4 dead car batteries in one day!

[Nick R]

Just wow. School got out today, and there are 4 (FOUR) cars with dead batteries that wouldn't start. It wasn't particularly hot today, and none of them think they left lights on. Ended up jumping a malibu 3100 myself, that took a while to get enough juice to crank. Then had to jump a BMW. There was a newish honda civic that was dead, and a Intrepid. What the heck? Would have helped the others but my (cheapo) jumper cables fried after the BMW. The school let us borrow a heavy duty set of theirs and got the others running. I can't understand why on one day 4 cars wouldn't start, for no apparent reason.

 

[Colt45ws]

Heat kills batteries. Those batteries were likely borderline for a long time and the first really hot day killed them for good. I Once saw someone with a Cavalier trying to jump a tractor trailer. I had thought those were 24v. I don't know if that ever worked out.

 

[Quest]

...and your point is?

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: Quest
...and your point is?



Hmm. Maybe I'm asking for opinions on why they might have done that? That would make sense, wouldn't it..?

Anyway onmo, it was relatively cool today, low 70s high 60s. It was warmer last week it was in the 80s. It took a while to build the juice to start the malibu/impala. It just clicked and barely turned for a bit. Just let it sit and I help the throttle open at the TB manually for about 5 minutes, and it started.

 

[Colt45ws]

I don't know. The planets aligned and caused a electromagentic storm at your schools location, which is over a vein of iron, and killed the batteries. Or maybe it was the government testing a new secret weapon. Either way, a tin foil hat is a good idea.

 

[Nick R]

Nice Sarcasm there. First thought was tampering, but there would be no way to do it without obvious signs. It was just strange. Obviously there is no place for interesting little experiences, strange ones at that, on here.

 

[daves87rs]

Could be a sign, you never know....

 

[rshunter]

Originally Posted By: Onmo'Eegusee
Heat kills batteries. Those batteries were likely borderline for a long time and the first really hot day killed them for good. I Once saw someone with a Cavalier trying to jump a tractor trailer. I had thought those were 24v. I don't know if that ever worked out.


They're 12V, just like cars. I use to have problems with the batteries running down on a Freightliner FLD. I would jump start it with my Honda Prelude, no sweat. My dad said I should take a picture and send it to Honda, if nothing else they could have got a kick out of it. We always thought the sight was histerical...

 

[Nick R]

WOW. I Can't see a tiny cavalier jump starting one of those big 12L Straight 6s.

 

[rshunter]

Originally Posted By: rudolphna
WOW. I Can't see a tiny cavalier jump starting one of those big 12L Straight 6s.

Yeah, but picture a little Mk III Prelude that can just barely make it over speed bumps because it sits so close to the pavement. That thing has a roof-height of just over 50". A Cavalier is a monster in comparison...

 

[Colt45ws]

Yeah, considering the battery in the Cavi is about twice the size of the Honda.

 

[Dualie]

its a tossup with how dead the battery's are when jumping off a semi. I have had Two other HD Trucks with 160 amp alternators going through 1/0 jumper cables hooked to one medium duty strait truck that still wouldn't start.
but a tow back to the yard and sitting on the charger she fired right up.

Then on the flip side i jumped my completely dead Kenworth with a 15L cat motor with just my F-350 and a pair of cheep cables.

 

[tmorris1]

My guess would be that the kids have some huge stereo system that they installed themselves that is drawing current.

 

[crw]

It might be, that the sun is coming up just a little later each day right now, we're approaching equinox... so, some or all of those folks left home with it being still dark... but by the time they get to school it's light out. Just a thought...

There was once a guy (decades ago) who took his Pontiac in to the dealer complaining that every time he bought strawberry ice cream, his car wouldn't start. But when he bought vanilla, it was fine. Well, someone took him seriously, did some investigation, and found that the strawberry was in a bin at the front of the store, while the vanilla was in the back. The engine was heat soaked, and so if the guy took the extra time to get the vanilla, the car would have time to cool off and it would start.

Yeah, it does sound a little hokey, but sometimes you have to do a little thinking and a little digging to figure out the world around you. Or, just go home and surf the web. lol