[Shop-talk] Stranded by a bad car battery.

[DAVID MASSEY]

Depends on the failure mode.  Most batteries loose plate area and can produce less current than when new and that is when the cranking slows down.  These modern cars start so quickly that one may not notice that the cranking speed is slower than normal.  That happened to me on my Fiesta.  One day it seemed fine, the next it cranked over quite slowly and the next day it wouldn't start.  Load testing will give ample warning as the guys who changed my oil a few months before warned me my battery capacity was low.

On the other hand, it an internal link between the cells breaks loose the failure will be instantaneous and there is no way to predict those.  If your battery won't recharge it may be because of this failure.  

Dave 


 

    On Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 12:35:42 AM CST, Dwade Reinsch <dreinsch at swbell.net> wrote:  
 
  This afternoon I was sitting in the 2016 Honda Odyssey van waiting for granddaughter to finish a theater activity and I went to sleep in the front seat.  Had the radio and inside lights on.  When she finished and came out, car would not start.  Completely dead.  Electric seat would not come back to driving position, etc.
Here's the question:  In the old days a weak battery would give notice by cranking slowly, etc., before failing.  This is the car I drive regularly and it gave NO warning.  Luckily, I could call son-in-law and he came to help.  Would not start with good set of booster cables.  Would not start with 15 minutes of charging on cables before attempting to start.  So in the morning I'll take pickup and tools and pull battery, get a replacement, and move the van home.
Does anyone have a suggestion for identifying a failing battery before being stranded?  (Battery is about 4 years old.)
Thanks,Dwade_______________________________________________

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