Ok I've Charged my Battery 5 times now in the past 5 weeks..

Spud · Post by **Spud** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 7:18 am

I got a new alternator not that long ago so I'm hoping that isn't the problem I am having here. The battery my mechanic tested last month and he seems to think it's fine. However after charging my battery up I get one start out of it, maybe two. She roll-starts fine and once she's going it's as if nothing's wrong at all. Gauge sits at 14 volts with or without amp, air-con etc. turned on so it all seems fine once she's actually running. When I try to turn it back on though, it struggles as if the battery is almost dead.

Any ideas?

Post by **Bennoz** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 7:21 am

Starter motor?

Post by **I8A4RE** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:56 pm

yeah its either that or wiring, im having similar issues. Tell what happens when you put your full beams on and a/c and stero?? Does the volts drop then??

Spud · Post by **Spud** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:07 pm

I'll have to charge the battery up again and have another look at the voltmeter, as it's just gone flat yet again lol. I'm pretty sure it's stable on 14volts though, or just under. My only other thought is maybe my battery charger is not charging the battery up very well, if at all.
I only say that because I can turn it over only once after a full 10 hour charge and it even struggles on that first try. But in saying that I thought a 20 min drive would at least give the battery enough charge to start again yeh? If that's the case then surely my alternator is busted.

Bennoz not sure if I'm correct but if it were the starter motor that was the problem, with a full battery turning the key then would just go tick, tick, tick and never turn over yes? I'm not sure on that though so correct me if I am wrong.

I'll keep you posted anyway. What's your car actually doing I8AFRE?

Post by **vipfto** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:19 pm

It wont be starter motor as your right will make click sound.
Would check your charger too
Batteries lose their life very quickly when they have been charged so its most likely that is your problem
otherwise i'm afraid its alternator

Post by **I8A4RE** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 3:56 pm

If your starter blows, it wont necessary make a clicking sound, a clicking sound is usually the sound your car makes when your battery is flat.

Ok, i jump start my car drive around charges battery, if i use the car every day it will start fine but if i miss a day its flat again and i have to jump it again. Also when i put a/c and full beams on the volt meter drops below 12 volts to like 8 or 9. The rest of the time it sits just under 14 but does have slight fluctuations every now and again especially on hot days. Im thinking alternator getting too hot or something.

I have just swapped over alternators and still doing the same thing if not worse now

Post by **BorepYano** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 6:27 pm

i'm sure we discussed this on the coffs trip simon... but we were probably drunk... um... would it be bad wiring somewhere that's just draining the battery and earthing it out somewhere... constantly? o_0'

Spud · Post by **Spud** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 8:47 pm

Ok I charged the battery back up once again before heading down to my mechanic this afternoon. On the way I watched the meter as I turned the air-con and headlights on and off and found only a tiny movement on the gauge but all in all, stable at 13volts.

Got to the mechanic and turned the car off. He tested the battery with a multimeter, 13volts, all good; tested the water acidity in the battery, all good. Tried to start the car again, no go. Battery seems to have gone flat rather quickly; tried to start it again with the multimeter connected, soon as I turn the key, battery drops down to 3volts. That's why the car wont start!

My mechanic goes a grabs an old battery he hasn't charged in ages, connects it up with jumper leads... vrrrroomm!! she starts like a trooper!!

Conclusion: Battery was charged correctly but it couldn't handle any load on it anymore. Dud battery, old, warn out, tired, whatever.

Went straight down to Burson Auto Parts and got a Century battery for $106; a slightly larger battery that actually fits nice and snug in the black battery casing that comes with the FTO (I think). Dunno if that's a good price either. I had no choice as when I parked the car and turned the engine off, there was no way of going anywhere without another battery in the car lol.

Anyway all is good now, the frustration is over, my little $20 car charger from ALDI is all good as well. I no longer have to park on a hill everywhere I go anymore hahah.

Dunno if your problem might be the same as mine I8AFRE but in any case it might be worth swapping the battery with another car you might have there or something, trial it just to make sure. Or if you have a multimeter test battery when you try to turn the car over. I hope my frustration helps your frustration, or at least gets you a little bit closer to solving your problem.