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Old 06-10-2016, 07:22 PM   #1
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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
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Old 06-10-2016, 07:36 PM   #2
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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

Last edited by 911monty; 06-10-2016 at 07:53 PM. Reason: cell
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Old 06-10-2016, 08:17 PM   #3
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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?
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Old 06-10-2016, 08:58 PM   #4
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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?????
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Old 06-10-2016, 09:03 PM   #5
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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.
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Old 06-10-2016, 09:06 PM   #6
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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.....

Last edited by 911monty; 06-10-2016 at 09:19 PM. Reason: Bad battery
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Old 06-10-2016, 08:19 PM   #7
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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.
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Old 06-10-2016, 08:23 PM   #8
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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
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