My car battery is weak

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WinkOsmosis

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Sep 18, 2002
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On Saturday, after the Bob Dylan concert, I got back to my car to find the battery dead. I got a jump start, and everything was fine. But since then, I've had to turn over the engine much more than before for ignition, and the starter motor seems to strain. Right now I'm letting my car idle to try to recharge the battery some more. Is that a good idea? If not, what should I do? Could the drain have harmed the battery? I have never heard of that happening.

Edit: DOh! I forgot to mention that I left the headlights on. I was driving through rain, then it was dry and brighter at the venue, so I didn't even notice my lights were on. So... it's not the alternator.
 
radioouman

radioouman

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Nov 4, 2002
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Hopefully it's not your alternator. If so, letting the car idle won't help!

Go get a new battery.
 
Evadman

Evadman

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Feb 18, 2001
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When a regular automotive battery is drained fully, the lead on the plates can flake off. that is why their are batteries designed for being drained called "deep cycle". If your battery was marginal to begin with, that drain could have pushed it over the edge. Most automotice places will to a current test for free. it is not something a regular joe can do, and requires a resister set capable of disapating 500+ amps for 15 seconds.

About the only thing you can do is check voltage. in fact, go out and check it now. if the car is running it should read somewhere over 12.6v. (14ish is the most common). if it is under 12.6 then your alternator is not charging the battery. if it is over 12.6 then it is, and it is likely your bnattery is on its way out, cables are bad, or the starter is going. If your starter has a short in the winding, then it can crank slower and pull way more amps then the battery can handle. that is why you test the battery to pull it out of the equation.
 
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WinkOsmosis

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Originally posted by: Tyler
How old is the battery? You might need a new one.
Click to expand...

I don't know. It's been in there since I had the car, so about 6 months. Do they write it on the battery label or anything? I guess I'll check.
 
Evadman

Evadman

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Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Originally posted by: Tyler
How old is the battery? You might need a new one.
Click to expand...

I don't know. It's been in there since I had the car, so about 6 months. Do they write it on the battery label or anything? I guess I'll check.
Click to expand...

yes. it is on a sticker on the top or the side. what brand is it if you can not find it.
 
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WinkOsmosis

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There's no date on any of the stickers. It's a Champion model UF-2. Divison of Cooper Industries it says.
 
Evadman

Evadman

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the date code is stamped intot he plastic in one of the corners. it is alphaneumerical format. a= january, b= feb, etc. (the letter I is not used.), then the year of shipment.

example, A2 = januaury of 2002.

May also be on the side of the battery on a colored sticker, folowing the same format. I know there are different colors, but I have no clue what they stand for.
 
radioouman

radioouman

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Nov 4, 2002
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Sounds like it's time for a new battery... It stinks to get stranded somewhere because of a dead battery. Just replace it.
 
Evadman

Evadman

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Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
It says on a little white sticker..

9-8
<recycle arrows symbol>
J-8

October 1998 then?
Click to expand...

there ya go. battery = older than dirt. I am going to make an assumption and say it is the battery :) cept I is skipped, so it is actually september of 98. like it matters :)
 
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WinkOsmosis

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When you get a new battery, does it come charged or what? Am I supposed to get the shop to install it for me or can I do it myself?
 
T

tcsenter

Lifer
Sep 7, 2001
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The battery in my car is so "weak" I had it connected to a 9A (max) 12v charger for 72 continuous hours and it still wouldn't turn my engine over. :Q

D-E-A-D
 
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ATLien247

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Feb 1, 2000
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Speaking of dead batteries, I couldn't get my own car started this morning. I tried jumping it, and it still wouldn't start!

When I first tried to start it up it would try to turn over once, then nothing. Then I tried a second time and it would try to turn over once, then this clicking noise (the starter?).

Same results when trying to jump start it...

I'm not a car guy by any means... so, does this sound like I have a problem beyond a dead battery?

 
Thump553

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
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What sort of battery should you get? Go to Walmart, buy their brand & look at the sizing chart for your car. They are tons cheaper than anywhere else I looked and the batteries are fine (so far, I've had two of them for about a year now).

Avoid Sears like the plague-they will hit you for extra fees and are expensive on top of that. I spent almost $80-90 last year replacing a battery under warranty there. I knew it was dead, but they still insisted on their $10 premium service charge to test the battery and clean the terminals (which I had just cleaned).
 
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WinkOsmosis

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Sep 18, 2002
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How about Autozone? There is one right down the street.

I also need to get jumper cables. I didn't have any when my battery died, but luckily the other guy did. How can I tell good cables from bad cables? My brother was jump starting my dad's car once and he said the cables my dad had were crap.
 
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WinkOsmosis

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Sep 18, 2002
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I got a battery. Duramax or something. Only one with a warranty that Autozone had (3 yr).

I'm reading this site: http://www.diynet.com/DIY/article/0,2058,7474,00.html
It says to disconnect the cables based on which grounding system the car uses. I don't know whether my car is negatively or positively grounded and there is nothing related to battery replacement in the manual. Does it matter? 1995 Nissan 240sx btw.
 
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WinkOsmosis

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Sep 18, 2002
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I'm not supposed to touch the ground/car when I'm touching the + lead right?

Oh yeah, I want to clean the terminals with baking soda... how much should I put in the water? I'm thinking it doesn't really matter as long as it neutralizes the acid.
 
ElFenix

ElFenix

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Mar 20, 2000
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i replaced my car battery once... the annoying part was that it required a ratchet extension, which i didn't have. so i picked up a new ratchet kit while at wally world getting the battery
 
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WinkOsmosis

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Sep 18, 2002
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Originally posted by: ElFenix
i replaced my car battery once... the annoying part was that it required a ratchet extension, which i didn't have. so i picked up a new ratchet kit while at wally world getting the battery
Click to expand...

What did you need a ratchet extension for?
 
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