Headlight Questions

[jpc763]

Well I had a major issue tonight. I was out and tried to turn the headlights on. Nothing. It would flicker but the HID's would not fire. I turned the radio off and still nothing. I drove home with no lights and as soon as I put in in the garage, I plugged it in. 2 lights on the CTEK. It quickly went to 3 and is currently at 4.

So long story short, I cannot do that test right now.

So big question... I have a PCA event tomorrow morning. I will be driving 250 miles RT. The battery will be fully charged tonight, but will it last that long?

Thanks, John

[911monty]

Okay. If I have this straight and you had the battery charged but it was dead again today, then you Could have a bad cell in the battery that is drawing the others down, or a continuous drain with the key off.
These are only possibilities since apparently the trickle charger was able to fully charge the battery, meaning drain is less than 4 amps.
Of course all this could have been caused by a bad alternator. Now I said test the fully charged battery, since that was the last known state, but you can do the same test I mentioned. Just use the current battery voltage as base, start car and see if voltage rises.
If you install a new battery you could maybe drive during daytime using no lights 2 hrs each way before low voltage causes problems. However a dead cell or current drain and all bets are off. Of course the starter, radiator and ac fans will all kill the battery.

I wouldn't recommend it. Sorry

[jpc763]

Originally Posted by 911monty

Okay. If I have this straight and you had the battery charged but it was dead again today, then you Could have a bad cell in the battery that is drawing the others down, or a continuous drain with the key off.
These are only possibilities since apparently the trickle charger was able to fully charge the battery, meaning drain is less than 4 amps.
Of course all this could have been caused by a bad alternator. Now I said test the fully charged battery, since that was the last known state, but you can do the same test I mentioned. Just use the current battery voltage as base, start car and see if voltage rises.
If you install a new battery you could maybe drive during daytime using no lights 2 hrs each way before low voltage causes problems. However a dead cell or current drain and all bets are off. Of course the starter, radiator and ac fans will all kill the battery.

I wouldn't recommend it. Sorry

Thanks for the info. What about replacing the battery with a new one tomorrow morning?

[911monty]

Originally Posted by jpc763

Thanks for the info. What about replacing the battery with a new one tomorrow morning?

If you can do this then why don't you do as I first suggested and have them test the alternator?????

[jpc763]

Originally Posted by 911monty

If you can do this then why don't you do as I first suggested and have them test the alternator?????

So take the car over there in the morning and have them test both things? I removed the battery based on another persons suggestion.

I will reinstall and go to the shop. Hopefully it is just a battery.

[911monty]

Originally Posted by jpc763

So take the car over there in the morning and have them test both things? I removed the battery based on another persons suggestion.

I will reinstall and go to the shop. Hopefully it is just a battery.

Man I'm sorry. Yes O'reilly's AutoZone etc. can check your battery and alternator, and it's usually free. Good Luck,

Looking at that battery I'm guessing it's around 5 years old and so would be a good candidate for being bad. Don't like seeing the acid around the top plug on a maintenance free battery though.....

[jb92563]

If it was me with an event to go to tommorow, I would remove the battery and bring it to the store where they can load test it. If it does not pass you come home with a new battery, if its good then you have a short or fault with something and needs to be debugged before you end up stranded and locked out of the car.

[jpc763]

Originally Posted by jb92563

If it was me with an event to go to tommorow, I would remove the battery and bring it to the store where they can load test it. If it does not pass you come home with a new battery, if its good then you have a short or fault with something and needs to be debugged before you end up stranded and locked out of the car.

Thanks! Great suggestion!

The shop opens at 7:30. I can buy a new battery at an auto parts store, right?

I put my car into O'Reilly and it showed me 4 batteries.

John