Short on Power?

Joestang94 · 10-30-2001, 10:55 AM

I seem to have an electrical problem, but I don't know where. Here are a couple of symptoms: 1) Sometimes when I start my car it just doesn't fire right up, it's a weak fire up. 2) When I use my keyless entry, the lights go real dim inside the car. Could it be the alternator? I just put a brand new battery in. The only thing I can think of is my pos. battery cable. It is not a FORD part, a guy at a garage put on a cable. I don't even know if it is the right gauge. Also, I get quite a bit of fluffy on my terminals. Any suggetions will be appreciated.

Mr 5 0 · 10-30-2001, 04:28 PM

Start by cleaning the battery terminals and double-check the connections on both cables; put some dielectric grease on the battery terminals. You may want to consider getting a new, heavier-gauge negative battery cable. If no improvement, you can do a voltage draw test on the starter to see if it's going out which would account for the slow start. I would also have the battery voltage checked; 'new' batteries can be bad.

84LX89GT · 10-31-2001, 01:27 AM

Aside from what Mr 50 said, this is all i can think of.

Try checking your grounds. Check the ground from the battery to the engine and also the chassis ground (can't think offhand where it is in your car). My '84 had the negative wire exposed and grounded a couple inches off the battery, then led to the block (which was the stock setup). Have you had the cables replaced. There also could be high resistance in the cables if there was sulfuric acid corrosion coming out of the battery. Check and see if the insides of the cables show signs of sulfur.
Good luck, keep us posted!

------------------
'84 Mustang 5.0 LX
my LX
'89 Mustang GT
my GT

[This message has been edited by 84LX89GT (edited 10-31-2001).]

PKRWUD · 10-31-2001, 04:27 AM

What they said, plus a note about your "fluffy".

"Fluffy" at the battery posts is caused by cracking the seal that surrounds the battery post where it comes out of the battery, allowing battery acid to attack the metal. This is usually caused by someone prying on the cables trying to remove them, or hitting them with a hammer trying to install them. Once the seal is cracked, it's junk. It can't be repaired. The battery will still work, but it will always release acid, and will shorten the life of anything metal near it. Since you just put a brand new battery in it, this is the time to replace the cables that are "fluffy". Before installing new ones, get a battery post cleaning brush, a 1" paint brush, a bowl of water and a box of baking soda. Mix a generous amount of baking soda (1/4 box) in the bowl of water and stir it with the 1" paint brush. Brush this mixture all over the battery posts (and anything else that's become "fluffy"). It will cause a reaction and start foaming. This is normal. When the foaming stops, rinse it with regular water, and reapply the baking soda water with the 1" paint brush. Keep doing this until it no longer foams. Next, with soda-water on the posts, use the battery post brush on each post until they are shiny. Again, rinse the posts, and reapply the soda-water, and watch for foaming. If none occurs, attach the cables and apply some battery-terminal protection fluid (Looks like raspberry syrup, and is available at all auto parts stores) to the cable ends and posts. This, to my knowledge, is the only way to stop the "fluffies" from returning and damaging your cables and battery posts.

Take care,
-Chris

------------------
Retired Moderator
MustangNet

My site: Peckerwoods Pit Stop

My teams site: Jim Porter Racing

RACECAR spelled backwards is RACECAR

HEY !!! Are you ASE Certified ??? If you are, ask me about iATN.

Joestang94 · 10-31-2001, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PKRWUD:
What they said, plus a note about your "fluffy".

"Fluffy" at the battery posts is caused by cracking the seal that surrounds the battery post where it comes out of the battery, allowing battery acid to attack the metal. This is usually caused by someone prying on the cables trying to remove them, or hitting them with a hammer trying to install them. Once the seal is cracked, it's junk. It can't be repaired. The battery will still work, but it will always release acid, and will shorten the life of anything metal near it. Since you just put a brand new battery in it, this is the time to replace the cables that are "fluffy". Before installing new ones, get a battery post cleaning brush, a 1" paint brush, a bowl of water and a box of baking soda. Mix a generous amount of baking soda (1/4 box) in the bowl of water and stir it with the 1" paint brush. Brush this mixture all over the battery posts (and anything else that's become "fluffy"). It will cause a reaction and start foaming. This is normal. When the foaming stops, rinse it with regular water, and reapply the baking soda water with the 1" paint brush. Keep doing this until it no longer foams. Next, with soda-water on the posts, use the battery post brush on each post until they are shiny. Again, rinse the posts, and reapply the soda-water, and watch for foaming. If none occurs, attach the cables and apply some battery-terminal protection fluid (Looks like raspberry syrup, and is available at all auto parts stores) to the cable ends and posts. This, to my knowledge, is the only way to stop the "fluffies" from returning and damaging your cables and battery posts.

Take care,
-Chris

Thanks for the information guys. I will check the cables. I was really shocked to find out that Ford does not sell just a pos.
battery cable. I have to buy the whole kit, the neg. pos. & clamps plus whatever else comes with it, for $180.00, I THINK THATS OUTRAGEOUS. I'll see what has to be done, again thanks for the help. I will be back with info a.s.a.p.

10-30-2001, 10:55 AM	#1
Joestang94 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 12	Short on Power? I seem to have an electrical problem, but I don't know where. Here are a couple of symptoms: 1) Sometimes when I start my car it just doesn't fire right up, it's a weak fire up. 2) When I use my keyless entry, the lights go real dim inside the car. Could it be the alternator? I just put a brand new battery in. The only thing I can think of is my pos. battery cable. It is not a FORD part, a guy at a garage put on a cable. I don't even know if it is the right gauge. Also, I get quite a bit of fluffy on my terminals. Any suggetions will be appreciated.

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10-30-2001, 04:28 PM	#2
Mr 5 0 Conservative Individualist Join Date: May 1997 Location: Wherever I need to be Posts: 7,487	Start by cleaning the battery terminals and double-check the connections on both cables; put some dielectric grease on the battery terminals. You may want to consider getting a new, heavier-gauge negative battery cable. If no improvement, you can do a voltage draw test on the starter to see if it's going out which would account for the slow start. I would also have the battery voltage checked; 'new' batteries can be bad.

10-31-2001, 01:27 AM	#3
84LX89GT Mustangs Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 1,938	Aside from what Mr 50 said, this is all i can think of. Try checking your grounds. Check the ground from the battery to the engine and also the chassis ground (can't think offhand where it is in your car). My '84 had the negative wire exposed and grounded a couple inches off the battery, then led to the block (which was the stock setup). Have you had the cables replaced. There also could be high resistance in the cables if there was sulfuric acid corrosion coming out of the battery. Check and see if the insides of the cables show signs of sulfur. Good luck, keep us posted! ------------------ '84 Mustang 5.0 LX my LX '89 Mustang GT my GT [This message has been edited by 84LX89GT (edited 10-31-2001).]

10-31-2001, 04:27 AM	#4
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	What they said, plus a note about your "fluffy". "Fluffy" at the battery posts is caused by cracking the seal that surrounds the battery post where it comes out of the battery, allowing battery acid to attack the metal. This is usually caused by someone prying on the cables trying to remove them, or hitting them with a hammer trying to install them. Once the seal is cracked, it's junk. It can't be repaired. The battery will still work, but it will always release acid, and will shorten the life of anything metal near it. Since you just put a brand new battery in it, this is the time to replace the cables that are "fluffy". Before installing new ones, get a battery post cleaning brush, a 1" paint brush, a bowl of water and a box of baking soda. Mix a generous amount of baking soda (1/4 box) in the bowl of water and stir it with the 1" paint brush. Brush this mixture all over the battery posts (and anything else that's become "fluffy"). It will cause a reaction and start foaming. This is normal. When the foaming stops, rinse it with regular water, and reapply the baking soda water with the 1" paint brush. Keep doing this until it no longer foams. Next, with soda-water on the posts, use the battery post brush on each post until they are shiny. Again, rinse the posts, and reapply the soda-water, and watch for foaming. If none occurs, attach the cables and apply some battery-terminal protection fluid (Looks like raspberry syrup, and is available at all auto parts stores) to the cable ends and posts. This, to my knowledge, is the only way to stop the "fluffies" from returning and damaging your cables and battery posts. Take care, -Chris ------------------ Retired Moderator MustangNet My site: Peckerwoods Pit Stop My teams site: Jim Porter Racing RACECAR spelled backwards is RACECAR HEY !!! Are you ASE Certified ??? If you are, ask me about iATN.