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98 TJ battery gauge pegs out

622 views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  Jerry Bransford 
#1 ·
Back in early spring noticed battery gauge jumping all over from low to high and wouldn't charge battery. Got busy doing life and just got around to changing alt and driving it around, battery gauge redlined again and check gauges came on. Also it had a hard time idling. Any ideas. Thanks
 
#2 · (Edited)
That is usually caused by a bad, dirty, loose, or corroded battery connection causing the alternator to go crazy trying to sense the battery charge state via a bad connection to the battery. Physically remove both battery connectors and use a wire battery brush kit (around $4) which includes male and female brushes to clean the battery posts and inside of the connectors.
 
#6 ·
18 months is not an unusual end-of-life for the current generation of Optima batteries. Their previously great quality and lifespans took a dramatic nosedive after Optima was purchased by Johnson Controls who moved Optima's manufacturing to Mexico. The biggest reason for the reduced life is pure lead is no longer used in Optima batteries since the move. I had three Optimas in a row die prematurely which is why I stopped running them.
 
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