... If you can all remember that I have absolutely NO EXPERIENCE with wires/electric at all!!!!!!! Honestly, I don't even know what equipment I need.
Here's the problem: after I had the K5 a couple months, I started to notice the battery was a little slow, but I didn't really notice a pattern. Eventually, it got to the point where I was needing to jump it regularly with my Jeep. Not every day, but regularly, sometimes once a week, sometimes more. I learned to test the battery by turning on the lights with the key in "off" position- buzzer goes on? Good to start. No buzzer? Need a jump. After a jump, runs fine, radio and lights work. Drive it around a while, will start later in the day.
I figured out that if I skipped a day of driving, then it ALWAYS needed a jump... which is where I got the idea there was a draw on the battery.
At some point my starter stopped working, so I replaced that AND got a brand spanking new battery. For about 2 weeks everything was great. Then I started noticing the battery was getting a little slow on crank again.
I figured I'd wait it out, but less than a week after that, I went to start the truck after a short shift on Tuesday- 7 hours or so, and it was stone dead. Got a jump, drove it for about an hour and a half. Started yesterday with no problems. Starts today.
Quick additional info- I live very close to work, like 3 miles, so when I drive it to work it's only running for like... 15 minutes or less at a time. EXCEPT when I work at the new hospital, which I did yesterday- that's about 8 miles and a lot of traffic, so it takes about 30 minutes. Also, it's a 76. It has an aftermarket radio the PO put in, but other than that and the lights, there is literally NOTHING electric in this truck.
Am I wrong in assuming I have a draw somewhere? And that the battery just isn't getting charged for long enough when I drive the short distances? Or is something else wrong?
It's technically a daily driver, so I'd like to get it figured out. I may end up having to take it somewhere, but if I do that then I'd at least like to know what I'm looking for so they don't hose me.
Here's the problem: after I had the K5 a couple months, I started to notice the battery was a little slow, but I didn't really notice a pattern. Eventually, it got to the point where I was needing to jump it regularly with my Jeep. Not every day, but regularly, sometimes once a week, sometimes more. I learned to test the battery by turning on the lights with the key in "off" position- buzzer goes on? Good to start. No buzzer? Need a jump. After a jump, runs fine, radio and lights work. Drive it around a while, will start later in the day.
I figured out that if I skipped a day of driving, then it ALWAYS needed a jump... which is where I got the idea there was a draw on the battery.
At some point my starter stopped working, so I replaced that AND got a brand spanking new battery. For about 2 weeks everything was great. Then I started noticing the battery was getting a little slow on crank again.
I figured I'd wait it out, but less than a week after that, I went to start the truck after a short shift on Tuesday- 7 hours or so, and it was stone dead. Got a jump, drove it for about an hour and a half. Started yesterday with no problems. Starts today.Quick additional info- I live very close to work, like 3 miles, so when I drive it to work it's only running for like... 15 minutes or less at a time. EXCEPT when I work at the new hospital, which I did yesterday- that's about 8 miles and a lot of traffic, so it takes about 30 minutes. Also, it's a 76. It has an aftermarket radio the PO put in, but other than that and the lights, there is literally NOTHING electric in this truck.
Am I wrong in assuming I have a draw somewhere? And that the battery just isn't getting charged for long enough when I drive the short distances? Or is something else wrong?
It's technically a daily driver, so I'd like to get it figured out. I may end up having to take it somewhere, but if I do that then I'd at least like to know what I'm looking for so they don't hose me.
