battery
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 118
Likes: 10
From: Deltona Fl
battery
My wife has a 99 6 speed cone and there is a problem with the electrical system.I had a battery tender it for a long time because she doesn't drive it. recently the battery tender went from green to red . I used another battery tender see if that was the problem.It took 2 days for it to turn green.I thought everything was ok, but when she took it out today, her display showed, low voltage,and her hud changed to the whole display.She had to reset it twice.The low voltage went off the screen in about 5 seconds. When it was back in the garage, I put the voltage display on and cranked it.It showed 9.6 to start and went up to 13.5.Is the a battery problem? THANKS
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 343
From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
A nominal battery voltage on a good fully charged battery is 12.6-12.8V, not 12.3.
And a battery tender is not meant to be a battery charger. They are different. A tender puts out 1-2 amps or less, to maintain a fully charged battery from discharge when sitting for prolonged periods of time while a charger will put out 6-8-12+ amps and bring a dischaged battery to full charge. A tender to fully charge a depleted battery would have to be in constant use for maybe 2-4 days to bring a discharged battery back, if it could do it at all. It sounds like you have a bad battery but the only way to see is to get it up to a full charge and then get it load tested at any garage or battery place (which they will do for free). If the battery tests out good then you have to track down some excessive parasitic draw which is another whole topic.
And a battery tender is not meant to be a battery charger. They are different. A tender puts out 1-2 amps or less, to maintain a fully charged battery from discharge when sitting for prolonged periods of time while a charger will put out 6-8-12+ amps and bring a dischaged battery to full charge. A tender to fully charge a depleted battery would have to be in constant use for maybe 2-4 days to bring a discharged battery back, if it could do it at all. It sounds like you have a bad battery but the only way to see is to get it up to a full charge and then get it load tested at any garage or battery place (which they will do for free). If the battery tests out good then you have to track down some excessive parasitic draw which is another whole topic.
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,441
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
A nominal battery voltage on a good fully charged battery is 12.6-12.8V, not 12.3.
And a battery tender is not meant to be a battery charger. They are different. A tender puts out 1-2 amps or less, to maintain a fully charged battery from discharge when sitting for prolonged periods of time while a charger will put out 6-8-12+ amps and bring a dischaged battery to full charge. A tender to fully charge a depleted battery would have to be in constant use for maybe 2-4 days to bring a discharged battery back, if it could do it at all. It sounds like you have a bad battery but the only way to see is to get it up to a full charge and then get it load tested at any garage or battery place (which they will do for free). If the battery tests out good then you have to track down some excessive parasitic draw which is another whole topic.
And a battery tender is not meant to be a battery charger. They are different. A tender puts out 1-2 amps or less, to maintain a fully charged battery from discharge when sitting for prolonged periods of time while a charger will put out 6-8-12+ amps and bring a dischaged battery to full charge. A tender to fully charge a depleted battery would have to be in constant use for maybe 2-4 days to bring a discharged battery back, if it could do it at all. It sounds like you have a bad battery but the only way to see is to get it up to a full charge and then get it load tested at any garage or battery place (which they will do for free). If the battery tests out good then you have to track down some excessive parasitic draw which is another whole topic.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 343
From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
Why are you so upset? Splitting hairs? What I said is correct, each cell has a voltage of 2.1V in a fully charged battery.
Your car can start with 12.3V, that's well documented for many years, but that has nothing to do with I was discussing - battery tenders vs. chargers.
And have you checked your battery voltage with a reputable VOM instead of with that cheap digital gauge? You are also giving yourself another unnecessary current draw with that on all the time.
Your car can start with 12.3V, that's well documented for many years, but that has nothing to do with I was discussing - battery tenders vs. chargers.
And have you checked your battery voltage with a reputable VOM instead of with that cheap digital gauge? You are also giving yourself another unnecessary current draw with that on all the time.
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,441
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
Why are you so upset? Splitting hairs? What I said is correct, each cell has a voltage of 2.1V in a fully charged battery.
Your car can start with 12.3V, that's well documented for many years, but that has nothing to do with I was discussing - battery tenders vs. chargers.
And have you checked your battery voltage with a reputable VOM instead of with that cheap digital gauge? You are also giving yourself another unnecessary current draw with that on all the time.
Your car can start with 12.3V, that's well documented for many years, but that has nothing to do with I was discussing - battery tenders vs. chargers.
And have you checked your battery voltage with a reputable VOM instead of with that cheap digital gauge? You are also giving yourself another unnecessary current draw with that on all the time.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 137
Likes: 1
St. Jude Donor '14
My wife has a 99 6 speed cone and there is a problem with the electrical system.I had a battery tender it for a long time because she doesn't drive it. recently the battery tender went from green to red . I used another battery tender see if that was the problem.It took 2 days for it to turn green.I thought everything was ok, but when she took it out today, her display showed, low voltage,and her hud changed to the whole display.She had to reset it twice.The low voltage went off the screen in about 5 seconds. When it was back in the garage, I put the voltage display on and cranked it.It showed 9.6 to start and went up to 13.5.Is the a battery problem? THANKS
While trying to start the car the voltage may drop considerably 9.6 volts could be seen especially if the batter is low to start with.
Running a battery dead often kills the battery, which might be your next issue.
Let us know what the voltage reads on the DIC when running the car down the road. Also let us know what it reads after you kill the engine.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 137
Likes: 1
St. Jude Donor '14
My wife has a 99 6 speed cone and there is a problem with the electrical system.I had a battery tender it for a long time because she doesn't drive it. recently the battery tender went from green to red . I used another battery tender see if that was the problem.It took 2 days for it to turn green.I thought everything was ok, but when she took it out today, her display showed, low voltage,and her hud changed to the whole display.She had to reset it twice.The low voltage went off the screen in about 5 seconds. When it was back in the garage, I put the voltage display on and cranked it.It showed 9.6 to start and went up to 13.5.Is the a battery problem? THANKS
While trying to start the car the voltage may drop considerably 9.6 volts could be seen especially if the batter is low to start with.
Running a battery dead often kills the battery, which might be your next issue.
Let us know what the voltage reads on the DIC when running the car down the road. Also let us know what it reads after you kill the engine.
The good news is that it does sound like the alternator is working and the battery "may" be fine once it gets a good charge.
Enjoy a nice drive with the car and let us know what the running and engine off voltages are on the DIC.
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