re: "I didn't know that a battery can show fully charged and still be bad (a
new thing learned!!!). "
'Fully charged' usually just means the battery shows nominal voltage (around
12.7V, IIRC). You can charge a battery to
this level--I believe it's called 'flash charge' or similar--but a dying
battery will discharge and the voltage will
drop immediately when any load is applied.
I sprung for a battery load tester the other day. Part of this test process is
to put a load on the battery for a few
seconds to drain the 'flash charge,' then run the actual test. I recommend a
load tester to anyone who doesn't want to
be surprised by a dead or dying battery. They are relatively inexpensive
these days, although the quality reflects
that in some ways; in particular the cables get pretty warm after a 15-second
test. You want the 500 amp carbon-pile
variety.
Bob
On 12/22/2011 6:22 AM, Tim wrote:
> Thanks again to all who replied. Sorry for the verboseness here....
>
> I had checked the terminals, grounds, cables, etc. (learned about this
> part from the Datto!).
>
> When the battery showed fully charged on the tender, I assumed
> (incorrectly) that the battery was fine.
>
> This was my first experience with a failed battery AND a battery tender.
> I didn't know that a battery can show fully charged and still be bad (a
> new thing learned!!!).
>
> So, after minor surgery to just get the old battery out ( I had to
> remove the air filter box, three hoses and two electrical connections to
> get to the bottom of the battery hold down as the nut and bolt were just
> spinning). I placed a different battery in the car and it was an
> immediate improvement in engine turn over speed. But the car still would
> not start. Since this new battery was too big, I had to go buy one that
> was the correct size. Once installed the car would still not start.
> Well, dumbassthatIam, there is not a car in the world that will start
> with the coil wire disconnected (had to move it as it was in the way of
> pulling a hose to get the air box out). So, reconnect the coil wire and
> it fired right up.
>
> So, like i said, another thing learned!
>
> My daughter, bless her heart, asked me if I wanted money for the
> battery! I told her not necessarily as I knew she HAD no clue what
> automotive batteries cost. The look on her face later on when I told her
> how much I paid yesterday? PRICELESS!!
>
> Thanks again too all who replied!!
>
> Happy Holidays All!!!
>
> A little less clueless today than yesterday
> Tim
>
>
--
*******************************************************************
Bob Spidell San Jose, CA bspidell@comcast.net
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