Battery Issues

myowneq · 01-28-2007, 09:40 PM

Hey ya'll,

Got a quick question for everyone. When my car sits in cold weather for about 12 hours, the car won't crank. If I hook a charger up to it for a minute, it'll crank over and run (including starting) fine from then on.

Any clue as to what's going on? Do I need a new battery?

Thanks,
Timothy

shiny alero · 01-28-2007, 09:58 PM

im not a tech, but try hooking it up to a charger and giving it a full charge see if that helps

Gr1m · 01-28-2007, 10:04 PM

well if you want to check if the alternators good, take off the negative terminal after you start the car. if the car shuts off, your alt. is donezo, if it runs then your alt. is fine, sounds like a battery issue to me though cause you said it starts after that first start

pawzbear · 01-28-2007, 10:07 PM

if the batt is running low it should give u a light.
when my alternator went it gave me a light but stupid me drove it for a couple days anyway..before the battery finally died. lol.

Gr1m · 01-28-2007, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawzbear

if the batt is running low it should give u a light.
when my alternator went it gave me a light but stupid me drove it for a couple days anyway..before the battery finally died. lol.

"what does that low battery light mean??" hahahah

pawzbear · 01-28-2007, 10:12 PM

yehh me = dooohh!!!!!!
i needed the car though.
it was stupid as shit, i learned my lesson. I have had this ho since i was 15, and if thats the stupidest thing i have ever done then its all good..

Gr1m · 01-28-2007, 10:14 PM

stupidest thing ive ever done was almost drilled a hole through the inside of my trunk lid...ended up with a dent, but the trunk lid was replaced in the accident i was in so its all good lol

MixtapeMessiah · 01-28-2007, 10:16 PM

check ur cold cranking amps, if they are too low it wont start in colder weather, so get a new battery with higher CCA.

The only reason the charger worked on it cuz it heated it up and let it crank over.

myowneq · 01-29-2007, 02:49 AM

Ya know, this makes sense. Hmmm..... Have to check it in daylight.

Thanks everyone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MixtapeMessiah

check ur cold cranking amps, if they are too low it wont start in colder weather, so get a new battery with higher CCA.

The only reason the charger worked on it cuz it heated it up and let it crank over.

Redog · 01-29-2007, 02:09 PM

Expensive, but I suggest the Optima battery

GoldStar611 · 01-29-2007, 03:46 PM

I'd have to differ on disconnecting the battery while the car's running..The battery is there to dampen spikes from the alternator..just make sure it's putting out close to 14 dc volts or so..(If you have an alternator pulley maybe a little less than that)..

Gr1m · 01-29-2007, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redog

Expensive, but I suggest the Optima battery

silly noob, Stinger SP1000 FTW!!~1!!
lol i got 2 stingers and a 1.0 cap in my car and my light still dim with my system thats a problem

AGT · 01-29-2007, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gr1m

silly noob, Stinger SP1000 FTW!!~1!!
lol i got 2 stingers and a 1.0 cap in my car and my light still dim with my system thats a problem

silly noob, you need to upgrade you alty

AGT · 01-29-2007, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldStar611

I'd have to differ on disconnecting the battery while the car's running..The battery is there to dampen spikes from the alternator..just make sure it's putting out close to 14 dc volts or so..(If you have an alternator pulley maybe a little less than that)..

Isn't that called a voltage regulator?

GoldStar611 · 01-29-2007, 05:10 PM

either a voltage regulator or rectifying diodes..there's not to say that there won't be dips and spikes in the rectified voltage, that's where the battery is *supposed* to come in..same concept as the capacitor used in car audio.

alerocar01 · 01-29-2007, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGT

silly noob, you need to upgrade you alty

X2....

Vinalero · 01-29-2007, 07:10 PM

2.4L? Mine does that also, when the car has sit for a long time (lets say over night) and its cold, the only thing that happens when I turn the key is a little "click" then switching the key to the off position, gettin it back to on, wait for fuel pump to get some gas, then try again. Takes two or three tries to work.

When the car is hot a bit, it starts fine. I went to the garage today I asked what it could be, the guy told me the starter is probly starting to die. If it was the Alternator, the car would stall after some miles, but you say it start fine when its hot.

My first guess was that cold engine oil could be the problem, because cold oil is more "solid" than hot oil that is more in "liquid" form (sry, i dont really know what is the translation in english for "Visqueux"). Therefore, the engine needs a bit more power to start when its cold because oil is "harder".

teflone · 01-29-2007, 07:30 PM

its a combination of all of this..

Cold cranking amps.. is on batterys because cold batteries of ANY sort, dont work as good in cold wether as warm..

Now charging your battery will of course warm it up, and your putting a fast surface charge into your battery, which warms it up..

If your alt just clicks a few times and eventually turns over.. your alt is prolly going, the click your here is the selonoid moving out of the way so that you can crank..

Your alt should put out a solid 13.8 volts, give or take a .1 or so.. 14v is a nice number..

First check your alt.

If its not that.. grab a nice battery.. Optimas are great.. but ANY spiral cell 6 pack battery is good.. they are all great Yellowtop and reds are all great.. Even motomaster have a 6 pack now.

what truly makes them grand is their reserve capacity, this alone will save you alot of headaches..

The reserve is just that.. emergency reserves.. it will have so much time in reserve capacity..

Very handy if have alot of electrical toys in your car..

racin4JC · 01-29-2007, 07:47 PM

Just go to your local autoparts store and have them load test your battery/alternator (unless you have the right tool to do that, they are only like $40 and handy in a bind). I am assuming your battery is shot, I just replaced mine due to similar situation. It will show up immediately though if you go and get it load test it will drop way down when a load is added to it!

And if battery is shot I highly recommend an Interstate Battery, they are very high quality (generally have both the highest CA and CCA) and an excellent price.

teflone · 01-29-2007, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racin4JC

Just go to your local autoparts store and have them load test your battery/alternator (unless you have the right tool to do that, they are only like $40 and handy in a bind). I am assuming your battery is shot, I just replaced mine due to similar situation. It will show up immediately though if you go and get it load test it will drop way down when a load is added to it!

And if battery is shot I highly recommend an Interstate Battery, they are very high quality (generally have both the highest CA and CCA) and an excellent price.

Correct!

Batteries and power supplies for that matter can only be tested under load.

Good advice buddy