wes:

replacement alternator is fine, and there is plenty of voltage across the
battery for charging.

if she fires up every time only with a boost (jump), then battery is
almost certainly at fault.

batteries absolutely exhibit this behavior when failing. they can be a
little forgiving in that they start the van a few last times, and that is
where confusion can arise in the diagnosis. many a good starter has been
mistakenly replaced over a worn battery - believe me, i learned this
lesson years ago, and the hard way.

please let the list know how this resolves itself.

dan

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 13:06:43 -0500, Wesley Pegden <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
wrote:

>Okay, it looks like my replacement alternator is 14.0 volts at the
>alternator, 13.28 volts at the battery.  Is this too big a drop?  Should
>I clean up the battery--alternator connection?  I've had  bad history of
>failing alternators with this van (1 a year, almost) so could this be my
>underlying problem?
>
>Thanks...
>wes
>
>By the way, would this really explain my starter motor's behavior?
>(Starting 1 in 5 times, with no turnover at all when it doesn't start,
>and otherwise, starting right away)
>
>
>
>Daniel L. Katz wrote:
>> wes:
>>
>> most likely the battery is shot.
>>
>> assuming that the replacement alternator is working ok (say 13.25 -
14.5 V
>> across the battery terminals when running), and has had time to charge
up
>> the batery, the battery is probably at fault.
>>
>> sometimes batteries fail becasue they develop too much internal
>> resistance, yet may pass a hydrometer test, and also show the standard
>> 12.25 V across the terminals (with no load).
>>
>> given the symptoms, and assuming the alternator is working ok and has
had
>> time to charge the battery, if she fires up easily with a jump, then the
>> battery is almost certainly at fault.
>>
>> dan
>>
>> On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 15:43:05 -0600, Wesley Alden Pegden
>> <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Hi guys,
>>> I'm having frustrating electrical (I think) problems.
>>>
>>> First, my van ('84 manual) wouldn't start.  Headlights would come on
>>>
>> (battery okay) and they would dim when I turned the ignition (so power
was
>> getting to the starter), but it wouldn't turn.  I heard a click when I
>> would turn the key, and again when I would release it.
>>
>>> I ordered a rebuilt starter, and finally got around to installing it
>>>
>> today.  It started twice in a row, so I thought it was okay, but then
the
>> third time it didn't, and I realized I was back where I started.  It
>> starts maybe one out of 5 times, and when it starts, it starts right
away.
>>
>>> The battery is right at 12.0 volts with the car off.  With the key
turned
>>>
>> all the way (but when it fails to start) it drops to 11.4.  If it
starts,
>> it sits at 11.6.  So now I figure maybe my alternator is bad.  I had an
>> extra alternator, so I put it in, but absolutely nothing has changed,
and
>> so  now I'm stumped.
>>
>>> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
>>>
>>> -Wes
>>>
>>
>>