| Author |
Message |
John G Root Jr (Johnroot)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 4:34 pm: | |
I plugged in the block heater, waited 2 hours, cranked the bus and it didn't start. It is about 15 to 20 degrees here and the bus hasn't been run since Thanksgiving.
I put the 50 amp charger on the 2 8d's and waited til the batteries were at 12.30 v with the charger on them and tried again. I cranked until it got too slow.
I put two 850 CCA car batteries in and took the 8d's inside to charge up again.
The engine made a few clicking noises but didn't crank.
How long does it take a block heater to warm the engine? Is 12.40v good enough on the 8d's to try again with them? How can I tell if the block heater is working. I can't get under the bus it is too low, and too much snow. Where do I feel for a little warmth standing in front of the engine?
Could something else be wrong now?
John
Thanks guys
John |
jimmci9 #2
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 4:51 pm: | |
12.4 is too low... needs to be around 13.6 with an ACCURATE meter.... overnight for the block heater... 2-3 days for the 8d's to recharge....the clicking says a bad, loose, corroded connection... inspect, clean and reseal all the terminals.... |
TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 5:26 pm: | |
I LET MY BLOCK HEATER GO 24 HOURS BEFORE START...YOU CAN PUT YOUR HAND ANYWHERE ON THE BLOCK & IT WILL FEEL WARM...NOT HOT ...couple days to charge 8D's like he said...also..get the jumper cables & hook up your running car to one...Detroits DO NOT like cold...do not want to run..'my' rule is below 30...block heater for 24 hours before start...that's just my rule...you do what you want |
John that newguy
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 5:30 pm: | |
What happened to your "don't run with scissors" rule? |
BrianMCI
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2005 - 10:04 pm: | |
Do not charge your batteries with a 50 amp charger for two days, if it doesn't have an automatic charge taper to it, even at 15 degrees. There is a good chance of warping the plates in the battery.
A trickle charger at six amps for a couple of days, yes. You will get a get a deeper charge with a trickle charger in any case.
12.4 is too low, and in fact if your battery will not hold a voltage higher than that it's time for a change of batteries.
As a rule if a battery will not maintain a voltage
of 12.6 or better, I'll monitor it and change it at the first opertunity.
Generally, a block heater is meant to bring an engine block up to temp overnight...so eight to ten hours ought to be sufficent.
Brian |
John G Root Jr (Johnroot)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2005 - 10:37 pm: | |
Thanks guys.
What actually happened is that I brought the 8d s inside and charged them 50 amps til they held 12.6
The block heater had not been working because of a bad extension cord (which is a good reason to buy the kind where the plug lights up) The block heater took 4 hours to get the engine to around 45 - 50 degrees (measured with the little infared tester from Radio Shack). When I put the 8d 's back, after cleaning the terminals (one was badly pitted) it started right up. However, the volt meter, at the front drivers side panel reads 10 v, but at the battery it reads 12.6 so I think something must be amiss. When the engine's alternator is charging the volt meter at the front panel reads 14.2. I didn't check the batteries directly. Is this something to be concerned about? Any suggestions?
Thanks,
John
BTW the hydrohot kept us warm this weekend at the Dance Flurry and even the generator started! It is nice when things work. We couldn't find a place to park the bus in NYC so I drove around while the rest of them walked the Art Instalation (saffron orange cloth gates on the pedestian walks in Central Park - very dramatic) Does anyone know where to park in NYC? |
truthhunter@shaw.ca
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 21, 2005 - 1:22 am: | |
Be careful about parking around their, I remember what happened to Homer Simpsons car. |