84 Chevy Van Help!!!

[1987blazerguy]

I Got A 1984 Chevy Van G20 305 For Free And It Ran For A While When I Put A New Battery In. Then It Started To Get Colder And The Battery Didnt Have A Enouph Cca's So I Put A Battery With More Cca's (more Than Called For) In. It Ran Fine For Aboout 3 Weeks . One Day I Went To Start It And It Cranked For Aboout 4 Seconds Slowly Then Died. So I Jumped It And It Started Right Up. The Battery Is At 15.4 Volts. I Have A New Battery Cable Going To The Starter Because A Friend Thought That Was The Problem. But It Still Dosent Start. I Think Possibly A Bad Ground?? If Anyone Had Any Similar Problems Please Help. Thanks.

I Only Have 3 Days Before Temp Plates Expire And I Have To Go Through Emissions Still
Please Help!!

[Liberato]

Did you check the alternator?

[RNRea]

15.4 volts seems too high. If this the battery voltage with the key turned off then there is something very weird with the battery. I assume that you mean the voltage with the engine running is 15.4 volts, which is still high. I would check the alternator (if you can get it off the engine, some stores will test it for free). Check the wire coming off the alternator to the battery, as it might be bad. Also check that the alternator has a good ground connection. If the connections are good then the voltage regulator could be going bad (I've had this happen) although the regulator is probably built-in to the alternator, so it might be up for replacement anyway.

[Hollowcreek]

I agree, its probably the alternator. As old as it is its already probably been replaced once and the rebuilt ones don't usually last very long. Do yourself a favor and get it tested before you burn up your battery.