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Rhys View Drop Down
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    Posted: 18-December-2006 at 21:03
Got a problem, went to start our other car up and the battery was flat. Taken battery home - connected to charger and its been on for 24h so far and the charger isn't showing any progress. The battery isn't bubbling or getting warm. The batery itself is less than 6 months old and is an open cell jobbie (not sealed) as it was empty when I got it and had it filled. It has never shown any problems before and has only recently gone flat.

Is it knackered, would it be able to be re-filled or is it a new battery time.
Haven't used the car for a while since it's off road at the mo, need to get it MOT'd.

Any advice welcome.
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IamSpartacus View Drop Down
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Points: 3625 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote IamSpartacus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-December-2006 at 21:15
never the best after they've gone dry even if only on a couple of cells
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Points: 5245 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Webdunk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-December-2006 at 21:17
You broke it thro lack of love. Shame on you.

GT has to sit on a trickle charger as the security systems kill the battery in 10 days or so If you've not been using the car for a fortnight or more the battery could be deader than a dead thing.
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Rhys View Drop Down
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Points: 10053 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rhys Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-December-2006 at 21:20
Battery hasn't run dry, it was dry when new from dealers and had to get it filled with fresh acid.

It started 3 weeks ago, then last week it was deader than a dead thing - would've thought it would recharge being only 6 months old?
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Goldryder View Drop Down
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Illegitimi Non Carborundum

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Points: 5301 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goldryder Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-December-2006 at 21:34
1st rule of thumb if storing a car, go start it every day or so...or get someone else to do it if you're not around.

If it's not dry it may have a bad cell, take it to a battery specialist and have then test the acid quality.

For the sake of a few quid, get a cheap and cheerful replacement, get the car tested, flog it or whatever and use the new battery on the daily ride, and use the older one on the spare car...and restart it every 48 hours especially in cold/wet weather...oh and if it has an alarm, disconnect it.

Edited by Goldryder
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If it's only 6 month's old should still be under warranty, a least 12 months Bosch 3 years, i'd take it  back and ask for a new one.

Get your self a battery conditioner, keep my battery tip top when car not being used only cost 40quid or so.

Not a good idea to disconnect alarm especially if Cat one and required as provision for insurance cover.   



Edited by Sporty1
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Points: 3625 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote IamSpartacus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-December-2006 at 22:33
does anyone recommend those solar jobbies?
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Points: 1823 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mick525i Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-December-2006 at 22:47

Prob a dead cell. Bin it (i mean recycle it) and buy a new one. I put a new battery in my starlet autotest car last year. But due to lack of use it now wont hold a charge, another 80 squid.

Mick
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Rhys View Drop Down
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Points: 10053 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rhys Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-December-2006 at 23:00
I'm going to leave it charging for a few days - then test it on Wednesday. If it dont work it will have to be a new one.. Oh well...
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Points: 15508 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kbannon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19-December-2006 at 00:15
whats the point?
If its been charging for more than 24hours and doesn't work - its not going to! if you do manage to get a small bit of life into it, then it will let you (or the boss) down when you last need it.
Many batteries come with a year or two warranty don't forget!
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Yes Rhys, admit it - it's broken!

Find the warranty and swop it out 
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But don't care.
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Rossi View Drop Down
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Points: 3311 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rossi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19-December-2006 at 09:17

Rhys... a dry cell battery when new ...never heard of that before...

I would have thought buying a dry battery and adding sulphuric acid would be a health & safety issue..

Return to seller rhys it sounds like cathodes/anodes are knackered or balance of sulphuric acid and distilled water are out of balance..
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Points: 2297 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sporty1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19-December-2006 at 13:03
Originally posted by Rossi Rossi wrote:

Rhys... a dry cell battery when new ...never heard of that before...

I would have thought buying a dry battery and adding sulphuric acid would be a health & safety issue..

Toyota main dealers batterys are dry, activated when purchased, or that's how they used to be about 10 years ago, don't know about now though.
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Points: 5301 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goldryder Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19-December-2006 at 15:11
Originally posted by Sporty1 Sporty1 wrote:

If it's only 6 month's old should still be under warranty, a least 12 months Bosch 3 years, i'd take it back and ask for a new one.


Get your self a battery conditioner, keep my battery tip top when car not being used only cost 40quid or so.


Not a good idea to disconnect alarm especially if Cat one and required as provision for insurance cover.   



If the car ain't going anywhere for 3 weeks, disconnect the battery and alarm...especially in wet weather...common sense to disconnect everything if the car isn't going to be in use and there isn't anyone around to start the engine and let it run for a while every day or so.

There aren't many batteries that will start without a fight after being stood for 3 weeks in wet weather...unless the battery is more powerful than the car needs.
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Rossi View Drop Down
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Points: 3311 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rossi Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19-December-2006 at 15:26

at the risk of sounding daft...

Is the battery charger actually working..(i.e. battery charger fused or plug)??
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Originally posted by Goldryder Goldryder wrote:

Originally posted by Sporty1 Sporty1 wrote:

If it's only 6 month's old should still be under warranty, a least 12 months Bosch 3 years, i'd take it back and ask for a new one.


Get your self a battery conditioner, keep my battery tip top when car not being used only cost 40quid or so.


Not a good idea to disconnect alarm especially if Cat one and required as provision for insurance cover.   

 

if the car isn't going to be in use and there isn't anyone around to start the engine and let it run for a while every day or so. 

It makes no sense to me to start a car up in this manner as 70% of engine wear occurs on initial cold start......... if it's not going anywhere why start it up. Leave the alarm as it is , but if needs must disconnecting the battery sound like the most sensible idea. 
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Points: 173 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dave E Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19-December-2006 at 16:22
BMWs are well known as being hard on the battery particularly if not in regular use - like mine. I do the following checks:
Battery voltage at rest - 12.6v; at idle - 14.3v.
Check the specific gravity of each cell with a hydrometer to check that each is taking a charge satisfactorily.
I have discovered many a battery fault with this method.
My handbook states "if the car is laid up for more than 4 weeks disconnect the negative lead to separate it from the car's electrical system. If more than 6 weeks, remove the battery, recharge it and store it in a cool place".
My car isn't quite in hibernation yet but receives little use during the winter months but I would never drive it out of the garage just to wash it then drive it back in. This is called "retirement wear" which can be deadly to the engine over a period.
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Points: 10053 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rhys Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19-December-2006 at 19:09
Aye battery charger is working as the light it on, battery is from a Suzuki Vitara - main dealer sells these empty and gets them filled (they didn't have time as I was in a rush last time so they told me where they went. A small parts shop that also fills batteries for a fiver or so).
Haven't got much time in which to move it from old address to new address so might as well bite the bullet and buy another. Off to old place tommorrow so will try it just in case.
We're getting rid of it so it's not going to be driven much (only to move it).
Think it's the cold damp weather thats done it.
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Points: 173 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dave E Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20-December-2006 at 08:48
Some time ago now but I had to get a new battery for my 730 and priced them in Halfords. As Robert Stern were so close (they were in Evesham at the time)I called for a price for a laugh and and was surprised to find that their battery was cheaper and also had the set of warning colours within the battery top which I found very useful. This meant I did not have to unscrew the cell tops each time to check the condition of the battery.
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