Battery issues

[Ewok]

Hey guys, I've started having battery issues with my car.

Same battery has been in it since date of manufacture in 05', but at the moment whenever I come out to my car and start it after it sitting there for several hours / overnight, it's having trouble kicking over. I have made sure that stereo, aircon, lights etc are all off and still has trouble, but eventually kicks over. When I go for a drive and then turn it off/turn it back on again after a short while, it's fine, or if when I have had trouble starting it, I start it up again and it kicks over no worries. I checked the terminals and scrubbed em down to make sure they were contacting ok.

I am wondering if this is battery related or alternator related? Reason being I mention alternator is that I have a sub/amp all running off the battery aswel, but I wouldn't have thought that it would matter considering I don't use these when the car is off, so wouldn't draw the power. Is there any way to check if it's one of the 2? Any suggestions greatly appreciated

-Chris

[monaro327]

sorry what exactly is happening? is it cranking and not firing? or you turn the key and nothing? i'd say that your battery is ok. cause if your battery is low cranking and cranking the car is going to make it alot worse and it will never start your car.

to test the battery put a multi metre on it with the car and everything off. it should have about 12.6 volts. then start the car and let it warm up it should read between 13.8 and 14.4 volts with the alternator charging. if any of those are out then you know what the problem might be. in this day and age you should get longer then 3-4 years out of a battery my old girls VY still has the factory battery.

[Ewok]

Cheers for that Monaro, will grab the multi and go downstairs now while I have nothing else to do at work heh. It's trying to crank over, but not catching, then it catches after a while (like don't have to turn the key again, it just keeps firing till it catches, electronics and all) oh, also, when this does happen and the car eventually starts, my cd player takes the disc back to track 1 ......... hope that helps more.

[Ewok]

Just went out and tested it with a multi, sits at 12.6v when the cars off, but as soon as I kick her over, it's dropping to 5-7v. Looks like the battery is shot? Reason I say this is because as I said before, take it for a long run and leave it for a while, come out, has trouble kicking over, so looks like the battery itself is having trouble holding charge, sound like a fair assumption? could be sediment in the bottom of the battery or something, I checked the water levels and they are covering the cells ok.

[f1tzy]

The stock battery in the car isn't designed to last that long

[Ewok]

hehe thought that might have been the case. Next thing then! What's a good brand of car battery? Exide any good?

[andyman]

Hey guys, I've started having battery issues with my car.

Same battery has been in it since date of manufacture in 05', but at the moment whenever I come out to my car and start it after it sitting there for several hours / overnight, it's having trouble kicking over. I have made sure that stereo, aircon, lights etc are all off and still has trouble, but eventually kicks over. When I go for a drive and then turn it off/turn it back on again after a short while, it's fine, or if when I have had trouble starting it, I start it up again and it kicks over no worries. I checked the terminals and scrubbed em down to make sure they were contacting ok.

I am wondering if this is battery related or alternator related? Reason being I mention alternator is that I have a sub/amp all running off the battery aswel, but I wouldn't have thought that it would matter considering I don't use these when the car is off, so wouldn't draw the power. Is there any way to check if it's one of the 2? Any suggestions greatly appreciated

-Chris

possible a cell has let go and is draining the battery power over longer periods of time, hence hard to crank after a few hours, easy to crank after half hour,


easy way to tell but not the greatest diagnosis with these is check out the battery voltage on the instrument cluster via mode+set and ignition, check to see what the voltage is during cranking and with the car at idle and no accessories,

if the voltage drops below 9.8volts its weak

if it is less than 13.9volt at idle , battery is sucking power, and dropping voltage when high beam etc turned on

a fully charged battery, with no accessories, in a healthy state will be on 14.2/14.3v at idle,

that above is providing the alternator is in good order, which im assuming is

[Ewok]

Hey andy, cheers for the imput mate, appreciate it. Yeah as I said before I went outside with the volt meter and checked it, was sitting at about 12.6 with power off, then had one of the guys kick the motor over, and while it was kicking over, the volt meter was dropping down to 5-7 volts. Also when it was sitting idle with no accessories on (stereo off, aircon off, lights off etc) it was sitting at about 12-13volts. Doesn't sound very healthy >.<

[andyman]

Hey andy, cheers for the imput mate, appreciate it. Yeah as I said before I went outside with the volt meter and checked it, was sitting at about 12.6 with power off, then had one of the guys kick the motor over, and while it was kicking over, the volt meter was dropping down to 5-7 volts. Also when it was sitting idle with no accessories on (stereo off, aircon off, lights off etc) it was sitting at about 12-13volts. Doesn't sound very healthy >.<

sounds like a dead cell or two for sure,


im surprised the car is still running off it if you ask me,

when you get a new battery, you will notice your lights are brighter, dash lights wont flicker when you turn on lights etc,

i bet your alternator is making some pretty cool noises atm too, if you can pick it, it sounds like a supercharger, it whistles when putting out the big amps

[Ewok]

ah shit, now that you mention it, yes, does sound a little supercharger'ish when I have the aircon on, drawing mass power. Stuff it, I'm going and getting a new battery now hahaha. Thanks fellas

[eroled]

sounds like a dead cell or two for sure,


im surprised the car is still running off it if you ask me,

when you get a new battery, you will notice your lights are brighter, dash lights wont flicker when you turn on lights etc,

i bet your alternator is making some pretty cool noises atm too, if you can pick it, it sounds like a supercharger, it whistles when putting out the big amps

After sitting here reading this post and putting two and two together Ive realised my battery is forked , I was wondering what that whistle noise was Cheers andyman I never would of picked it . Is there a good battery to get as a upgrade as i also have sub /amp or is it best to leave stock size Cheers People

[andyman]

After sitting here reading this post and putting two and two together Ive realised my battery is forked , I was wondering what that whistle noise was Cheers andyman I never would of picked it . Is there a good battery to get as a upgrade as i also have sub /amp or is it best to leave stock size Cheers People

i have a supercharge gold, fully sealed calcium battery, its beefier than standard, its 600cca, 105rc

[eroled]

i have a supercharge gold, fully sealed calcium battery, its beefier than standard, its 600cca, 105rc

Is supercharge gold the brand of the battery, was it from a major car parts place like battery world or supercheap just so i can get one in my area.
I take it you are happy with that battery.How much did it cost ya .Cheers for the help andyman good help is hard to find sometimes

[andyman]

Is supercharge gold the brand of the battery, was it from a major car parts place like battery world or supercheap just so i can get one in my area.
I take it you are happy with that battery.How much did it cost ya .Cheers for the help andyman good help is hard to find sometimes

super charge is the brand, gold is the type of battery, mine is a MF53 see - Supercharge Batteries - Car Batteries, Maintenance, Expanded Grid Technology

ac delco also make really good batteries - see ACDelco Australia

alot of holden dealers sell acdelco cause its one of there parts suppliers, super charge is sold at super charge dealers or mostly auto electricians,


supercharge has the longest garrantee of 3 years, the only problem ive had is on a track day it leaked acid out of the breather, which did cause paint damage, but i think it was caused by either overcharging because of constant high revs and no real load on the battery, or engine bay temps got extremly hot, i burnt my hand on the strut brace when checking the trans dipstick

[eroled]

Just checked out both links and i found meself a acdelco dealer just round the corner from home and the supercharged batterys were in Brisbane so ill go for acdelco at this stage but ill ring supercharge tomorrow to see if they have one closer, cheers for the help andyman much apreaciated
Thanks Phil

[Ewok]

Went and picked up the new battery yesterday arvo and installed it when I got home last night. Is an Exide super heavy duty, got it from Coventry's. $85ex gst. Put it in, kicked over first shot, very nice. This one has a 2 year, unlimited KM warranty.

[eroled]

Went and picked up the new battery yesterday arvo and installed it when I got home last night. Is an Exide super heavy duty, got it from Coventry's. $85ex gst. Put it in, kicked over first shot, very nice. This one has a 2 year, unlimited KM warranty.

Did it get rid of ya supercharger noise? Cheers Phil

[Ewok]

hahaha yeah. damn it....

[andyman]

*** everybody goes out to get rooted batteries in their car for special supercharger noises***


haha rofl

[Ewok]

oh sweet ! I can make a profit here!!! WTS rooted battery that will add super sweet supercharger noise to your car!!! Will make them ricers think twice before wanting to "go your executive..." DO IT !*!@(^#%&*(^)@#%&*(

[eroled]

Just brought myself a new battery, acdelco one.my old battery is for sale it comes with a free supercharger noise but wait theres more ill throw in some free steak knives. Cheers Phil.

[Ewok]

Oh shit, no you didn't. IT'S ON !!!!!!!! YA HEAR ME ?? OOOONNNNN!!!! I'll GIVE my battery away! + It comes with a free doorstop! (the ability to use it as) Also doubles as a toxic paperweight! uhm .... I've got nothing hey ... I'm out ... (supercharger sold separately)

[eroled]

Going cheap ,free postage ,4 easy payment of $29.95 and dont forget the free steak knifes be quick it wont last

[jet-6]

Ok while on the subject, whats the largest mAh battery available to suit a VZ, i have a car fridge that wont last more than 8 hours if left on, need to try get a few more hours

Can you get larger physical sized batteries to fit, or is there a specific battery that would fit and is recomended by anyone

[eroled]

i have a supercharge gold, fully sealed calcium battery, its beefier than standard, its 600cca, 105rc

Ok while on the subject, whats the largest mAh battery available to suit a VZ, i have a car fridge that wont last more than 8 hours if left on, need to try get a few more hours

Can you get larger physical sized batteries to fit, or is there a specific battery that would fit and is recomended by anyone

Im no battery expert but I think this may be a large as you can get (as above ), correct if im wrong . My new one is 430cca if that means anything to ya . hope this helps it means fork all to me,its bigger than my old one in cca size.