New Battery Won't Take a charge
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 0
From: Redmond, WA
New Battery Won't Take a charge
I replaced my battery 18 months ago with a Delco (forgot the #, but it's a BIGun). I let it drain down a couple of times (garage queen, of late), but now it won't charge up with a 12 amp charger hooked up for several days. :eek: After I finally start and drive the battery drains rapidly down to 10 volts. :(
I thought the charger was bad and replaced it. No joy! The only way I can start up is by using the Big amp "start function" on the charger. The alternator seems to be charging OK. I drive for an hour -shutdown- then start right up again without problems. But she can't sit overnight without draining down.
Is this new battery toast? :banghead:
I thought the charger was bad and replaced it. No joy! The only way I can start up is by using the Big amp "start function" on the charger. The alternator seems to be charging OK. I drive for an hour -shutdown- then start right up again without problems. But she can't sit overnight without draining down.
Is this new battery toast? :banghead:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: New Battery Won't Take a charge (Airborne)
Have you measured the leakage current with the car off? Another test you can do is to disconnect the ground cable and charge the battery up and then leave it sit overnight disconnected and then measure the battery voltage. Battery voltage is an excellent indicator of the state of charge. 12.9 + volts, fully charged, 12.0 (or lower), discharged. If the battery is defective, you will
measure 12.0 or lower. Leakage current (after the courtesy lights have timed out) should be less than 50 ma.
measure 12.0 or lower. Leakage current (after the courtesy lights have timed out) should be less than 50 ma.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,080
Likes: 0
From: Corvette valley Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
Re: New Battery Won't Take a charge (Airborne)
Here a little known fact if the battery is dead ( no volts) you will have to jump start the battery with another battery just connect the battery pos to pos and neg to neg and then connect the charger to the battery it sounds strange but it works! I have " saved " batterys that were scrapped because the battery was ultra dead.
Drifting
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento, CA Money can't buy happiness - but it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than a Yugo.
Re: New Battery Won't Take a charge (Airborne)
Airborne,
There is a very good chance that your battery is toast. Auto batteries are made to discharge hundreds of times in the 10~50% level. A 90~100% discharge just a few times kills them. A deep cycle battery can handle the deep discharges without problem, but car batteries aren't made for it.
Gordon Killebrew says the Vette system is not made to completely recharge a deeply discharged battery no matter how much you drive it after starting. He suggests using a low amp setting on the battery charger and fully charging the (disconnected) battery overnight or longer. If you charge the battery at the 2 amp setting on a multiple setting automotive charger for 24~48 hours and it will not hold the charge more that 72 hours it is time to open the old wallet.
There is a very good chance that your battery is toast. Auto batteries are made to discharge hundreds of times in the 10~50% level. A 90~100% discharge just a few times kills them. A deep cycle battery can handle the deep discharges without problem, but car batteries aren't made for it.
Gordon Killebrew says the Vette system is not made to completely recharge a deeply discharged battery no matter how much you drive it after starting. He suggests using a low amp setting on the battery charger and fully charging the (disconnected) battery overnight or longer. If you charge the battery at the 2 amp setting on a multiple setting automotive charger for 24~48 hours and it will not hold the charge more that 72 hours it is time to open the old wallet.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 13,356
Likes: 0
From: tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '04 & '05
Re: New Battery Won't Take a charge (Airborne)
My simple guess would be a bad battery, no matter how new.
Have you checked the charging sys. Altenator etc.?????
Sorry, just trying to help.
When I leave my vette quite like no stating or driving for awhile, I use a cutoff switch.
You should use this if not drivin that much.
What do you think?? Has to something simple.
tony
:chevy :chevy :chevy
Have you checked the charging sys. Altenator etc.?????
Sorry, just trying to help.
When I leave my vette quite like no stating or driving for awhile, I use a cutoff switch.
You should use this if not drivin that much.
What do you think?? Has to something simple.
tony
:chevy :chevy :chevy
