Dead Car Battery
Dec 1, 2018 12:07:38 #
I was heading out early this morning to get my car inspected, and I found the battery totally dead. Not even the interior lights (LEDs) would turn on. The digital battery tester didn't even show volts. It just said, "Lo." The car is a 2015 Honda Fit with the original battery. I tested it last week, and it had 345 of its rated 340 CCA, so it should be good. I'm guessing something drained it while it was sitting for two days. If that's the case, then there is a problem because nothing was turned on. I charged the battery and bought a new one - just in case - but I wonder why the original one went dead.
Dec 1, 2018 12:10:50 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Did you check the level of the electrolyte? Needs water in one or two cells?I was heading out early this morning to get my car... (show quote)
Dec 1, 2018 12:16:40 #
Hey jerry,
I had the same problem with my Mercedes AMG car. Just call triple AAA. They have a handheld battery charger that will charge and wake your battery up. I guess if according your test it has 345 then AAA can wake it up.
effie
I had the same problem with my Mercedes AMG car. Just call triple AAA. They have a handheld battery charger that will charge and wake your battery up. I guess if according your test it has 345 then AAA can wake it up.
effie
Dec 1, 2018 12:32:58 #
LWW
Loc: Banana Republic of America
3 to 5 years is the average life of a new car battery.
Once they have been ran down once its time to consider a replacement. If they have been ran down twice you are IMHO playing with fire.
Once they have been ran down once its time to consider a replacement. If they have been ran down twice you are IMHO playing with fire.
Dec 1, 2018 12:35:06 #
Check the voltage across the poles. A good battery will read 12.5 to 13 volts. If it’s 11.5 or below you probably have a bad cell. Replace it. A bad cell can be intermittent or occur at first only under load. If you can, have someone else start the car while monitoring the voltage. If it dips to 10 volts there is a bad cell. Autozone or Advance can test your battery under load for free.
Dec 1, 2018 16:21:11 #
Since it's sealed, there's no way to look inside. What concerns me is the idea that there is something running it down while the car is shut off. Another concern is the fact that is was drained so low that the digital battery tester showed no voltage. All it said was, "Lo." I have a new battery, so I'll carry that around with me for a while in case this one goes bad.
Last week, after sitting for two days, it showed 12.6v and 340 CCA. I'll check it tomorrow morning. If something is draining it, there's no sense putting the new battery in.
Last week, after sitting for two days, it showed 12.6v and 340 CCA. I'll check it tomorrow morning. If something is draining it, there's no sense putting the new battery in.
Dec 1, 2018 18:09:46 #
In these new vehicles there is a myriad of relays & dimmers that turn stuff off when you shut off the engine. One could have stuck & drained the battery. It happened in my wife’s car, but I caught before it drained the battery. It was the relay that turns the head / tail lights off.
You could also try reading the car for any faults.
You could also try reading the car for any faults.
Dec 1, 2018 18:38:32 #
LWW
Loc: Banana Republic of America
jerryc41 wrote:
Since it's sealed, there's no way to look inside. ... (show quote)
Assuming the car is 30 or less years d their are a plethora of things running it down.
Modern cars are never ‘OFF’ at all.
Dec 1, 2018 20:01:52 #
I had a similar problem once. I had a ham radio telemetry system in the car at the time, and one night I caught the battery voltage dropping. I went out to the car and found the fan running. I went to pull the fuse and a screw fell out of the fuse block. That was the problem.
Dec 1, 2018 21:03:48 #
I have never had a lead-acid automotive battery last more than 4.5 years.
They start to get weak, and occasionally I leave the key on. When they're new you can just charge them in a few hours. When they get old and weak they are slow to take a charge so you might have to leave it on trickle charge for as much as 3 days. When they get to that point it's probably time to just get a new battery.
They start to get weak, and occasionally I leave the key on. When they're new you can just charge them in a few hours. When they get old and weak they are slow to take a charge so you might have to leave it on trickle charge for as much as 3 days. When they get to that point it's probably time to just get a new battery.
Dec 1, 2018 22:46:10 #
Jerry, if you have a DVM, unhook the positive battery lead and place your DVM, set on the highest current range you have, between the lead and the battery to see if current is being drawn. I would expect a small amount to run the clock, etc, but if it’s substantial, then start pulling fuses until it stops, and then you’ll know the source (and DO NOT start the car with the DVM in line!).
My car has a sealed AGM (glass mat) battery located in the trunk (where it stays cool), and I swear on The Bible, it is the original 2006 Battery the car came with and still going. I’m probably going to proactively change it soon. I’ve checked the OEM replacement cost, and it’s about $300, but if the next one lasts as long (and both the car and I do as well), then it will be worth it.
My car has a sealed AGM (glass mat) battery located in the trunk (where it stays cool), and I swear on The Bible, it is the original 2006 Battery the car came with and still going. I’m probably going to proactively change it soon. I’ve checked the OEM replacement cost, and it’s about $300, but if the next one lasts as long (and both the car and I do as well), then it will be worth it.
Dec 2, 2018 01:21:25 #
LWW wrote:
3 to 5 years is the average life of a new car battery.
Once they have been ran down once its time to consider a replacement. If they have been ran down twice you are IMHO playing with fire.
Once they have been ran down once its time to consider a replacement. If they have been ran down twice you are IMHO playing with fire.
?? I had a battery on an old car run down easily 20 times +, and after that it lasted another 15 years!
Dec 2, 2018 05:41:13 #
Dec 2, 2018 05:44:36 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I was heading out early this morning to get my car... (show quote)
Sometimes they just die. The best tester is one that actually puts a load on the battery, I used both before I retired #1 a Vat 45 #2 a Snap-on solid state, of the two I found the Vat 45 to be the most accurate but It cost $2500 20 yrs ago.
Someone stated it could be the alternator, they will drain the battery if one diode is shorted and they will still charge the battery but at a slower rate.
Dec 2, 2018 05:47:30 #
speters wrote:
?? I had a battery on an old car run down easily 20 times +, and after that it lasted another 15 years!
20 times? geeze the second time I would have trashed it, The only thing I hate worse than a dead battery is a flat tire.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.