verify the basics, maybe do a compression test,
basic tune-up, etc
if its a more modern car you can pull trouble codes and check injectors etc.
new spark plugs a new fuel filter and the starter must spin the engine fast and easily,
anyway, He decided to get a new battery from walmart,
and after it was installed we got the car fired up ,
without my having to jump start the car.
after letting the car idle and a short local drive the new walmart battery was fully charged.
I suggested he get a decent battery charger, for his garage,
as the HF battery charger he had tried to use was putting out an intermittent 11 volts,
but something internally was over heating and shutting it off after about 4 minutes
btw you can get a functional decent quality multi-meter for $30-$60, from HF ,
https://www.harborfreight.com/11-function-digital-multimeter-with-audible-continuity-61593.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/5-in-1-digital-multimeter-98674.html
if your buying jumper cables Id strongly suggest you select 1GA or 2GA copper cables
and look for good quality clamps, the typical 8 ga or 4 ga jumper cables you see at discount stores for $25-$30 are not worth the price.
https://www.amazon.com/EPAuto-Boost...s&qid=1564060156&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1
https://best.offers.com/best-jumper...MI18altZLQ4wIVEp6fCh0B_wCvEAAYASAAEgIaiPD_BwE
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017O8JZP6?aaxitk=CRtcCpN8PWyC2zzOk9-vAw&pd_rd_i=B017O8JZP6&pf_rd_p=9420597b-7dad-4cbd-a28d-7d676ac67378&hsa_cr_id=3694502320801&sb-ci-n=productDescription&sb-ci-v=Energizer 1-Gauge 800A Heavy Duty Jumper Battery Cables 25 Ft Booster Jump Start - 25' Allows You to Boost Battery from Behind a Vehicle!&sb-ci-a=B017O8JZP6
at $60 these may look expensive but they should last for decades if well cared for, making them a bargain.
https://www.autoguide.com/top-10-best-portable-car-jump-starters
related threads
(yes actually reading through the linked info helps)
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/battery-charger-for-the-shop.928/#post-55878
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/battery-or-alternator.10003/#post-43220
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/ctek-7002-smart-battery-charger.15354/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...tery-chargers-consumer-reports-in-2018.14954/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...oven-facts-if-your-in-doubt.13051/#post-84890
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-isolating-ignition-problems.2828/#post-75619
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/multi-meters.3110/#post-71867
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...tor-putting-out-low-voltage.12221/#post-59512
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...rical-glitches-in-newer-cars.5492/#post-50908
a 1967 pontiac le mans with a 389 pontiac engine he had previously installed when the original 350 had thrown a connecting rod, after almost 200K miles.
the battery was obviously not charged so he had used a HF battery charger over night,
this one (ITS COMPLETE JUNK, IN MY OPINION DON,T BUY ONE)
https://www.harborfreight.com/10250-amp-12v-manual-charger-with-engine-start-60581.html
too hopefully recharge the battery in the car,
but I found with a multi meter that the existing battery ,
was not charged after all night and most likely in need of replacement
(this has zero to do with the battery charger being used)
he did not have decent jumper cables , a multi meter showed the corroded connections on the cheap set,
he did have were useless, even ignoring the 10 ga wire.
I had a decent set and we jumped the car and got it started with the old battery,
and the alternator was putting out the required 14.5 volts,
but even after running for 20 minutes the old existing battery was dead.
obviously If you are in a similar situation, you need the car to have fresh fuel,in the tank,
spark at the plugs, the timing correct, and you need to verify fuels reaching the carb,
, basically verify the basics, maybe do a compression test,
basic tune-up, etc
if its a more modern car you can pull trouble codes and check injectors etc.
new spark plugs a new fuel filter and the starter must spin the engine fast and easily,
anyway, He decided to get a new battery from walmart,
and after it was installed we got the car fired up ,
without my having to jump start the car.
after letting the car idle and a short local drive the new walmart battery was fully charged.
I suggested he get a decent battery charger, for his garage,
as the HF battery charger he had tried to use was putting out an intermittent 11 volts,
but something internally was over heating and shutting it off after about 4 minutes
btw you can get a functional decent quality multi-meter for $30-$60, from HF ,
https://www.harborfreight.com/11-function-digital-multimeter-with-audible-continuity-61593.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/5-in-1-digital-multimeter-98674.html
if your buying jumper cables Id strongly suggest you select 1GA or 2GA copper cables
and look for good quality clamps, the typical 8 ga or 4 ga jumper cables you see at discount stores for $25-$30 are not worth the price.
https://www.amazon.com/EPAuto-Boost...s&qid=1564060156&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1
https://best.offers.com/best-jumper...MI18altZLQ4wIVEp6fCh0B_wCvEAAYASAAEgIaiPD_BwE
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017O8JZP6?aaxitk=CRtcCpN8PWyC2zzOk9-vAw&pd_rd_i=B017O8JZP6&pf_rd_p=9420597b-7dad-4cbd-a28d-7d676ac67378&hsa_cr_id=3694502320801&sb-ci-n=productDescription&sb-ci-v=Energizer 1-Gauge 800A Heavy Duty Jumper Battery Cables 25 Ft Booster Jump Start - 25' Allows You to Boost Battery from Behind a Vehicle!&sb-ci-a=B017O8JZP6
at $60 these may look expensive but they should last for decades if well cared for, making them a bargain.
https://www.autoguide.com/top-10-best-portable-car-jump-starters
related threads
(yes actually reading through the linked info helps)
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/battery-charger-for-the-shop.928/#post-55878
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/battery-or-alternator.10003/#post-43220
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/ctek-7002-smart-battery-charger.15354/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...tery-chargers-consumer-reports-in-2018.14954/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...oven-facts-if-your-in-doubt.13051/#post-84890
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-isolating-ignition-problems.2828/#post-75619
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/multi-meters.3110/#post-71867
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...tor-putting-out-low-voltage.12221/#post-59512
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...rical-glitches-in-newer-cars.5492/#post-50908
Last edited: