replacing battery

8.1Texan · December 3, 2005

Alright, so the battery is officially dead. since i moved to DC, I hadn't used my truck in quite a while and during that time, it seems to have died. it has been four years, so it is due.

I have two questions for y'all:

1. if it can still get going with strong jump (from a tow truck- not just a car), but won't restart later on (after driving it for a while), is my alternator also the problem not just the battery? once i replace the battery, how can i tell if i am havign a problem with the alternator?

2. I've replaced a battery once before in a car i had a long time ago. it was a simple matter of removing the bar, and pulling it straight out. I tried doing the same, but I can NOT even budge this stupid battery. is there somethign I am missing. There is a nut on the bottom on the terminal side of the battery, do I need to take this out as well? I didn'r just want to start ripping out nuts and bolts- especially one that I can't really reach anyhow. or am i just being a panzy and can't get it up and out of there?

mmmikkke · December 3, 2005

The nut at the bottom, on the side you can "get to", is what holds the battery down. There is no crossbar on top, right?

Then it just lifts out, there's no magic.

To tell if it's your alternator, look at the volt meter after it's been running for a while. If it's at 14 volts or thereabouts, that's good, your alternator is charging, and the problem is most likely your battery or a bad battery cable.

If it stays at 12 volts, or 10, or less, your alternator's not working.

But I bet it's your battery (or a bad cable) from what you have said about it sitting for a while.