Battery issues?

[Sygone]

I've been telecommuting for work this week, and the Typhoon hadn't left the driveway in about 7 days. Nothing abnormal when I drove it this morning.

I met a friend for lunch, about a 10 minute drive, mostly freeway. We met at his office, and took his car. We ran an errand, and the typhoon was parked a total of about 2.5 hours. Afterwards, I ran an errand across town. Probably 20+ miles, one way, almost all freeway. On the way back home, I made two stops, each about 20 minutes. At the second stop, the starter cranked very slowly, and I wasn't sure the truck would start, but it did. While it was cranking, the tach started bouncing, and the needle ended up getting stuck on the boost needle.

I drove back to this side of town, and stopped at Autozone to have the system checked. Alternator was putting out fine. The battery checked out as "good, but needs recharge". The battery is a red top Optima, relocated behind the front bumper.

The autozone guy says it is from sitting in the driveway all week, but I would expect the problem to have shown up in the morning, not after a long drive.

Ideas?

 

[sly dvl]

Re: Battery issues?

Either it wasn't charging, and now it is (which is possible). Or, your Red Top is on it's way out.
The other possibility is that your starter is failing and drawing too much current when it heats up.
A hot engine and a starter draw test would confirm this.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Battery issues?

Skip Autozone and try Interstate if they're close for a second opinion. Get out your volt meter and check voltage at alt then at the bat. Bat should see alt voltage (14.2 or so with allowance for a slight drop between alt and bat). Are the headlights bright or dim? Check the fusible link at the alt.

 

[jpalmer]

Re: Battery issues?

i have personally "fixed" red tops by arching the terminals together. NOT IN THE TRUCK!!!

this seems to wake them up after being dead. The key is to have a charge in them to do it.sometimes takes some charging.

I have done it to one batt that died several time. The only reason why i dont still have this 6, yes 6 year old battery still is because after dying for too long it would not charge enough to arch it.

 

[jpalmer]

Re: Battery issues?

i know it sounds crazy, but im crazy. Oh and it works well

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Battery issues?

Yikes, I can't say that I have tried that or recommend it) but their might be something to it. By shorting the termials, your drawing a lot of current through the battery. I have had Redtops that won't take a charge when doing a normal or tickle battery charging, but if I charge them on the high current/starter charge for a minute, then I charge them normal they seem to work fine.

 

[sly dvl]

Re: Battery issues?

If there is a layer of sulfated (dead) plate material on the surface, caused by being discharged for prolonged periods, the sulfate will be knocked off the surface, exposing 'new' active material to the electrolyte.

Would this hold true for an AGM type battery thought Dave?

 

[Sygone]

Re: Battery issues?

As far as shorting the terminals? I suppose doing this at the other end of jumper cables, around the corner from a building (for shielding) would be almost as bad?

Also, how do you remove a battery that has been relocated to the bumper, with the air filter in the battery's stock location? I got the truck this way, and my prior Syclone had the battery in the normal place. I can't tell if I need to pull the bumper or the airbox.

Is the jumping tach any reason for concern?

 

[jpalmer]

Re: Battery issues?

the times i have done this i have only hit it for 3-5 seconds at a time. give it a rest for a min then do it again.

You are right on the heat. but the batt never has gotten hot just warm. However, the terminals where it was arching melted a little

 

[Don W.]

Re: Battery issues?

You are right on the heat. but the batt never has gotten hot just warm. However, the terminals where it was arching melted a little

Ah, ya :squint: yur prolly talking close to 5-600 amps or more. I once saw an old 12v bat, the kind that had external lead alloy "links" connecting the cells, melt those links just like a fuse when the bat shorted. Just be careful. Nothin' like a blown up bat to make your day...