Battery problem -- solved
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Edmonds WA
Battery problem -- solved
A while back I sent a message about a surprisingly dead battery. I was out of town for a few weeks and when I came home the corvette battery was dead as a doornail! I had been driving it daily before I left.
Someone suggested it had a bad cell, but I was doubtful... I mean, it was just sitting! It wouldn't accept a charge while in the car, but it would charge OK while out of the car. I charged it for a day, on 10 amps, but it still wouldn't start the car... not even dim lights.
I took it in to the shop to have it tested and they said it registered 4 volts. They tried to charge it up and said it was bad.
So, I'd never had this kind of bizarre problem happen with a battery and I thought I'd let others know in case it's helpful. Thanks to the guys on the forum that figured it was a bed cell (or maybe 3!).
Thanks!
Someone suggested it had a bad cell, but I was doubtful... I mean, it was just sitting! It wouldn't accept a charge while in the car, but it would charge OK while out of the car. I charged it for a day, on 10 amps, but it still wouldn't start the car... not even dim lights.
I took it in to the shop to have it tested and they said it registered 4 volts. They tried to charge it up and said it was bad.
So, I'd never had this kind of bizarre problem happen with a battery and I thought I'd let others know in case it's helpful. Thanks to the guys on the forum that figured it was a bed cell (or maybe 3!).
Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
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From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
There are 6 cells in an automobile lead acid battery, each at 2 volts charged (actually 2.2 volts). If your battery measured only 4 volts, then you only had 2 good cells out of 6. Make sure you buy a battery tender and keep your battery charged up as lead acid batteries self discharge up to 1% each day even disconnected. When they discharge, lead sulphate collects on the plates and lead sulphate is a good insulator. A fully sulphated battery is a door stop.
A battery tender is way way cheaper than a battery!
A battery tender is way way cheaper than a battery!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 88,393
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From: eville in
Originally Posted by jfb
There are 6 cells in an automobile lead acid battery, each at 2 volts charged (actually 2.2 volts). If your battery measured only 4 volts, then you only had 2 good cells out of 6. Make sure you buy a battery tender and keep your battery charged up as lead acid batteries self discharge up to 1% each day even disconnected. When they discharge, lead sulphate collects on the plates and lead sulphate is a good insulator. A fully sulphated battery is a door stop.
A battery tender is way way cheaper than a battery!
A battery tender is way way cheaper than a battery!
you can "force" it out of the plate's by cranking to amps to it when charging but they can go BOOM 
