1987 22R 4x4 with two year old cheap battery.

A battery issue? The battery (and E brake?) light were flashing last night when I was driving home... only when I was stepping on the gas. The light would go off in neutral.

This morning the truck was making a little buzzing noise - both by the battery under the hood (hissing?) - and the truck - key - in - the - ignition - buzz noise inside the cab. But lighter and softer... as if out of juice. It would do it when I put the key in the ignition and also for a bit after I pulled the key out. Even if the door wasn't open.

What the heck?

I did flag down a jumpstart (I'm in LA and got turned down by two people with prius's and bmws) and the jump seemed to bring back the cab/key buzzing but it wouldn't turnover or even click when turning the key.

Back under the hood and there is fluid on top of the battery and a little bit of crust on the battery.

What do you think? New battery? Short? Alternator? Belt?

There is a bit of a belt whine noise when I step real hard on the gas, but I haven't figured out which belt (and now the truck won't start).

I'd love to just go pick up a battery or belt and throw it in there. If it's an alternator issue or short - I probably can't do that....

Thanks for any clues. I'm taking uber today and would love to fix tonight....

Best,

S&G

 

Go see what the battery voltage is. I had a battery develop a shorted cell one time. Voltage was like 9 volts, and the charging systems way overcharged the remaining 5 cells, causing them to make a boiling sound.

 

I don't have a voltage meter... and I can't get the truck anywhere that has a voltage meter, unfortunately.

Basically, I'm trying to figure out if I am throwing my money away by picking up a battery on the way home. But that would probably be too easy of a fix.

I'm going to hate towing it to a mechanic somewhere...