2manyvans

So why wouldn't a trickle charger keep the battery charged up? I thought that's what they did .

donbrew

They do, if the battery is already charged. They don't do a very good job of charging a battery.

sleeper

Trickle charger is different from a battery maintainer or tender.

Trickle charge is usually around a 2 Amp constant charge, while a maintainer will float when it reaches 13.4, or vary if it has an external ambient temp sensor.

Trickle charger can boil out your acid, since it doesn't know when to stop charging.

2manyvans

I understand now. A trickle charger doesn't have the green light that comes on when the battery is fully charged.

donbrew

Most people think they are the same thing, even the packaging uses them as interchangeable.

piper27

Took it to two places this morning, both load tested the battery and said it was fine. At this point I was hoping it was bad. One place tested the alternator also and said it checked out good. I was thinking maybe a diode in the alternator might be the problem.
When I started it this morning to take it to have the battery tested, no dash lights or gauges came on at all. After driving for 15 minutes it all started working again, and worked the rest of the time I drove it.

donbrew

Doesn't seem to be the battery the, must be a loose or broken wire.

Has the instrument panel ever been removed? I'm thinking the connector. I think you said it runs fine just no gauges or lights?

piper27

No Don, The panel has never been removed. Yes it runs fine even with no lights or gauges working.

Cat Man HHR

Got to start looking for a connection problem.
Do lights go out for the controls in center of dash by the radio ?

piper27

No, lights stay on there, only problem area is the instrument cluster either completely out with nothing working on it ,or all the instrument cluster light flashing on and off.
I have the battery terminals off now with a charger hooked up to the battery. If it's ever consistent, lately it's been that first thing in the morning it always acts up. I'll see what it does first thing tomorrow with the battery fully charged up.