[johnwwwwww]

i have a 86 s10 with a chevy 355 ive been having charging problems so i have that part is fixed i ran a 4ga. wire from the battery to the alt and something keeps draing my battery faster than it can charge. im thinking may be my starter is over heating but im not sure if an over heated starter would draw my battery to death any ideas would help thanks

[S10 Racer]

I doubt that it is your starter. If you have a 3 wire alternator, check and make sure the wire going to the field terminal is hot ONLY when you have the ignition turned on. If that terminal is hot all the time, it will discharge your battery.

[johnwwwwww]

i have the field wire jumped hot with a switch and when i shut the truck off i turn off the field. i have the basic drag set up with lights no heater controls just ingnation and lights i put it on a battery tester says 13.8 volts and its charging im lost also if i go out and try to start it after an hr or so it turs over strong but when its hot it acts like a dead batt starter clicking and turning slow and wont start

[S10 Racer]

Originally Posted by johnwwwwww

i have the field wire jumped hot with a switch and when i shut the truck off i turn off the field. i have the basic drag set up with lights no heater controls just ingnation and lights i put it on a battery tester says 13.8 volts and its charging im lost also if i go out and try to start it after an hr or so it turs over strong but when its hot it acts like a dead batt starter clicking and turning slow and wont start

Do you have a good battery? It may be that the batttery has a dead cell or two and will not stay charged after it sits. Try this, with all electrical switches turned off, remove a battery terminal and check for any small sparks. You may have to touch the terminal to the battery a time or two to check this out but if you see any spark, there is a drain somewhere. If you don't see any sparks, I would suspect the battery is no good. You could also charge the battery and then disconnect a battery terminal and let it sit overnight or however long you have to let it sit now when it won't start, reconnect the battery and see if it starts. If it starts, then the battery is good and you have a drain somewhere. You could also take the battery to the auto store and have it tested.

[johnwwwwww]

what has be baffeled is that ist draining while im driving it once its running i can drive it all day untill i shut it off then its done for an hr or then it will start right up and run till shut it off the the same thing all over

[S10 Racer]

Originally Posted by johnwwwwww

what has be baffeled is that ist draining while im driving it once its running i can drive it all day untill i shut it off then its done for an hr or then it will start right up and run till shut it off the the same thing all over

So what you are saying is that after you drive it and shut it off, you have to let it sit for an hour or so before it will start again? If it only happens after the motor gets hot and turns over slow, It could be that the timing needs adjusted or you do have a overheated starter. If your exhaust is close to the starter, it could cause the starter to get hot and not work until it cools down.

[johnwwwwww]

all the re search i've been doing is telling me to heat rap my hedder's and get a starter shield or blanket so thats my next step. ill let you know waht happens.

[302 Z28]

Moderators note: I changed the title to help aid the search function. A thread title with "I need some help please" does not help anyone searching for a solution to a similar problem.

Thanks
Vince

[T-bucket23]

Charge the battery and have it tested.
Test the alternator to see if it is charging.
It sounds more like a heat soak issue than a charging issue.