My battery just crapped out
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
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My battery just crapped out
:confused:
I had just finished a run in an Autocross and went straight to get more gas, put that in and went to crank her up, click. Digidash was dead, but when i turned the ignition it lit up only bits and pieces of the usual display, and a constant buzz was coming from inside the center of the dash.
My first thought was that the positive terminal wasnt tight on the battery, so i tightened that up, no difference. Tried to jump it off, no difference. One of the guys at the autocross luckily had the tools to remove the fender and we took the battery to Advance, and it was dead as hell.
What I dont get, is that my voltage readings were in the mid 13's when i turned the car off. And I had had no trouble cranking the car this morning with the battery, and it even read 11.x volts at that time. The alternator itself is new. Any thoughts?
I owe a couple of those guys at the Autocross a big thanks for coming to the gas station and helping me out. I think only one of them is a forum member, vettemike.
I had just finished a run in an Autocross and went straight to get more gas, put that in and went to crank her up, click. Digidash was dead, but when i turned the ignition it lit up only bits and pieces of the usual display, and a constant buzz was coming from inside the center of the dash.
My first thought was that the positive terminal wasnt tight on the battery, so i tightened that up, no difference. Tried to jump it off, no difference. One of the guys at the autocross luckily had the tools to remove the fender and we took the battery to Advance, and it was dead as hell.
What I dont get, is that my voltage readings were in the mid 13's when i turned the car off. And I had had no trouble cranking the car this morning with the battery, and it even read 11.x volts at that time. The alternator itself is new. Any thoughts?
I owe a couple of those guys at the Autocross a big thanks for coming to the gas station and helping me out. I think only one of them is a forum member, vettemike.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,314
Likes: 245
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Re: My battery just crapped out (vader86)
Was there a dead cell or a problem with the plates. We have about 50 pieces of equipment at work the use batteries. I probably replace up to ten a year due to dead cell and plates shorting. Bumps and vibration probably kill half of them. The other half die the day after warranty expires !!! :jester
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 18
From: Panhandle FL
Re: My battery just crapped out (vader86)
Good voltage with no cranking amps is pretty common.How old was the battery.The cheap walmart brands don't last as long as advertised.Interstate makes good batterys or go with optima.Makes me wonder if you other post isn't related to this problem.Maybe not enough juice for all your sensors to do their job. :chevy :chevy
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: My battery just crapped out (vader86)
Most likely an intercell connector broke, or a terminal connection broke. One time I drove into a gas station in my 74 vette, filled the tank and the electrical system was dead. The battery post pulled out of the battery. The battery was about 6 months old.
Pro
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 669
Likes: 7
From: New Jersey
Re: My battery just crapped out (jfb)
I just posted this in general section.. My battery poopieted out on me today and I was stuck on the side of the road ( probally my fault though)
I dont drive the vette much and always forget to disconnect the battery. The result is a dead battery. I purchased a boost it pack and that usually does the trick. I has the vette since 99 and go through a battery ever year or 2 from it discarging and finally going dead. This was the case today.. Dead on the side of the road with a bad battery. I heard that optima batters are GOOD and ok for going completely discharged and then recharging... Any feed back and which type will fit in a 89...
I dont drive the vette much and always forget to disconnect the battery. The result is a dead battery. I purchased a boost it pack and that usually does the trick. I has the vette since 99 and go through a battery ever year or 2 from it discarging and finally going dead. This was the case today.. Dead on the side of the road with a bad battery. I heard that optima batters are GOOD and ok for going completely discharged and then recharging... Any feed back and which type will fit in a 89...
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert Arizona
Re: My battery just crapped out (AGENT 86)
Was there a dead cell or a problem with the plates. We have about 50 pieces of equipment at work the use batteries. I probably replace up to ten a year due to dead cell and plates shorting. Bumps and vibration probably kill half of them.
[Modified by SkunkCar, 1:40 AM 7/5/2003]
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: My battery just crapped out (89C4L98)
89C4L98, lead acid batteries lose about 2% of their charge even disconnected each day. Lead acid batteries do not like sitting for long periods of time doing nothing and lead sulphate collects on their plates. Lead sulphate is a good insulator and once the plates are covered you have an excellent door stop. You can leave your battery connected and if you will charge the battery periodically, it will last to its guarantee period. The best way if you already have a battery charger is to plug your charger into an interval timer (turns your lights on each night when you are away) and set it for its minimum time (usually 15 minutes). This will keep your battery up. Or you can buy a battery tender which automatically senses a low battery, charges it and then shuts off. Continuous charging shortens the life of the battery and is not recommended.
