Dead batteries
Apr 16, 2020 10:39:41 #
Well Jerry its all your fault!! 
My 2018 Grand Caravan has been setting a little over 2 weeks, started to the grocery store this morning battery almost completely dead!!!! Jump started with an HD battery charger and drove about 30 miles stopped and shut off 5 or 6 times after the first 15 miles all is good, Not!!! tested battery when I got back home, battery is kaput!!!
Battery is under warrantee but the pro-rated charge is more than I buy a new and better battery for.
I knew I should have said anything about my batteries sitting for months with no problems.
My 2018 Grand Caravan has been setting a little over 2 weeks, started to the grocery store this morning battery almost completely dead!!!! Jump started with an HD battery charger and drove about 30 miles stopped and shut off 5 or 6 times after the first 15 miles all is good, Not!!! tested battery when I got back home, battery is kaput!!!
Battery is under warrantee but the pro-rated charge is more than I buy a new and better battery for.
I knew I should have said anything about my batteries sitting for months with no problems.
Apr 16, 2020 10:43:43 #
I try to drive both of our vehicles every week.
So far I have been able to think of reasons, such as buying groceries or going to post office.
No problems so far.
So far I have been able to think of reasons, such as buying groceries or going to post office.
No problems so far.
Apr 16, 2020 10:52:07 #
rehess wrote:
I try to drive both of our vehicles every week.
So far I have been able to think of reasons, such as buying groceries or going to post office.
No problems so far.
So far I have been able to think of reasons, such as buying groceries or going to post office.
No problems so far.
All that is good, but a GOOD battery should hold a charge way over two weeks.
Besides anyplace I go is at least a 25mile round trip.
Apr 17, 2020 06:39:02 #
But, have you tried a battery tender. Great gadget; it keeps charged and repairs your battery.
Apr 17, 2020 07:26:22 #
Julian wrote:
But, have you tried a battery tender. Great gadget; it keeps charged and repairs your battery.
A battery tender in no way repairs a battery!!! It is a band aid,The only thing they do is maintain a charge on a good battery that will not be used over an extended period
After the battery had been recharged I tested it and it tested bad!!!I tested the alternator after the battery was replaced, Tested Good.
Better to replace the battery than to have it fail while on a trip or at a very inopportune time.The only thing I hate worse than a dead battery is a flat tire.
I am a retired mechanic and have better testing equipment than some shops, and better than most in this rural area.
Apr 17, 2020 07:46:50 #
Same thing happened to me four or five years ago with a battery that was less than two years old. AAA guy told me he got a lot of calls like that....original batteries just ain’t what they used to be😊
Apr 17, 2020 07:59:09 #
I had an Audi in 1978 that was riddled with problems. Including the last day I owned the car, the battery went dead when I tried to start it to drive it to the dealer to trade it. The ultimate insult was to spend another $75 and then trade it.
Apr 17, 2020 09:47:00 #
Apr 17, 2020 10:27:20 #
olemikey
Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida
I have an old Jeep Cherokee that I used to drive to work....since retiring it does not get much action. I did buy a new high quality battery for it when I replaced the dry rotted (like new Michelins that I hardly ever drove on-seems 12 years of Florida sun got to them). I put a charger on the battery probably 2-3 times a year, because even a new one will draw down over time due to things like the clock, anti-theft, etc. (unless you disconnect it).
When I do charge it I also charge the daily driver, as it does a lot of short haul stuff, (a lot of stops and start up trips to town and such, that do not allow enough charge time) and that will also pull down even a new battery. I find this method works really well, even in the high Florida heat we get 5-7 years out of our batteries.... Charging by driving works, but you need a good long run to do any real goodness for the battery. The charger does 8-10 amps for several hours and we never have any problems with battery rundown.
My method, my opinion, works for us.
When I do charge it I also charge the daily driver, as it does a lot of short haul stuff, (a lot of stops and start up trips to town and such, that do not allow enough charge time) and that will also pull down even a new battery. I find this method works really well, even in the high Florida heat we get 5-7 years out of our batteries.... Charging by driving works, but you need a good long run to do any real goodness for the battery. The charger does 8-10 amps for several hours and we never have any problems with battery rundown.
My method, my opinion, works for us.
Apr 17, 2020 11:03:42 #
Manglesphoto wrote:
Well Jerry its all your fault!! img src="https://... (show quote)
With that reminder, I'm connecting the charger to my car. I have a permanent connection on my battery for a Battery Tender - or similar.
This plug stays connected to the battery.
Apr 17, 2020 11:03:58 #
I got tired of replacing batteries on the generator and riding mower and put them on battery tenders. With the Coronavirus lockdown, we drive about four miles every three weeks so I picked up three battery tenders from Harbor Freight online for the cars. All of the batteries are happy now and we can count on having vehicles that start when you turn the key.
Apr 17, 2020 12:16:31 #
1Feathercrest
Loc: NEPA
Keep the battery terminals and wire at connections CLEAN. Yearly maintenance will prolong the life of a good battery and charging system of the vehicle. Corrosion has killed more batteries than the blame put on the battery.
Apr 17, 2020 17:01:24 #
Manglesphoto wrote:
Well Jerry its all your fault!! img src="https://... (show quote)
Have a six year old Caravan. No problems with the battery yet.
Apr 17, 2020 18:09:37 #
SteveFranz
Loc: Durham, NC
I may be showing my age...but....I remember when replacing a battery was a simple task. Now however...
I recently had to replace the battery on my 2013 Ford Escape. Step #1: Remove the windshield wipers!
Yep, that's right...to get at the battery you have to remove the WWipers to get at a panel under them, then remove the panel to get access to the battery cover, then remove the battery cover.
I recently had to replace the battery on my 2013 Ford Escape. Step #1: Remove the windshield wipers!
Yep, that's right...to get at the battery you have to remove the WWipers to get at a panel under them, then remove the panel to get access to the battery cover, then remove the battery cover.
Apr 17, 2020 20:30:51 #
SteveFranz wrote:
I may be showing my age...but....I remember when replacing a battery was a simple task. Now however...
I recently had to replace the battery on my 2013 Ford Escape. Step #1: Remove the windshield wipers!
Yep, that's right...to get at the battery you have to remove the WWipers to get at a panel under them, then remove the panel to get access to the battery cover, then remove the battery cover.
I recently had to replace the battery on my 2013 Ford Escape. Step #1: Remove the windshield wipers!
Yep, that's right...to get at the battery you have to remove the WWipers to get at a panel under them, then remove the panel to get access to the battery cover, then remove the battery cover.
Lol, try a Corvette
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