Dumb Question

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william
Posts: 515
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2003 9:39 pm
Location: Rochester, Indiana

Dumb Question

Post by william »

The battery on my 250 GTE does not want to take a charge. When I got the car the battery ground was hooked to the Negative side on the battery. Is this correct? may seem like a dumb question but when I start the car the Ampre gauge goes to the Negative side even as the car runs.

Past owner put a Napa battery in the car (smaller then battery tray) any replacement suggestions? I'm sure this has already been discussed.

Thanks as Always
William
1979 Avanti s/n Rqb-3016
1962 GTE s/n 3447
1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider 1495*09775
Matt F
Posts: 232
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2003 4:22 pm
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Post by Matt F »

Hello, William.

The ground should indeed be hooked up to the negative terminal.
Your problem sounds like you're not getting a charge.
Have your alternator checked.

--Matt
1967 330 GT 2+2 #9453
andrew
Posts: 61
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 10:58 pm
Location: santa barbara, california

Post by andrew »

Also, William, be aware that perhaps the alternator is ok but that at idle the system may not be charging itself. It sometimes requires driving (higher revs) to go to positive. Start with the battery and go from there.
'64 330 America s/n 5109
Stephanm
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Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2004 9:27 pm
Location: Vermont
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Post by Stephanm »

I bet that the battery is charging, but the Ammerer is hooked up backwards. put a simple volt meter and see how much it is putting out at 2000 RPM
Jimmyr
Posts: 447
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2004 11:20 pm
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Post by Jimmyr »

The 250's have a generator not an alternator as origional, and these can have charging problems as time goes by. In any case simply puy a volt meter across the battery and check the voltage with the engine above 2000 RPM. If it is less then 12.5V after a few moments and you do not see any upward voltage swing when reving the engine, have the generator and regulator checked out at a shop with proper testing/rebuilding ability. The PepBoys and the like have no idea what this stuff is all about, but local rebuilders in your area can easilly and at low cost get this system running again. Removal should be no problem for you to do, just be sure the battery (negative) is removed when you work on anything electrical. If by chance your 250 has been converted to an alternator, test the same way. Jim Riff
Jimmyr
Posts: 447
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2004 11:20 pm
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Post by Jimmyr »

William, and others, FYI: there are no dumb questions when it comes to trying to do things yourself! Jim
william
Posts: 515
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2003 9:39 pm
Location: Rochester, Indiana

Post by william »

Thanks everyone.
William
1979 Avanti s/n Rqb-3016
1962 GTE s/n 3447
1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider 1495*09775
william
Posts: 515
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2003 9:39 pm
Location: Rochester, Indiana

Post by william »

Thanks Jim,

I have a lot of questions that may seem elementary.
William
1979 Avanti s/n Rqb-3016
1962 GTE s/n 3447
1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider 1495*09775
Matt F
Posts: 232
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2003 4:22 pm
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Post by Matt F »

Stephanm wrote:I bet that the battery is charging, but the Ammerer is hooked up backwards.
But William said that his battery wasn't taking a charge...
1967 330 GT 2+2 #9453
Jimmyr
Posts: 447
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2004 11:20 pm
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Post by Jimmyr »

The battery will only accept a charge when the applied voltage is over 12.6 Volts. If the charging system does not produce voltage greater than 12.6V, then no charge takes place. If the ammeter reads negative when loads are applied, this is another indication that the charging system is not carrying the load and the current is coming out of the battery to supply the loads. Normally the charging system provides all of the system power once the engine is running at speed, thereafter the battery just recharges and floats in the system. Jim
william
Posts: 515
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2003 9:39 pm
Location: Rochester, Indiana

Post by william »

Thanks Matt F, and Jim

The car amp swings to Positive when I rev the engine. Unfortunately the car is missing the battery hold down and I'm in the process of making one. Thefore, I have not really been able to drive the car at speed to find out if this will solve the problem. I'm also dealing with some carburetor issues. I hope to have this resolved soon.

But when the car sits at idle the amp is peged at Negative charge

Thanks
William
1979 Avanti s/n Rqb-3016
1962 GTE s/n 3447
1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider 1495*09775
Jimmyr
Posts: 447
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2004 11:20 pm
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Post by Jimmyr »

William, First do you have an alternator or generator, as this will make a big difference in the analysis. When you say the ammeter is "pegged" negative do you mean just over to the left or up against the stop/edge? This could be excessive drain possibly some added electrical load or a possible short. Again measure the battery volts with the engine off to be sure there is no battery problem. I should be 12.6 Volts. If less, possibly a shorted cell. All generator equipped cars show no charge until about 2000 RPM, this is normal. Jim
william
Posts: 515
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2003 9:39 pm
Location: Rochester, Indiana

Post by william »

Thanks Jim.

The car has a generator.
The amp needle is all the the way aganist the stopper on the negtive side when the car sits idling however, once I start reving the engine it swings to the positive side.

thanks
William
1979 Avanti s/n Rqb-3016
1962 GTE s/n 3447
1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider 1495*09775
Jimmyr
Posts: 447
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2004 11:20 pm
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Post by Jimmyr »

William, sounds like a lot of current drain in the car, as the ignition usually only draws 5-8 Amps. Something else must be draining heavilly. Try pulling fuses one by one to see what area is loading this down. (engine off). Sounds like the generator is doing it's job, but the heavy load is taxing it. It is normal for generator cars not to charge at idle or at least until 2000 RPM. Once all is analyzed again measure the charging volts to see what is going on. Jim
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