***** Motors Chat - Round 5*****

Stheno

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

Would you not just charge the battery? They normally put up with going flat a fair few times before they go bad.

I'd say at this stage it's gone flat ten times in two years, and the intervals are shorter.

And it can't be jumped unless from one of those power packs.

cabb8ge

If battery just over 2 year old and gone flat approx 10 times in two years it suggest that problem is not the battery

Ded_Zebra

Stheno wrote: »

I'd say at this stage it's gone flat ten times in two years, and the intervals are shorter.

And it can't be jumped unless from one of those power packs.

There must be a drain on it so, a battery should last way way longer than that. The battery in my car is dated 2007 and will still start the car after sitting for 2 weeks. My Lancia has a drain a bit like that which turned out to be the alarm. Flat batteries are good for security I suppose :pac:

dgt

cabb8ge wrote: »

If battery just over 2 year old and gone flat approx 10 times in two years it suggest that problem is not the battery

If the battery has gone completely flat at least once, it's only going to get weaker and weaker

Finding out why it was going flat in the first place would be the way to start, then get a new battery

Stheno

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

There must be a drain on it so, a battery should last way way longer than that. The battery in my car is dated 2007 and will still start the car after sitting for 2 weeks. My Lancia has a drain a bit like that which turned out to be the alarm. Flat batteries are good for security I suppose :pac:

The alarm has already been disconnected according to the service history, I've checked things like boot lights etc and it still drains like a fecker

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

There must be a drain on it so, a battery should last way way longer than that. The battery in my car is dated 2007 and will still start the car after sitting for 2 weeks. My Lancia has a drain a bit like that which turned out to be the alarm. Flat batteries are good for security I suppose :pac:

I remember my volvo.

2004 car with battery from 2004 (original volvo)

I went on holiday for two weeks, left it in the airport, came back and it had plenty of power !

That's 9 years. Some batteries amaze me !

Ded_Zebra

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

I remember my volvo.

2004 car with battery from 2004

I went on holiday for two weeks, left it in the airport, came back and it had plenty of power !

That's 9 years. Some batteries amaze me !

You really can get lucky or unlucky with them. It's the same with phones and laptops too.

OE batteries always last way longer than any others in my experience although it is a Halfords one in my car!

Interslice

Looks like it will be dry tomorrow afternoon. I've a front suspension job on the long finger a while now.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

You really can get lucky or unlucky with them. It's the same with phones and laptops too.

OE batteries always last way longer than any others in my experience although it is a Halfords one in my car!

Their ordinary batteries with a main dealer logo really

Just take a look at the ones in Hondas ! Yasuma with a honda part number !

cabb8ge

dgt wrote: »

If the battery has gone completely flat at least once, it's only going to get weaker and weaker

Finding out why it was going flat in the first place would be the way to start, then get a new battery

I would recommend battery is load tested prior to replacement, presuming it damaged by 10 discharge cycles is not correct imo. If all cells wet correctly and load test give good result I not replace battery.

As I mention earlier it seem to me there is a problem other than battery that is root cause.

Stheno

cabb8ge wrote: »

I would recommend battery is load tested prior to replacement, presuming it damaged by 10 discharge cycles is not correct imo. If all cells wet correctly and load test give good result I not replace battery.

As I mention earlier it seem to me there is a problem other than battery that is root cause.

This is why my course of action is replacing battery, then getting new one to an auto electrician for testing

Ded_Zebra

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

Their ordinary batteries with a main dealer logo really

Just take a look at the ones in Hondas ! Yasuma with a honda part number !

That sticker does wonders for them :P:pac:

cabb8ge wrote: »

I would recommend battery is load tested prior to replacement, presuming it damaged by 10 discharge cycles is not correct imo. If all cells wet correctly and load test give good result I not replace battery.

As I mention earlier it seem to me there is a problem other than battery that is root cause.

Best course of action to take alright

cabb8ge

Stheno wrote: »

This is why my course of action is replacing battery, then getting new one to an auto electrician for testing

Strange way to go.

So if auto electrician look at car and discover parasitic drain you are after buying new battery. I would prefer get auto electrician look at car and let him tell me if new battery required or not.

Lot of places can load test existing battery, no auto electrician required.

Stheno

cabb8ge wrote: »

Strange way to go.

So if auto electrician look at car and discover parasitic drain you are after buying new battery. I would prefer get auto electrician look at car and let him tell me if new battery required or not.

As I can't currently easily start the car, I'm going to replace the battery, then get an auto elec to check it, I do think something is wrong with the battery

cabb8ge

So you think something wrong with battery and also connection to battery?
I repeat one more time, it very very very easy to test battery for mechanic.

Stheno

cabb8ge wrote: »

So you think something wrong with battery and also connection to battery?
I repeat one more time, it very very very easy to test battery for mechanic.

Sure but it will cost me as much as a new battery to do that.

Why not just replace the battery, drive the car to mechanic, have the chat with him that I want to and get a good recommendation?

dgt

cabb8ge wrote: »

I would recommend battery is load tested prior to replacement, presuming it damaged by 10 discharge cycles is not correct imo. If all cells wet correctly and load test give good result I not replace battery.

From what's happened to me in the past, the battery only gets weaker and weaker the further the discharging goes. Can't hold full voltage etc. Usually, this cold time of year weeds out the failing batteries. You'd be surprised how weak a 110AH battery can get after it's fully discharged and recharged again...

But at the end of the day, you do what works for you, I'll do what works for me. Not everyone is equal and the same afterall

cabb8ge wrote: »

As I mention earlier it seem to me there is a problem other than battery that is root cause.

Agreed, find out why it's being drained first before replacing the battery/staggering on with the old battery

cabb8ge wrote: »

So you think something wrong with battery and also connection to battery?
I repeat one more time, it very very very easy to test battery for mechanic.

Sure all that's required is a multimeter

cabb8ge

Stheno wrote: »

Sure but it will cost me as much as a new battery to do that.

Why not just replace the battery, drive the car to mechanic, have the chat with him that I want to and get a good recommendation?

Personally I not replace battery just so I can have chat with mechanic. I get impression you very eager to actually get spanners out and replace the battery as you know how. Maybe you like to do that, I think it wasteful as old battery not know to be problem as yet and issues with non starting car seem to have happened when battery still not old.

dgt wrote: »

From what's happened to me in the past, the battery only gets weaker and weaker the further the discharging goes. Can't hold full voltage etc. Usually, this cold time of year weeds out the failing batteries. You'd be surprised how weak a 110AH battery can get after it's fully discharged and recharged again...----

Might come as surprise but if battery tested properly any issue with not holding full voltage will be seen, that is purpose of load test. As you mention what happened you have you ever seen a load tester for battery?

Stheno

I can't currently start the car so if a new battery does that solves one problem

It will not jump from another same sized engine

dgt

cabb8ge wrote: »

Might come as surprise but if battery tested properly any issue with not holding full voltage will be seen, that is purpose of load test. As you mention what happened you have you ever seen a load tester for battery?

As in one of these? We have something similar here in the form of an analog multimeter although not a designated load tester. Tests the current on cranking (load perhaps), charging, voltage etc.

Have you got a battery load tester?

As for what happened, there was a short coming off one of the starter cables that caused the drain. After recharging the battery, it just didn't have the same cranking power, despite being a relatively new battery at the time. double calcium too

Bpmull

Stheno wrote: »

As I can't currently easily start the car, I'm going to replace the battery, then get an auto elec to check it, I do think something is wrong with the battery

I wonder was the battery undersized when it was last changed. As some of the battery charts specify very small size amp wise for the car. As when I got a battery for the astra the recommended size was 60 amp but they even said in the motor factors that you'd be wasting your time trying to start a cold diesel with a 60 amp battery. So went for 70 amp Bosch s3 there a great battery. I know sizing wouldn't be as big an issue with a petrol engine. But certainly if it was undersized it would wear out very quick.

So personally if I was changing it knowing the history I would up the amps by 10 amps and get a high cca battery won't cost much more. The battery in the focus is original ford battery late 2006 never failed to start the car and when in college it's parked up for upto 5 days at a time. Serious going for that age battery.

Ded_Zebra

I know it's short notice but does anyone fancy a new years day drive in the Wicklow mountain area? I go on one my self every year but may as well go with other people if any of you wanted to come:P

toastedpickles

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

I know it's short notice but does anyone fancy a new years day drive in the Wicklow mountain area? I go on one my self every year but may as well go with other people if any of you wanted to come:P

If i can afford it i'm game! I'm currently hoarding my money for.....something shinyish.....nah its not shiny at all, but yeah i'm up for it!

Ded_Zebra

toastedpickles wrote: »

If i can afford it i'm game! I'm currently hoarding my money for.....something shinyish.....nah its not shiny at all, but yeah i'm up for it!

A wiper motor is it :pac:

What do you think of the Glendalough kind of area? or maybe the sea side? Or maybe you have your own ideas?!:D

toastedpickles

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

A wiper motor is it :pac:

What do you think of the Glendalough kind of area? or maybe the sea side? Or maybe you have your own ideas?!:D

Yes :pac:

Emm to be honest i know feck all of wicklow apart from glendalough so you decide! I wouldn't say no to a bit of seaside though, and some mountains

Cleveland Hot Pocket

Might tag along to this if its in Glendalough.
Afternoon though! I'll not be driving in the mornin'

YbFocus

I'm game so long as I'm free

davycc

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

I know it's short notice but does anyone fancy a new years day drive in the Wicklow mountain area? I go on one my self every year but may as well go with other people if any of you wanted to come:P

Ah Id love to head for a spin in Wicklow Mtns:D but my Civic needs a CV joint and engine mounts so I wouldnt be able to enjoy or trust driving it that far in its current state.:o

YbFocus

davycc wrote: »

Ah Id love to head for a spin in Wicklow Mtns:D but my Civic needs a CV joint and engine mounts so I wouldnt be able to enjoy or trust driving it that far in its current state.:o

While there's noise there it's not so bad, only when the nose starts to go again should you be worried

I once nursed a joint in my passat for 9 months!

Truckermal

I seen a 10 reg Nissan Bluebird in Cork earlier it was a Taxi and a jap import, a ugly looking hoor of a thing