Electrical Problems where do I start

[allstaruk]

Right let me explain.

I am now on my 3rd oddessy pc680 battery, i haven\'t fitted this yet through cause I need some advice, the previous 2 am a fairly confident I killed overcharging.

The dead battery is currently still in the car, when you take it out it has expanded slightly as you can see some bowing in the side, it charges up to 13.7 volts but if you leave it for a couple of hours it drops away to about 7.6v.

I can jump start the car, so that it runs, here is where I am starting to get confused, with the car running the car should be running of the alternator if I am corret, but once I have it running if I press the brake down so the lights come on the radio turns it self off.

What I need to know I suppose is do I put the new battery in and hope for the best or are there things I should be checking first, if so what?

Kind Regards

Alan

[Nik da Greek]

IIRC you should be getting 14 volts at the battery with the engine running if the alternator\'s behaving as it should. That\'d probably be the first/easiest thing to check with a voltmeter?

[allstaruk]

I get about 13.7 volts with the engine running, so iirc that should mean the alternator is doing its job and just being let down by the battery.

[buckman67]

I agree..check that alternator :yes.  Simply, bad alternators will cause batteries to swell.