Why won't she start!

[1963chevyc20]

I got a 1963 c20 in may of 2013. I let the truck sit and ran it matey 2 times in a year. I replaced the fuel pump and gave er fresh gas and charged the brand new battery I got with the truck. It was flat out dead from playing music without starting it. I charged it just enough to start the truck. I drove it just down the road. I came back shut her off and 10 minutes later came to start it again. It cranked and the battery died. Why won't she start!

[Old Truck Man]

Originally Posted by 1963chevyc20

I got a 1963 c20 in may of 2013. I let the truck sit and ran it matey 2 times in a year. I replaced the fuel pump and gave er fresh gas and charged the brand new battery I got with the truck. It was flat out dead from playing music without starting it. I charged it just enough to start the truck. I drove it just down the road. I came back shut her off and 10 minutes later came to start it again. It cranked and the battery died. Why won't she start!

A battery that sits no matter where (on a cement floor or the battery box in a vehicle) will sulfate. sometimes a slow charge will break the sulfate loose from the plates. Get a new battery.

[BMERDOC]

Originally Posted by 1963chevyc20

It was flat out dead from playing music without starting it. I charged it just enough to start the truck. I drove it just down the road. I came back shut her off and 10 minutes later came to start it again. It cranked and the battery died.:

Have you tried fully charging the battery? Doesnt seem like its been charged long enough.

[1963c-10]

Ive always gone off the rule that 30min at idle or 15min of good driving to charge a battery off an alternator. Its not a quick charge. Letting it idle for a few minutes or just driving down the road will not fully charge the battery. Some batteries can take up to 3 hours with driving to fully charge.

The alternator is really not designed to charge a dead battery....just to maintain a good one. I've seen quite a few alternators with fried diodes from this. A battery charger or a replacement battery is normally the best option...just my opinion though.

[TJ's Chevy]

I agree with what's been said and to add...When a battery is low..sometimes it will only supply enough voltage to the starter..in other words..all the voltage is being hogged away by the starter and hardly any is going to the coil. I've had this happen. Time for a new battery.

[Lowl!f3]

Sounds like a job for a maintainer charger

[1963chevyc20]

Thank you everyone! I put it on my trickle charger for 19 hrs and it showed it 100 percent charged and I put it in my truck and it started. I used it all day it didn't stay off for Mabel an hr total the entire day. When I turned it off at the end of the day I went back an hr later ans turned the key to on to check the amps and it was drained again. It still started with the chock on full and after almost running the battery all the way down again. I will start it in the morning and see if it starts. If no then I will test the alternator and battery.

[1963chevyc20]

Grrr.... Frustrating!

[Old Truck Man]

One of two things. Its possible there is a current draw draining the battery whn the ignition is off. So next time remove a batter cable from the battery after you think its charged. The other is your battery is shot and cant hold a charge. I suspect its the latter.

[1963c-10]

Are you sure the alternator/voltage regulator are working correctly?

[1963chevyc20]

yes and yes. i puled the cables off over night and it drained. i am on my way to wally world to replace this POS ever start battery.

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by 1963chevyc20

yes and yes. i puled the cables off over night and it drained. i am on my way to wally world to replace this POS ever start battery.

Sounds like the battery is the issue then for sure. Hope it pans out for you.

[Old Truck Man]

I used to buy batterys from wally world. Now their price is about $100. So I now buy a 500 cranking amp (Power Unit) battery for $40 exchange from the local farm store. It doesn't have any warranty but $60 is a lot to pay for a warranty. Do a internet search and I shure there is a feed store or coop near you that sells the Power Unit batterys.

[McMurphy]

easy check to see if it is your alternator or voltage regulator going bad, is to start the engine, then pull the battery cable. If the engine continues to run like nothing happened, then they are fine.

If it starts to run choppy or dies, then one or both are bad.