Battery Question...

[D189379]

So a friend of mine has a 91 Integra that has been parked for the winter. I went out to start it last week and surprise, nothing.... So I boost the battery and get the car running. I let it run for about 10 minutes, and then shut it off. I immediately restart it, it sounds a little weak, but fires up regardless. I let it run for a few more minutes, and then shut it off again. About half an hour later I try to restart it and it turns over once, and then click...click...click....

Is it safe for me to assume that this battery is pretty much toast? I want to just pick her up a new one, but would rather not waste the money if it turns out to be something else.

The car was running fine until she parked it last fall. I have already cleaned up the battery terminals and the connectors. Anything else I should check before I grab a new battery?

 

[dwendt44]

Battery is toast.

Even if you trickle charged it overhight, it might last a few hours or days, but it will die at the most inopertune time in short order. Get a new one; maybe have the charging system checked.

 

[mrsilv04]

Take the battery out and have the your favorite auto parts store load test it. Most do it for free, and if it fails the test, you can pick up a new battery while you're there.

 

[eljefino]

It might be good; give it a 6 amp charge overnight.

The reason it restarted was 1: hot oil and 2: surface charge. That surface charge disappeared into the unfunded "main charge" over the 30 additional minutes.

 

[MrCritical]

What eljefino said. If the battery hadn't been run all winter you haven't given it enough time to charge.

Of course it still might be bad, but you should still charge and test it, unless you just want a new battery.

 

[D189379]

How long would I need to run the car until the battery would be recharged?

I don't have a charger unfortunately, so I can't just charge it overnight. My experience with good batteries that have gone dead, has been that boosting and running the vehicle for 5-10 minutes is usually more than enough time for the alternator to charge it back up. Do I need to run the car longer?

 

[NYEngineer]

An alternator really is not up to the task of recharging a dead battery. I would just replace it.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: D189379
How long would I need to run the car until the battery would be recharged?

I don't have a charger unfortunately, so I can't just charge it overnight. My experience with good batteries that have gone dead, has been that boosting and running the vehicle for 5-10 minutes is usually more than enough time for the alternator to charge it back up. Do I need to run the car longer?


It will take a decent drive to fully charge the battery.


Chargers are cheap.

Batteries that have sat over the winter are usually destroyed due to being discharged to the point where you've got mostly water in the solution. It freezes and damages the plates. You don't seem to have this condition.

 

[Donald]

Fully charge the battery with an AC charger and either drive the car and see how it goes or have it load tested after the charge (best idea).

An alternator is not the thing to charge a dead battery. An AC charger is.

A lot of boats sit out the winter with a battery not being charged. Most seem to deal with it. Not saying thats the best situation, but they still get 5 or so years out of the battery.

 

[Eddie]

An alternators main function is to keep a battery "toped up" Alternators are expensive so why wear a $155 alternator when you can get a trickle charger for @20?

 

[alanu]

1st!!!! check to see if theres a large current draw from the car. Hopefully its 5mA or less.

If the battery is 4 to 5yrs old get a new one!!

 

[Quest]

Originally Posted By: D189379
How long would I need to run the car until the battery would be recharged?

I don't have a charger unfortunately, so I can't just charge it overnight. My experience with good batteries that have gone dead, has been that boosting and running the vehicle for 5-10 minutes is usually more than enough time for the alternator to charge it back up. Do I need to run the car longer?



If your battery is deemed defective, buy a new one. Heet our advise and get a trickle/slow AC battery charger instead of killing your already expensive alternator (alternator is not meant for recharging a dead/half-dead/semi-defective/gone battery, period).


*geesh*

Q.

 

[Rabbler]

Originally Posted By: alanu
1st!!!! check to see if theres a large current draw from the car. Hopefully its 5mA or less.

If the battery is 4 to 5yrs old get a new one!!


5 milli-amps? I hope you meant 50 mA. Spec for key off draw on most computer controlled cars is 90mA or less. Some are as high as 150mA now.

 

[D189379]

Well thanks for the tips everyone. I probably won't end up getting a charger. I doubt I would ever use one again. I'm just going to pick up a new battery on the weekend. The old battery looks like it's been around for a while, so it's probably due for a replacement.
As usual, I appreciate the wisdom of this board.

 

[brianl703]

Some autoparts stores can charge batteries for you.

 

[D189379]

Originally Posted By: brianl703
Some autoparts stores can charge batteries for you.


If I knew the battery was only a year old, I might do this. But it's at least 3 years old, likely older.

 

[brianl703]

After it's charged they can test it for you. Many stores have diagnostic fast chargers that can charge and test a battery in about an hour.

 

[Jim Spahr]

RE: "some autoparts stores can charge batteries." That is not a good idea because the fast charge which the auto parts stores do is bad for the battery. A slow 'trickle' charge is better and not as hard on the battery. The battery chargers you can buy sometimes have a selector switch for 'slow' or 'fast' charge. Alwsys select 'slow' setting. To drive and charge a battery it takes a trip of some miles at speed. Idling for an hour or driving around town is not going to re caharge the battery. How about the CTEK and the Battery Tenders which are made for those with vehicles which are driven infrequently such as collector cars and RV's and boats? They 1./ trickle charge and 2./ when fully charged, they shut off.

 

[dwendt44]

A trickle charge is best for a new battery before use(1 or 2 amp).
Situations don't always allow for that, however.

Don't confuse 'battery tenders' with 'battery maintainers'.
The two do different things. A 'maintainers' job is to keep the charge that there, there. Not to charge a low battery.

 

[crw]

There are some good suggestions on this thread.

I would add that when I'm lazy and don't bring the battery from my tractor or RV in for the winter, with an occasional charge, they last two years, tops.

As for a charger, I use mine at least two or three times a month. I could not function without one. But I manage four vehicles, one tractor, and one riding mower, not to mention doing things for my neighbors. It depends on your needs, but I really like the new chargers that digitally measure voltage, and have a mode where you can just leave a battery on a charger overnight or more, without fear of overcharging it. Well worth it.