Not the battery again....

[DamnFineChim]

Hi folks,

Brand new battery (bought and installed new in Sept) has given up the gun...

Haven't driven my poor little car for about 3 weeks and now battery is D-E-A-D! Jumped off another car and it started no probs.... had to keep the leads attached for 10 mins or so to keep it from cutting out.

Once it was happy enough to run all on its own, all warmed up and idling nicely I took her for a nice 45 minute trounce up the M3 and through some nice back streets.

Got back to the house, turned it off and........ still dead.

Have I buggered the battery? Will bench charge it tonight and tomorrow and try again this weekend but anyone have any suggestions/recommendations? Could it be the altenator?

Cheers,

Corey

[digga951]

I'd say that it could be the alternater. Surely once you have jump started a car, you can remove the leads straight away and the car will carry on running? Thats always been the case with cars I've jump started. Perhaps the alternater is just a bit weak, and only bearly puts out enough power to run the car, and not charge the battery too.

Put a multi meter accross the 2 battery terminals with the engine running, and make sure you have somewhere in the region of 14 volts present. Then, put the lights, heater etc on and check again, making sure that the voltage doesnt drop too far into the 13's.

Dan.

[RUSSELLM]

Have the Chims got the 100A fuse in line between the battery & the alternator, like the Cerbs ?

If not, I'm with the alternator.

[Graham]

3 weeks without running a chim will usually drain the battery things like alarm, radio memory clock etc...

I leave mine on a battery conditioner, which is great untill the conditioner dies and fully discharges your brand new expensive gel bettery

So it could be the battery is now buggered and the engine was running from the alternator..., or as said the it could be the alternator, although I would expect that if the battery was flat and the alt not charging then the car would stop quite quickly as things like the ecu, and fuel pumps need battery power to function.

I once had an alt on a rangey die on the way back from holiday. my phone bat was flat so plugged it in at the start of the journey. phone bat charged off the car bat. then when car bat finally flat, the car started draining the phone bat. So when the car finally stopped in the middle of nowhere the phone was flat too !!!!

G

[RUSSELLM]

Graham said:

I once had an alt on a rangey die on the way back from holiday. my phone bat was flat so plugged it in at the start of the journey. phone bat charged off the car bat. then when car bat finally flat, the car started draining the phone bat. So when the car finally stopped in the middle of nowhere the phone was flat too !!!! G

That would make sense, as you see those jump leads that connect two ciggarette lighters together.

A 1pence IN4004 diode would put pay to that happening

[DamnFineChim]

Thanks for the replies guys.
Will see what happens after charging the battery up for a couple of days.

Would love to have it on a conditioner/trickle charger but no power in garage..

Thanks again.

Corey

PS - Is there a quick way I can see if the ALT is knackered?

[zumbruk]

DamnFineChim said:

Thanks for the replies guys. Will see what happens after charging the battery up for a couple of days.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but once a car battery's been deep discharged, they're never the same again - they won't accept a proper charge and go flat again with indecent speed.

[.Mark]

DamnFineChim said:

Hi folks, Brand new battery (bought and installed new in Sept) has given up the gun... Corey

It'll have a warranty, return it and get another new one and learn your lesson.

Use the damn thing

[DamnFineChim]

.Mark said:

DamnFineChim said: Hi folks, Brand new battery (bought and installed new in Sept) has given up the gun... Corey It'll have a warranty, return it and get another new one and learn your lesson. Use the damn thing

Oh That is the key... I MUST DRIVE MORE!!!!!

I have spoken with the company and they have asked me to charge it up and return it. They will test it I assume and 'should' give me a new replacement.

zumbruk said:

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but once a car battery's been deep discharged, they're never the same again - they won't accept a proper charge and go flat again with indecent speed.

Hey Zumbruk,
Yeah, i figured as much. As long as I can get enough juice in it to get me over to the other side of London to where I bought the damn thing, im happy.


>> Edited by DamnFineChim on Thursday 24th November 15:42

[K.K.]

Bought my Tam new in June 04, by June 05, having once left the lights on and once not driven it for 2 weeks, the battery started going flat regularly and it was never the same again. Recently took it to London TVR who said the battery had a dead cell. Replaced it last month and so far so good!

[BLUETHUNDER]

DamnFineChim said:

Hi folks, Brand new battery (bought and installed new in Sept) has given up the gun... Haven't driven my poor little car for about 3 weeks and now battery is D-E-A-D! Jumped off another car and it started no probs.... had to keep the leads attached for 10 mins or so to keep it from cutting out. Once it was happy enough to run all on its own, all warmed up and idling nicely I took her for a nice 45 minute trounce up the M3 and through some nice back streets. Got back to the house, turned it off and........ still dead. Have I buggered the battery? Will bench charge it tonight and tomorrow and try again this weekend but anyone have any suggestions/recommendations? Could it be the altenator? Cheers, Corey

Hello Corey.The car had a new alternator fitted in october of last year.

[DamnFineChim]

Hey Mark,

Nice to finally see ya on here.

Cheers for that. I thought it looked pretty new. Battery is all charged up now (and the old one that was originally in there - as a backup hehe) So, see how she go's tonight.

When do we get to see your new motor? Been a long time coming.

[the dodger]

BLUETHUNDER said:

Hello Corey.The car had a new alternator fitted in october of last year.

Have you checked the dreaded 100A fuse yet? Located near starter motor.
(if you have one?)

[2 Smokin Barrels]

zumbruk said:

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but once a car battery's been deep discharged, they're never the same again - they won't accept a proper charge and go flat again with indecent speed.

I always believed that to be true. But..more modern ones can have the ability to recover.



>> Edited by 2 Smokin Barrels on Friday 25th November 18:21

[BLUETHUNDER]

DamnFineChim said:

Hey Mark, Nice to finally see ya on here. Cheers for that. I thought it looked pretty new. Battery is all charged up now (and the old one that was originally in there - as a backup hehe) So, see how she go's tonight. When do we get to see your new motor? Been a long time coming.

[BLUETHUNDER]

DamnFineChim said:

Hey Mark, Nice to finally see ya on here. Cheers for that. I thought it looked pretty new. Battery is all charged up now (and the old one that was originally in there - as a backup hehe) So, see how she go's tonight. When do we get to see your new motor? Been a long time coming.

[BLUETHUNDER]

DamnFineChim said:

Hey Mark, Nice to finally see ya on here. Cheers for that. I thought it looked pretty new. Battery is all charged up now (and the old one that was originally in there - as a backup hehe) So, see how she go's tonight. When do we get to see your new motor? Been a long time coming.

Hello mate. I had the car out for the last two days,but with the roads being a bit damp i was sliding all over the place so i put it back in the garage,but i will bring it over soon.

[zumbruk]

2 Smokin Barrels said:

zumbruk said: I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but once a car battery's been deep discharged, they're never the same again - they won't accept a proper charge and go flat again with indecent speed. I always believed that to be true. But..more modern ones can have the ability to recover.

I haven't bought a battery for a few years now, ever since I started using conditioners, but even as recently as 5 years ago, they could still be ruined by being deep discharged. It's a fundamental problem with lead acid battery design.

[2 Smokin Barrels]

zumbruk said:

2 Smokin Barrels said: zumbruk said: I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but once a car battery's been deep discharged, they're never the same again - they won't accept a proper charge and go flat again with indecent speed. I always believed that to be true. But..more modern ones can have the ability to recover. I haven't bought a battery for a few years now, ever since I started using conditioners, but even as recently as 5 years ago, they could still be ruined by being deep discharged. It's a fundamental problem with lead acid battery design.

True. I (like a numpty) let the battery on my Audi get lower than a snake's hip bone. It was so low that when I plugged the charger on it, it just threw the charger into error.

The Audi breakdown man arrived (and despite my protests of it's obviously fecked, and they never recover from this) took it away & recharged it.

That was three years ago, and despite non use for weeks at a time the battery provides good service.

Just showing that they're not always fecked by deep discharge.

[damnfinechim]

Thanks guys,

All charged up and running back at full steam. Will see how it goes over the next week or so.

I'm really gonna make more of an effort and get my ass in the drivers seat atleast a couple of times a week.

BLUETHUNDER said:

DamnFineChim said: Hey Mark, Nice to finally see ya on here. Cheers for that. I thought it looked pretty new. Battery is all charged up now (and the old one that was originally in there - as a backup hehe) So, see how she go's tonight. When do we get to see your new motor? Been a long time coming. Hello mate. I had the car out for the last two days,but with the roads being a bit damp i was sliding all over the place so i put it back in the garage,but i will bring it over soon.

Sounds good Mark, looking forward to it. Having a service and suspension done in a couple of weeks so will catch up after that.