Dead Battery??
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: Portland Maine
Dead Battery??
Unhooked positive battery ternimal on my 2001 to put on a battery tender pig tail, wouldn't fit side mount so I hooked back up. Noticed right headlamp up and no juice the car at all, no lights, or horn. Unhooked battery positive and connected cable, not even a spark? Is there a main fuse or breaker? Put tender on overnight and stiull nothing although it isn't realy a charger. Has anyone have the same problem?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I had the same problem with my OEM AC Delco a few years ago.
Pulled into the garage after a ride. Went to the car 20 mins later and it was stone dead. Not a click - nothing - stone dead. Changed the battery and the car was fine again. The OEM battery never would charge up. That was after 8000 miles on the car.
Pulled into the garage after a ride. Went to the car 20 mins later and it was stone dead. Not a click - nothing - stone dead. Changed the battery and the car was fine again. The OEM battery never would charge up. That was after 8000 miles on the car.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,333
Likes: 6
From: Louisville Kentucky
I bet you fooled around with that fuse box. Remove the lid and apply pressure directly to the top of the fuse box and make sure that it's fully seated. Hook your battery back up and see if it starts.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: Portland Maine
DeeGee this battery was new in September of2007 but car has been sitting in a garage since late november, just started last weekend, weird as there is not even a spark when I pull the positive cable off and touch lead.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,333
Likes: 6
From: Louisville Kentucky
Just make sure that you pressed all the way around it to make sure that it is fully seated. I had the same experience you had and it was a combination of both a dead battery and the fuse box.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
If its an AC Delco I'd say a new battery will get you straight back on the road. If its the original battery best change it on spec
Last edited by DeeGee; Jan 20, 2008 at 12:22 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,737
Likes: 349
From: Layton Utah
This may not be the cause but I always disconnect the neg. post first. You might try disconnecting both posts, recharge the battery if necessary and then reconnect. When reconnecting, do the positive first and the neg. post the last. If it doesn't work, your not out anything. Good luck.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: Portland Maine
[QUOTE=DeeGee;1563712783]Put a multi meter across the terminals and check the voltage with the engine off. A 12-volt battery will show about 12.9 volts when it’s fully charged and about 11.4 volts when it is fully discharged.
If its an AC Delco I'd say a new battery will get you straight back on the road. If its the original battery best change it on spec[/Q
Thanks, I'll give it a try. Do I need a special lead for a Battery Tender side post? The one I have dosn't look like it will fix against the battery and the way the bolt is made it cant go on the bolt side.
If its an AC Delco I'd say a new battery will get you straight back on the road. If its the original battery best change it on spec[/Q
Thanks, I'll give it a try. Do I need a special lead for a Battery Tender side post? The one I have dosn't look like it will fix against the battery and the way the bolt is made it cant go on the bolt side.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Thanks, I'll give it a try. Do I need a special lead for a Battery Tender side post? The one I have dosn't look like it will fix against the battery and the way the bolt is made it cant go on the bolt side.
Wondering what others have used to get a solid connection. The alligator clips ain't worth crap.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 213
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From: Portland Maine
Thanks to all that responded, since the battery was new in November I took it out and put it on a charger for a few hours. re-installed and it started right up. Dont want anymore problems so even if the battery is fairly new I will buy an Optima gell this week, this way I can conect the cables to the side post and connect the battery tender to the top, all I've heard about leaking batteries I think it will be money well spent. I'm glad I joined this forum as there is is a huge amount of information about the same brand of car and all have something in common, Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,333
Likes: 6
From: Louisville Kentucky
Thanks to all that responded, since the battery was new in November I took it out and put it on a charger for a few hours. re-installed and it started right up. Dont want anymore problems so even if the battery is fairly new I will buy an Optima gell this week, this way I can conect the cables to the side post and connect the battery tender to the top, all I've heard about leaking batteries I think it will be money well spent. I'm glad I joined this forum as there is is a huge amount of information about the same brand of car and all have something in common, Thanks
Tech Contributor
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Thanks to all that responded, since the battery was new in November I took it out and put it on a charger for a few hours. re-installed and it started right up. Dont want anymore problems so even if the battery is fairly new I will buy an Optima gell this week, this way I can conect the cables to the side post and connect the battery tender to the top, all I've heard about leaking batteries I think it will be money well spent. I'm glad I joined this forum as there is is a huge amount of information about the same brand of car and all have something in common, Thanks
BC
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Jan 20, 2008 at 10:53 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Thanks to all that responded, since the battery was new in November I took it out and put it on a charger for a few hours. re-installed and it started right up. Dont want anymore problems so even if the battery is fairly new I will buy an Optima gell this week, this way I can conect the cables to the side post and connect the battery tender to the top, all I've heard about leaking batteries I think it will be money well spent. I'm glad I joined this forum as there is is a huge amount of information about the same brand of car and all have something in common, Thanks