For the past few days, Ive been fighting with removing an old alarm system form my 94 Z28. I finally got the car running again tonight, but I have a new problem. The battery was nearly dead from attempting to start the car along the way, so I put in a "new" battery. Its been sitting for a couple years, but it was only used for a few hours when it was actually new. Now I can start my car when its hooked up to the battery charger, and while its running it shows a full ~13-14 volts, but as soon as I turn it off and try to start it without the charger hooked up, it wont start, and only shows about 6-8 volts.

Whats the deal? Does the battery just need to be charged more? I thought letting the car idle for 15 minutes would charge it completely, but apparently it didnt. Does this sound like an issue with the battery, or something else?

My other question concerns proper oil pressure. Right when I start the car, it shows about 40psi. Once the car gets to around 180 degress, the oil pressure drops to 20psi at idle, in park. Under acceleration the oil pressure comes back up, but always drops back down to 20 at idle.

Is this normal? Or should I start shopping for a new shortblock soon?

Thanks in advance

 

TTT

 

I would say that its probably easier to check the battery. Take it out and go to an auto parts store and have them check how good it is. If it's bad then hopefully there's your problem.

If it's not the battery then I think you probably have a short some where.

 

if your batt. was sitting on the ground it can discharge over time. if it discharges you usually can't get more than 4-8 volts out of it no mater how long you charge it and if you manage to get more than that say 10-12v it wont hold at that level or give you enough amps to turn your starter. i would go buy a new one. Sounds like your alternator is working fine looks like a dead batt.

As far as the oil press that sounds about normal to me, my oil press. changes about the same amount from idle to throttle the only time you need to be concerned is when it spikes or goes to 0 than you should start shopping for a new short block or just an oil pump.

-Brian