Battery Dead
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Battery Dead I have the red top Optima battery. It's about a year old. I left my radar detector on and didn't drive my car for about 10 days. My battery was drained completely dead. I bought a battery charger and jumped it. Started up fine and I drove it for about an hour to charge it up. About 5 days later, I went to start my SS, and the battery was dead again. I jumped it and it started. Just went out to start the SS again about a week later and again, the battery's dead, but this time when I tried to jump it, all I get it this "clicking" sound and the engine won't turn over.
I'm assuming I just need to replace the battery again, but could this clicking sound indicate something more serious like the alternator or the starter?
Thanks.
I'm assuming I just need to replace the battery again, but could this clicking sound indicate something more serious like the alternator or the starter?
Thanks.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
that's exactly what i tried this morning and then when I set it to full charge to start it, it turned over.
i'm gonna start it every day for the next week to see if it will hold a charge. But if it keeps dying after just one week of not starting it, something's up.
i'm gonna start it every day for the next week to see if it will hold a charge. But if it keeps dying after just one week of not starting it, something's up.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,399
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville, FL
I've heard Optimas recover well (hope so, just bought one), but it could still be bad. Shoot, I'm in Florida, 23K and on my third battery. If it discharges again bring it back and have them load test it.
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Originally Posted by 2001NBMZ28
I've heard Optimas recover well (hope so, just bought one), but it could still be bad. Shoot, I'm in Florida, 23K and on my third battery. If it discharges again bring it back and have them load test it.
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 1
From: Just This Side of Damnation
When you fully discharge a battery it starts to develop a sulfate coating on the plates or windings (depending on the type of battery design). This coating can be reversed to some degree by a trickle charge. Quick charges won't do it. It's also common for quick charges to be too quick and not charge enough.
It's been my own experience, and that of others I've observed, to not want to charge a battery overly long for fear of overcharging and boiling away the electrolyte. This is easily prevented by being patient and using a trickle charger.
When you start your car and drive if for a short time it won't necessarily charge it up enough to keep it charged over a week or more. All batteries discharge if left to sit. Your car uses some small voltage just sitting (radio, alarms, things not turned off), and will discharge faster.
If you have a battery in a low voltage condition you should put it on a trickle charge overnight or for a day or two. That should bring it fully up to full charge. If the battery has developed a coating on the lead it may not hold a charge at all and will need to be replaced.
My opinion is that you should buy a Battery Tender (that's the brand name, $40-60) trickle charger to keep on your battery when not in operation. The Battery Tender cannot overcharge your batteries. They are quick and easy to operate and will save you money in the long run by not having to replace expensive batteries.
It's been my own experience, and that of others I've observed, to not want to charge a battery overly long for fear of overcharging and boiling away the electrolyte. This is easily prevented by being patient and using a trickle charger.
When you start your car and drive if for a short time it won't necessarily charge it up enough to keep it charged over a week or more. All batteries discharge if left to sit. Your car uses some small voltage just sitting (radio, alarms, things not turned off), and will discharge faster.
If you have a battery in a low voltage condition you should put it on a trickle charge overnight or for a day or two. That should bring it fully up to full charge. If the battery has developed a coating on the lead it may not hold a charge at all and will need to be replaced.
My opinion is that you should buy a Battery Tender (that's the brand name, $40-60) trickle charger to keep on your battery when not in operation. The Battery Tender cannot overcharge your batteries. They are quick and easy to operate and will save you money in the long run by not having to replace expensive batteries.
