2002 w/ Original Batteries (still showing green in the sight glass– but pushing 6 yrs old)

Symptoms – First noticed that the cassette adaptor for the satellite radio was reversing occasionally (which never happened before). Then one night there was a scratchy/staticy (almost sounds like the radio is eating a cassette) sound happened and the headlights/dashlights/clock dimmed briefly. The sound is loud enough to feel a vibration under your feet and hear it over the engine. The noise is happening several times a day now, but seems to happen more often as you accelerate from a stop than any other time, BUT it has done it just going down the road as well.

It is not the cassette - the noise is there even with the radio off..


Any suggestions of cause? Batteries going bad?

Thanks

Brian

 

I am sure you can have the batteries tested to determine if they are good/bad. Most auto stores will do this free of charge. I would also make sure all cables and grounds are in good condition. A faulty ground or bad connection in the wrong place can play all kinds of games and cause damage to equipment. If you were in my area I would try and give a hand trouble shooting. Follow the major cables around the engine so you are sure they are good clean connections.

 

Hmm.... the battery on the drivers side had some corrosion on the positive terminal and I cleaned it off. - IIRC it started making the noise after i did that, makes me wonder...

the terminals are tight, but ill double check them. and reclean everything..

thanks for the tip

brian

Brian

 

i would even check grounds to frame/ and engine to. check, tighten, and clean as many as possible.. also just quickly check your serpentine belt while your under the hood, sometimes it can do funny things to an engine/ vehicle in general when its starting to going

 

I would be concered for a dead short on battery cable. If something is dimming lightes, etc. this would cause something like that. Also if the starter was kicking in would make loud noises as well. With the truck running move wires around, this may cause it to happen for you on the spot or if the problem happens much less you know it helped and start narrowing it down and do one side or the other at a time. You mention it happening taking off from stop, engine twists check for ground from engine to frame/battery.