truck finally met it's match!

[jaynes]

-1 degree this morning. The CTD is a no go! Wouldn't start. Almost fired up once or twice, but after about 8 attemps, the battery died. So the 900 CCA doesn't not hold up in -1 degree weather. Block heater doesn't work, so I was stuck. Got a ride from the girlfriend.



jaynes

 

[CDegner]

:{ That bites. It does not get that cold here but I like my 1100 CCA Diehard commercial. Oo.



Carl

 

["Mad Max"]

Clarification - the Battery met it's match - truck is go just needs a little more batts - just a parts store run away, ja?!



Battery death gonna happen sooner or later...

- S

 

[jaynes]

Yeah...



You're right Sam, but the truck still didn't want to really fire up after about 8 attemps, but I bet on the 9th one, it was gonna start! Just a weak batt.



:{



jaynes

 

[Greenleaf]

The girlfriend probably was driving a Powerjoke,,,,,wouldn't that put startch in yer shorts :{



Scott

 

[JLEONARD]

Just look on the bright side... ... .

spring is just around the corner... .

and down the road a piece.....

and then take few more turns and we'll almost be within shouting distance...



Jay

 

[Philip]

How many times did you cycle the grid heaters before you tried starting it? In this type of cold I will cycle it twice before trying to start.



If you had enough batter to try 8 times. That battery has some bottom to it. Check to see if the grid heaters are working right. On your model trucks grid heater not working right has been talked about a few time around here.



Mine started on the second attempt. But it sure was protesting. It was 0 when I tried mine.



The first try I only cycled it once to see if it would start. I didn't.

 

[Greenleaf]

Not all my buses have grid heaters... thy'll start, if you know what to do and I don't mean ether.



Scott

 

[bgilbert]

Jaynes sorry to hear about your troubles. What group size battery did you have ? Was it a big monster that filled up the entire battery tray? That would be a group 31, which is what we need. Not only is CCA important, but so to is group size. I don't want to get into a battery war here, but if you do a search you'll find plenty of brands of batteries to choose from. Find a group 31 usually can be found at a big truck parts or dealer. My battery is group 31, 1260cca at 32*, 1025 at 0*F, which i feel is most important. I never plug my truck in, grid heaters dont cycle til below 15* and truck fires up immediately. I have 3 Deka's, there I had to say it, in my 3 trucks. Bill

 

[rlyons]

Turn two 900's sideways and put the tie down between the two. That gives you 1800 amps. The cables to tie them together positive to positive and negative to negative can be bought at any truck parts store. Mine have been that way for years.

 

[AMikonis]

Yep, I'm on my second winter with an Interstate Workaholic battery. Forget the exact group size and CCA, and I'm not about to go back outside and look, but it's at least 900. Last nite we hit -8, today it was +1. Cycled heaters twice each try, she kicked on the second try, and ran on the third. Last year it started at -3 on the first try, but so did my 1961 New Yorker...

 

[dpuckett]

Yeah, Andy, I wouldnt want to trust a block heater cord to stay connected to the truck in your part of the world.

Mom has been pluging mine in every night. It hasnt been real cold here- got down to 15 last nite; 25 today. Her car didnt want to stay running (died as soon as it went into gear) this AM, so she fired up the (Ram CTD- unplugged) pickup and went on her way.



Daniel

 

[jaynes]

Well my old battery was a group 31. After about 10-15 minutes with a jumper battery (girlfriends little ford car), she finally lit up. Everytime I tried to use the gridheaters, it pulled too much juice out of the already weak battery, and it wouldn't turn over fast enough to produce sufficient combustion temps. This morning, it was finicky, but fired up after about the 5th try. Cycled the grids once (about 17 seconds) and tried, cranked slow, caught and then lost it. Second time I cranked, didn't use the grids, caught but lost it. Third time, cycled the grids again, cranked slower this time (starting to lose juice - too cold for a little 900 to turn that big engine) but lit up for about 1 second died, so I did it again, a fourth time and I cranked on it for about 10 seconds! Stopped, cranked again and she roared to life. I really need a bigger better battery. Turns over too slowly.



jaynes

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Situations like that are where you need to pay attention to the RESERVE amps rating on a battery - CCA is fine for shorter bursts of high-demand current - but reserve amps dictates how LONG you can do that before the battery turns up it's toes...

 

[farmerzo]

I'm running 1 orbital marine deep cycle, starting this AM (-11) on first try, took about 20 min to idle steady.

 

[JLEONARD]

Optima Red Top

Fires up quick.

Actually much quicker after the new injectors... . Good spray = quick starts.

Jay

 

[phillips5]

Most all the pre 91 1/2 with out the after cooler will start at -10 digrees with out the grid heaters. They really messed every thing up when they had to meet the new emissions laws in mid 91. my 93 won't start to save its life with out the grids below 30 digrees. The grids on my 90 heve never worked it has 500k and it will start any time it is geting rough now it pops booms bangs shakes and coughs but it will start

 

[jaynes]

yikes!

 

[dpuckett]

How's it been since that fateful day when you had to call in the little woman to take you to work? (class?).



And, how soon are you looking to upgrade injectors and turbo? I need to get a 7mm head this summer, and may have some injectors I'll sell ya then.



Daniel

 

[jaynes]

Hehe. Well since then my starter and battery have recovered nicely. Although when it hits about 11 degree (like this morning) it's starts acting alittle goofy. Preheated twice the first time just for extra measure, still didn't start till after the third try. BUT, all that aside, i won't worry until I know it's going to get down to 0 degrees again.



As for the injector and turbo upgrades, the injectors would come first (as I just bought an engagement ring for the girl, so gotta pay that off firstOo. ), then the turbo sometime later. Sooo, whenever you want to sell those injectors, just let me know and we'll probably be able to work something out, ya dig? Peace!



Josh