'99 completely dead...with good battery

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Apr 10, 2005 | 08:00 PM

mike7562

Thread Starter

Heel & Toe

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 17

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From: Wilmington NC

'99 completely dead...with good battery

Haven't driven my baby in quite a few weeks. Went to take her out for the first nice weekend day in a while...turned the key, heard "click-click", then nothing, total silence- no electrical power at all. Figured I must have left something on last time, so charged up the battery (new Optima, less than 6 months old). After fully charging battery (battery charges shows full charge, cables spark), got the same thing: click-click, then dead (power locks won't even work, nothing does). Didn't see any blown fuses in the fuse/relay block by the battery. No obvious corrosion or wires disconnected. Car does (unfortunately) sit outside, though with a good all-weather cover.

Any help appreciated, I'm guessing this is something simple.

Thanks,
Mike

Apr 10, 2005 | 10:27 PM

cenzo

Drifting

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 1,571

Likes: 1

From: Hollywood Md

Mike, its gotta be a bad connection or a bad cell. That about covers the "simple" things. Looks mught be deceiving. Remove the battery connections and clean them up with some Scothbrite or something. Try another battery. Also, you cant be sure about a fuse unless you check it with a volt/ohmeter.

Apr 11, 2005 | 09:55 AM

jimcork1

Drifting

Joined: Jan 2001

Posts: 1,347

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From: Slidell La

Reserve cap

Sounds like the bat, is bad. It could have the volts, and indicate full charge, but the amps aren't there. Put in a new bat. and drive on. I have been hearing of a lot of Optima failures in this manner. I was considering replacing my 4 year Delco with Optima, but I am very hesitant now to do so,, I think I will use a bat. mat and Delco as replacement.

You probably have a cheap fix.. just install new bat. and drive on..99 nassau blue

Apr 11, 2005 | 10:56 AM

Richin Chicago

Safety Car

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 4,411

Likes: 1

From: Wilmington NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike7562

It's either a bad battery or connection.
If you have a voltmeter hook it up across the battery terminals and see what happens when you try to start the car. If the voltmeter dips into the 10 volt range it's the battery. If you don't see much of a dip it's a connection.

Apr 11, 2005 | 11:27 AM

ptdrummer54

Safety Car

Joined: Feb 2004

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From: Rochester MN

CI 5-6-7-8 Veteran

St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07

NCM Ambassador

AGM batteries don't like to be discharged, at least by many of the posts I've seen. Take the battery back to where you bought it and have it checked - if it is bad let them replace it under warranty.

Apr 11, 2005 | 08:39 PM

GR8-LIFE

Team Owner

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 55,394

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I'm begining to hear some interesting issues regarding OPTIMA Batteries. I have one myself. I periodicall get a "low voltage" DIC Message when starting her up after a few days of not running her.

A CF member and friend of mine said that his OPTIMA battery had been giving him lots of problems if he hadnt started the car in 2 weeks.

Perhaps these very-expensive batteries arent as good as everyone thought. I'm begining to lose confidenec in them, no matter how pretty they look.

Apr 11, 2005 | 11:57 PM

mike7562

Thread Starter

Heel & Toe

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 17

Likes: 0

From: Wilmington NC

Thanks to all - you were right

Well, I feel pretty stupid...it was just the battery. I figured it had to be something more subtle after I charged up the (almost new fancy Optima) battery and it still didn't run...nope.

I still had the old (original, I think!) batttery, so I put that one on the charger for a few minutes and then stuck it back in my car just to see if I could get any power at all...it started immediately. Just took her out for a nice 40 minute night drive. Screw Optimas.

Mike