Possible battery problem?

[JulesMaximus]

So, my wife called me yesterday afternoon saying her car wouldn't start. It was in the 90s here and she was picking my son and his friend up from school, she said the dashboard electronics were all working and the A/C was on but when she pushed the start button she just heard clicking. I told her to shut the A/C and anything non-essential off and try starting it again. That worked and the car started. I had her drive it home and then I checked it last night. I had my son crank it over while I monitored the battery with a meter. It was reading 12.4V or so with no load and dropped to 9.4V when cranking but the car started 3 times. No other warning lights or problems.

Car is a 2006 Lexus IS250.

I think it just needs a new battery but was wondering if there was something else that might cause this problem.

 

[imagoon]

So, my wife called me yesterday afternoon saying her car wouldn't start. It was in the 90s here and she was picking my son and his friend up from school, she said the dashboard electronics were all working and the A/C was on but when she pushed the start button she just heard clicking. I told her to shut the A/C and anything non-essential off and try starting it again. That worked and the car started. I had her drive it home and then I checked it last night. I had my son crank it over while I monitored the battery with a meter. It was reading 12.4V or so with no load and dropped to 9.4V when cranking but the car started 3 times. No other warning lights or problems.

Car is a 2006 Lexus IS250.

I think it just needs a new battery but was wondering if there was something else that might cause this problem.

If it is original it needs to be replaced. What you described is the exact symptoms of a failing battery.

 

[JulesMaximus]

If it is original it needs to be replaced. What you described is the exact symptoms of a failing battery.

It is not original. I replaced the original battery a couple years ago. I think I bought this one at Autozone or someplace like that.

 

[satyajitmenon]

So, my wife called me yesterday afternoon saying her car wouldn't start. It was in the 90s here and she was picking my son and his friend up from school, she said the dashboard electronics were all working and the A/C was on but when she pushed the start button she just heard clicking. I told her to shut the A/C and anything non-essential off and try starting it again. That worked and the car started. I had her drive it home and then I checked it last night. I had my son crank it over while I monitored the battery with a meter. It was reading 12.4V or so with no load and dropped to 9.4V when cranking but the car started 3 times. No other warning lights or problems.

Car is a 2006 Lexus IS250.

I think it just needs a new battery but was wondering if there was something else that might cause this problem.

How old is the battery?

When you tested it at home, were the A/C, lights etc on when you cranked it?

 

[LTC8K6]

Well, the A/C compressor clutch is not engaged when cranking. So there is no A/C compressor load when cranking.

9.4V when cranking sounds low.

My Jeep's 5 year old battery maintains 10V when cranking the hemi over.

 

[EagleKeeper]

6-7 yr old battery is at the end of it's expected life span.
2-3 year old battery should be checked out ASAP. This will happen again.

Add that to intense heat (cooking the battery) and a new battery is called for. Warranty?

Heat will destroy a battery life more than cold.
90 outside air is closer to 100-105 under the hood.

Would you treat your bike that way - park it under a heat lamp when not in use :twisted:

 

[olds]

So, my wife called me yesterday afternoon saying her car wouldn't start. It was in the 90s here and she was picking my son and his friend up from school, she said the dashboard electronics were all working and the A/C was on but when she pushed the start button she just heard clicking. I told her to shut the A/C and anything non-essential off and try starting it again. That worked and the car started. I had her drive it home and then I checked it last night. I had my son crank it over while I monitored the battery with a meter. It was reading 12.4V or so with no load and dropped to 9.4V when cranking but the car started 3 times. No other warning lights or problems.

Car is a 2006 Lexus IS250.

I think it just needs a new battery but was wondering if there was something else that might cause this problem.

I knew you'd bring your bike into this.
kidding

 

[JulesMaximus]

6-7 yr old battery is at the end of it's expected life span.
2-3 year old battery should be checked out ASAP. This will happen again.

Add that to intense heat (cooking the battery) and a new battery is called for. Warranty?

Heat will destroy a battery life more than cold.
90 outside air is closer to 100-105 under the hood.

Would you treat your bike that way - park it under a heat lamp when not in use :twisted:

Her car is still sitting in the garage where she parked it yesterday. I let her use my car today and rode the literbike to work. Told her not to use it until I can get it sorted out this weekend. I'll probably take it to a guy I know tomorrow and have him check the charging system.

Oh and my bike is a mega heat lamp when it is running. I rode to work today and when I sit at a light for more than 30 seconds my left leg almost gets burned by the heat pouring off this thing... and the battery is underneath the tank right above the engine so I'm sure it's even hotter in there. :biggrin:

I knew you'd bring your bike into this.
kidding

LOL! Look at the thread tags.

 

[Squisher]

The battery is obviously weak, but is it weak because it's failing or is it weak because the alternator is failing to adequately charge it, that is the question.

I'd find out before I'd make a move. Battery can be taken into some an auto parts stores and they'll charge it for a while, then load test it for a better answer. Also the alternator can be taken in and they'll bench test it and give you an answer right away.

I'm familiar enough with my little trickle charger that I can usually tell if a battery is bad by how it accepts a charge.

 

[LTC8K6]

If the battery was weak because of the alternator, she probably wouldn't have made it home.

I would still use this as an opportunity to check it all out, though.

It could simply be a loose connection.

 

[Capt Caveman]

It is not original. I replaced the original battery a couple years ago. I think I bought this one at Autozone or someplace like that.

Just brought in my two year old vehicle for servicing b/c I was getting a low battery warning during hot summer days. They tested it and found that the battery wouldn't take a full charge and installed a new one for me under warranty.

 

[JulesMaximus]

It was the battery.

Car is fixed.