Kaput...

What could cause your Maav with a 302 to just cut off when you are cruising down the highway... and then when you try to restart it it turns over very slowly like the battery is going dead?

Jason

 

A dead alternator/battery?

 

Bad grounds or defective battery cables.

 

I used a multimeter set to the 20VDC setting to check the battery and it was reading 12 point something on the voltage.. still think a bad battery?

 

You need to use a load tester. With the engine running, the alternator should be reading 13.8 or better on voltage. Take it to an Autozone or a Advance Auto Parts; they test the battery and alternator for free.

 

Well if I could get it started I would..

 

Will it not crank with a jump start?

 

I'll find that out tomorrow, if it doesn't I'm guessin the alternator, being that it was while I was driving that the thing sputtered out... I have 2 alternators I can put in.. so that kinda helps... lol

 

Not your problem

...but it may help someone someday. Driving down the road, truck running fine. Then starts shuddering/sputtering, finally just cuts off, won't crank. The starter solenoid had failed internally and was shorting out my ignition. Towed to a friends driveway that was close, couple checks with a meter, the solenoid off his falcon project into the truck, vroom.

 

Connections to your ignition coil could be loose as well...

 

Take a volt reading while your trying to start it. That will tell you what if your battery is charged. Even if the battery is bad, the car will run off the altenator if the chareging system is good. I'd bet the charging system isnt working so you probably killed the battery.

 

If it dosen't turn over off a jump I would be looking for dirty connections, bad solenoid or starter. Quick way to rule out the starter is touch the jumper cable to the rear back post on the solenoid. It'll probably throw some pretty good sparks, but if it turns over you know it's your solenoid.

I'm betting it's the alternator though. The car should run on a jump and the "ALT" light should stay on if it's the alternator. At least thats what mine did. I went to the pull a part and a car there had a almost brand new looking alternator on it so I grabbed it. Hey, when you don't have much money...

 

Ok, I will have a job of troubleshooting this ahead of me, thanks all.....

 

Yes. A bad battery will still sometimes show 12.something volts. But, it's not the volts that matters, it's the AMPS. If the battery can't handle a load, it'll drain right out. You may also want your alternator and voltage regulator checked as well.