What a difference a new battery makes!

Topic: What a difference a new battery makes! (Read 2128 times) previous topic - next topic

What a difference a new battery makes!

September 01, 2005, 07:29:02 PM

I'm thinking of this as more of an advice posting on battery's, but also relating the story to others for the heck of it. About a month ago I had replaced my alternator due to it giving into age and dying (i'm pretty sure it was original). Everything went fine with the replacement, though the new position on the plugs had me concerned, but that was soon put to rest by folks here relating that it was ok.

About a month or so has gone by now, and I haven't had any problems with starting, charging, or the alternator wiring going bad (knock on wood!). However, today after work I decided to swing by an A&W to pick up some dinner. I got my food, tipped the waitress, and went to start my car. No dice. I tried again, nada. So I sat there for a minute and thought about the things that may be wrong, and started knocking off the impossible ones. Well a kind stranger pulled up and helped jump-start my car, it started right away. That immediatly narrowed it to about 3 things in my mind, the battery, the starter, or the starter soleniod. I dismissed the starter solenoid since I had installed on within the last 9 months to year.

Now left with 2 options I met a friend at Advance Auto and we checked a couple things. When we checked the voltage on the 4 year old battery, it came up 12.3 some odd volts, while low I figured it should've been enough. So I had the clerk inside come out and run the tester on the charging system, which came up with the battery being bad (after jump-starting the car of course). So I went inside and bought an Optima Red Top battery and a postive battery cable (the old got welded to the post). Went outside, installed the new parts, put the key in and the car started right up. I let it run for a bit to make sure it was ok, and turned it on and off a few times to make sure it was ok. Also when we put a voltmeter on it it came up at 14.3 or so volts, a significant improvement! I think the only thing that got me was that the clerk guy said that I was putting out between 43-48 amps at idle with a 60 amp alternator. I'd guess that that is about right, but time and or someone here can verify that.

Anywho, the moral of this wonderfully long winded story is... Have your battery tested when you have to or want to replace your alternator. It just may save you some headaches down the road!

Re: What a difference a new battery makes!

Reply #1 – September 02, 2005, 10:24:10 AM

Great advice bro. The alternator and battery work hand-in-hand. When one goes you should always have the other tested.

Now...when you start having problems with the new alternator and the Optima, then you're in for a real treat. Trust me.

Re: What a difference a new battery makes!

Reply #2 – September 02, 2005, 11:25:17 AM

Quote from: EricCoolCats

Now...when you start having problems with the new alternator and the Optima, then you're in for a real treat. Trust me.

Oh dear, what horror comes from that one?!?! :D

Re: What a difference a new battery makes!

Reply #3 – September 02, 2005, 11:32:30 AM

I've had 3 Optimas so far in 4 years. The current one seems to be alright, but the other 2 were just horrid. They wouldn't keep a charge, period. Starting about a year ago, a diode in the alternator kept getting stuck to the point where I needed to keep the battery disconnected in the garage. I'm on my third alternator this year because one of the replacements was ALSO bad. The battery was brand new 15 months ago; it really hasn't been used long enough to warrant being 'reliable' to me. So trying to troubleshoot/diagnose between an unreliable alternator and a semi-reliable Optima has been rather cumbersome. As of right now I seem to have a good alternator (Bosch reman 3G 130-amp) and a good battery (Optima red top). That can change at any moment though!

Re: What a difference a new battery makes!

Reply #4 – September 02, 2005, 01:11:34 PM

Sweet, and here I thought I did my car a solid by buying the "better" battery! Well hopefully I won't have the problems you've had, tho knowing my luck something will happen. I didn't have the money for the 3g when I replaced the alternator, so possibly having the stock one might keep the problems at bay

Re: What a difference a new battery makes!

Reply #5 – September 02, 2005, 02:21:20 PM

I think you'll be alright man. Just wanted to let you know that even if you buy "premium" parts there's still a potential for things to go wrong. I just happened to have very bad luck! The 3G's have a failure rate exactly like the stock ones. My first 3G lasted 4 summers; the next one was one week; this current one, since late May 2005. The 75-amp Mustang alt in the T-Bird has been in there for 4 years. So it really doesn't matter...it's all a gamble, cheap or expensive! Just use what you have, enjoy it, but also keep an eye on things.

Re: What a difference a new battery makes!

Reply #6 – September 02, 2005, 03:56:40 PM

since this is a battery thread ill tell you about my battery story...
when i went to go and buy my bird just this pasted june. i had talked to the guy the night before and he said $125 without battery and take the car. well i went to school the next day and found a friend to talk into picking the car up. i got there and i was looking the car over it seemed to run good but it puffed a bit of smoke .( just lack of gas and im sure it just needs new gas in it ) so i mangaed to talk him down to $100 no battery . well so i gave him a fresh brown :D and he took his battery out and i put mine in and went to start the car and nothing no clickin no nothing (any suggestions the battery is like new could it be just really dead?) so he said well i loan you my battery and you can get it home well since my parents have no idea i bought this car (still to this day). i took it out to a friends farm and left it there(it still siting over there :disappoin ) when i go to get my car i hope the jumper cables will start it and the alternator will charge the battery back up

sorry about the long post

Z

Re: What a difference a new battery makes!

Reply #7 – September 03, 2005, 02:13:38 PM

I have only put a couple hundred miles on the 87 this year because I have still not bought the new registration for it yet so the battery is always disconnected, well atleast the ground. I only hook it up when I want to joy ride for a minute. The 93 I have also been on my 3rd optima battery in 4 years and one alternator. The optima if I left it hooked up and didnt run it for 2 days it was toast. Now that the car is in a garage right out back I leave it hooked up because I do drive the 93 a lil more and so far no problems with the latest optima. Although I did disconnect it when we went to Florida for 10 days, just in case...

Re: What a difference a new battery makes!

Reply #8 – September 06, 2005, 12:00:54 AM

Quote from: EricCoolCats

even if you buy "premium" parts there's still a potential for things to go wrong. I just happened to have very bad luck!

Yeah, kinda sucks when you spend that extra few dollars on the premium part, and the car spits it right back at you. I'm in the same boat as you with the luck thing. But I guess when it rains it pours! At least if either one or both of these parts go bad it would only take 20 minutes worth of work to swap them out with new stuff.

Re: What a difference a new battery makes!

Reply #9 – September 06, 2005, 01:35:27 AM

My car started very hard and slow. Just by changing the aged positive cable its back to normal. Now I need to do the negative.

Re: What a difference a new battery makes!

Reply #10 – September 06, 2005, 09:29:43 AM

Just as mentioned above, dont assume because the battery has a "decent" voltage that it is ok. The battery can be just as bad by not being able to handle a load. Also, keep in mind if you have a ton of debris, or the top of the battery is wet all the time, you will experience a slow drain. Not to mention enough garbage on top will cause a short, maybe a fire. I have changed enough batteries on tanks (each tank has 6!) to have seen all of the horror stories!

Re: What a difference a new battery makes!

Reply #11 – September 06, 2005, 10:53:12 PM

Must be something with the spiral core style of batteries.
I bought a motomaster eliminator spiral core for like 200.00 bucks like 9 months ago and just got it warrantied today,due to the fact that it will start the car fine but if i play my stereo for 20mins at low vol it will be almost dead or the wife's cell charger for 2 hours,same thing.
It's supposed to have a 96min reserve at 50Ah draw which i'm not even close to pulling at low vol and it doesn't.
Hopefully this new one will be all good.