Always check your battery leads

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Lately I've been noticing some voltage problems when I run the AC in the van, the radio would shut off sometimes and I could watch the voltage drop on my turbo timer while at a stop light. The timer actually started winding down once because it thought the van shut off. I assumed I needed to tighten or replace the belts, maybe they were slipping. This morning though, it didn't start!! Sometimes no power, sometimes the radio would turn on, wouldn't turn over though. Popped the hood in prep for a boost assuming a left a light on or something. I quickly wiggle the negative terminal clamp and it was very very loose. I tightened it up and wiggled it around and it fired right up! And no voltage drop anymore. Just goes to show, sometimes the simplest solution really is the correct one.

[glenn]

Keep an eye on it. I had the exact same set of symptoms, a little wiggley pokery, and a tighten, and it was fine. A week or so later, the same thing. This time I tried the other lead, it worked. A week later, same thing. Changed the leads connecting to the battery - worked for a while, then the same thing. It turned out it was my battery that was buggered (this is the technical term). Every time I did something to the battery, it would work for a while, then . . nothing.

Replaced the battery - problem solved.

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I have a set of terminal ends at home, I'll replace the wiggling negative tonight if its not raining. What do you use if you need to replace the positive terminal clamp though? With the 90 bend in it and all the fuses attached I've never seen something that I could replace it with. I'll keep an eye on the battery voltage too.

[glenn]

It was my L300. But it did also has some things attached to the pos, I found what I needed at Canadian tire. The whole thing came apart and I was able to clean it all and bolt it all back together with a new terminal clamp. I don't remember all the details, but it was easy.

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To follow this up a bit, turns out I need a new alternator. Took the van into a battery shop and they tested it all out for me. Apparently the....regulator? I think, is going. When every accessory is on the alternator can't keep up the charge. So, anyone have an old alternator they want to sell me so I can get it rebuilt??!!