Dead Car Battery
Dec 2, 2018 06:08:39 #
The battery in my 2005 Chevy Cobalt was 7 years old before I had to replace it. Now days the life expectancy for a battery is between 6.5 and 7 years. The price on a new battery for my car was 250.00 USD. I almost had a heart attack when it was rung up. But I had to have it since it was my commute car. Two years later the insurance car totaled it after an accident where I was the filling for the sandwich.
Dec 2, 2018 06:11:28 #
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.
Really, I expect at least 10 years. Our Volvo still had the same battery when it went to scrap (18 years), the Ford Mondeo did 13 years, and a little VW Polo had the same battery all the time we had it (over 10 years). But I always avoid short journeys where I can, less than a mile I'll walk or take the bus.
I've found batteries to be quite reliable since alternators have been commonplace, much more so than the pokey little generators we used to have.
Dec 2, 2018 06:50:01 #
Having had GM cars all my life, I have always used Delco batteries. They do the job better than the 'Bunny"!
Dec 2, 2018 07:25:49 #
Batteries don’t last as long as they used to...I’ve had them go dead with as little as 45,000 miles. That being said, is it possible you left a door slightly open, or lights on?
If you haven’t tried to jump it, you may be able to borrow a charger from a local gas station...they have more power than another car.
Good luck!
If you haven’t tried to jump it, you may be able to borrow a charger from a local gas station...they have more power than another car.
Good luck!
Dec 2, 2018 07:34:56 #
I've seen and heard of these newer batteries going dead almost instantly. My boss just recently started the car was out and about and the next time to start the car it was dead. The car is no older than a 2015 (Subaru)
Dec 2, 2018 08:06:07 #
The two times this happened to me: one time the kids left an interior light on while we were parked at the airport for a week. Another time, with a Honda Accord, the switch that automatically turned the trunk light off when the trunk closed broke and the trunk light would stay on (of course, you couldn't normally SEE that the light was on but I fortunately caught a sliver of light at night after jump-starting the car).
Dec 2, 2018 08:11:54 #
Jerry, I see that you are from NY State. Cold weather reduces cranking amps....just like the cold temperature effects camera batteries. The lifetime of a battery in Florida is only 3-5 years when we are lucky.....due to the heat. I suspect (as others have said), that you have a shorted cell that discharges the battery quickly. The fix for that is to replace the battery.
I have an old Jaguar XJS convertible that I only drive occasionally. When I leave it for a week or so, the battery drains. I believe it is something in the security system that is drawing power. I went to Harbor Freight and bought a 12v battery switch. When I leave the car for an extended time, I just turn the battery switch off. This solves my issue without need for extended diagnostics.
I have an old Jaguar XJS convertible that I only drive occasionally. When I leave it for a week or so, the battery drains. I believe it is something in the security system that is drawing power. I went to Harbor Freight and bought a 12v battery switch. When I leave the car for an extended time, I just turn the battery switch off. This solves my issue without need for extended diagnostics.
Dec 2, 2018 08:17:38 #
We had a lot of problems with our 2016 Chevrolet Equinox battery. We would park the car come back in a few hours and the battery would be dead. We checked everything with meters and everything would be fine. We started having problems about 6 months after buying the car (new). Of course when you bring it back to dealerships they do the same thing, put meters on it. We finally bought a new battery and all is well
Dec 2, 2018 08:25:45 #
[quote=TriX]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'm sure there will be a current draw, but I'm hoping it is slight. When I get around to designing a car, the fuse panels will not require someone to get down on their hand and knees and twist their body around.
The car has been sitting since yesterday, so this morning, I'll check the battery voltage. It should be near 13. If it's good, I'll drive away and bring the new battery (and a 10mm wrench) with me. Of course, disconnecting the battery cable will make me wait to get the car inspected, but it was dead yesterday, so it really doesn't matter.
I'm sure there will be a current draw, but I'm hoping it is slight. When I get around to designing a car, the fuse panels will not require someone to get down on their hand and knees and twist their body around.
The car has been sitting since yesterday, so this morning, I'll check the battery voltage. It should be near 13. If it's good, I'll drive away and bring the new battery (and a 10mm wrench) with me. Of course, disconnecting the battery cable will make me wait to get the car inspected, but it was dead yesterday, so it really doesn't matter.
Dec 2, 2018 08:36:57 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I was heading out early this morning to get my car... (show quote)
Jerry,
I've had that happen twice on a BMW. Once the overnight drain was due to a sensing door lock that did not shut off as it was supposed to. That required a new door handle assembly. Then a trunk light malfunctioned and the light stayed on even with the trunk closed. The most expensive part of the bill was having the technician trouble-shoot it. Both times the car had to stay overnight to trouble-shoot it. I now change both car batteries every 3-4 years as a rule. The Texas heat is very hard on batteries and it's not worth the risk of breaking down in the "Metromess" due to a dying battery.
Dec 2, 2018 08:51:44 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I was heading out early this morning to get my car... (show quote)
Been through this with two Honda CR-Vs. Too boot my brother-in-law sells Hondas and both he and his service chief are none too keen on the batteries Honda uses. They are prone to have cells die. They just replace them with an Interstate Battery.
One other thing, unlike the older cars, the newest cars will not really put a good charge on a battery after a jump start just by driving it for 60-100 miles, or so I am told.
Dec 2, 2018 08:51:46 #
Dec 2, 2018 08:56:49 #
Dec 2, 2018 09:01:46 #
Here is another quick way to check for parasitic draw. (Current drain with everything off.)
In a very dark place, disconnect one of the cables from a working(charged) battery with everything turned off.
Turn off any overhead lights so it is real dark.
Allow a few seconds to pass, with everything dark, to stabilize your eyes.
Now touch the EDGE of the lead you just removed to the EDGE of the terminal from which it was removed.
Look very closely........if you see a spark, you have a parasitic drain.
The size of the spark is an indication of the amount of current being drained.
On modern cars it is not unusual to have a small amount of current draw (milliamps), with everything you can get to turned off; this is the way they are designed. (To support computers, memory, alarms etc.)
Make sure your wife is not watching this from inside the house. It will look very strange to her!
In a very dark place, disconnect one of the cables from a working(charged) battery with everything turned off.
Turn off any overhead lights so it is real dark.
Allow a few seconds to pass, with everything dark, to stabilize your eyes.
Now touch the EDGE of the lead you just removed to the EDGE of the terminal from which it was removed.
Look very closely........if you see a spark, you have a parasitic drain.
The size of the spark is an indication of the amount of current being drained.
On modern cars it is not unusual to have a small amount of current draw (milliamps), with everything you can get to turned off; this is the way they are designed. (To support computers, memory, alarms etc.)
Make sure your wife is not watching this from inside the house. It will look very strange to her!
Dec 2, 2018 09:22:38 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I was heading out early this morning to get my car... (show quote)
Jerry, That is easy. Month 37 on a 36 month guarantee battery.
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