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charging problem... long

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Old Nov 19, 2008 | 11:48 PM
  #1  
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From: Offutt AFB
Default charging problem... long

I'm having a problem with my 07 grand prix gxp. For about a week the car seemed to start slower put would always crank over. Last week i went to start my car up and go to work (5 min drive). Car didnt start, put the jumper cables on and the car started within 1 min of the jumper cables being on the car, it started pretty slow but started on the first try. When i got off work it did the same thing.

I drove back to my house around a 2 hour drive. i watched the amps on the way home and it ranged from 14.3-14.5. All weekend while im home the car doesnt act up at all. I had the battery tested and it tested fine. The amps read about 13.7 all weekend, if i sat with the car in park they droped done to about 12.3.

Today the amps were reading around 14.7 and almost seemed to run a little rough if i sat in park. Is this a sign my alt is getting ready to go out or is it something else.

Thanks for any help
Luke
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Old Nov 20, 2008 | 12:47 AM
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Your battery is dieing take it to the dealer they will load test it and see that its bad. It probably has bad cells and isnt putting out 12volts. AS for your charging system anything over 12 is charging your battery so thats not the problem. I've had almost every problem possible with these cars and that was one of them. My Dead DELCO battery. i replaced mine with a new delco from the dealership and a redtop in the trunk for backup/stereo system.
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Old Nov 20, 2008 | 02:08 AM
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It does sound like you have a cell opening up in the battery. The equipment needed to test that is likely not at a dealer, but if you have a multimeter, see what the battery voltage is with the car off. You can get a real rough estimate by turning the key to 'run' but not start the car and see what the gauge reads. If it is in the 9's, you have an open cell. If it is 12.something, you may have a battery that only tips over under load. try to crank it over and then see what the volts show right after that. if in the 9's, bad battery. Also, when you talk to them, do not say 'amps'. the gauge you are looking at shows 'volts' and it might confuse them. When the car is running, the voltage you see is what the alternator puts out. If it is accurate and putting out 14.7 volts then the battery's internal resistance is very high and it is bad/going bad, but the good thing is that the alternator is fine. Replacing the battery should fix all your woes. Go ahead and PM me if you want me to walk you through any of the procedures. But be quick, going out of town to a wedding this weekend, actually in about 9 hours.
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Old Nov 20, 2008 | 02:15 AM
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From: Offutt AFB
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Ill have to check that tomorrow when i go out to my car

Thanks for the correction on the volt's its been a long day and i really couldnt remember if it was amps or volt's lol.

Thanks for the quick responses
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Old Nov 20, 2008 | 07:38 PM
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Originally Posted by 06 SS
It does sound like you have a cell opening up in the battery. The equipment needed to test that is likely not at a dealer, but if you have a multimeter, see what the battery voltage is with the car off. You can get a real rough estimate by turning the key to 'run' but not start the car and see what the gauge reads. If it is in the 9's, you have an open cell. If it is 12.something, you may have a battery that only tips over under load. try to crank it over and then see what the volts show right after that. if in the 9's, bad battery. Also, when you talk to them, do not say 'amps'. the gauge you are looking at shows 'volts' and it might confuse them. When the car is running, the voltage you see is what the alternator puts out. If it is accurate and putting out 14.7 volts then the battery's internal resistance is very high and it is bad/going bad, but the good thing is that the alternator is fine. Replacing the battery should fix all your woes. Go ahead and PM me if you want me to walk you through any of the procedures. But be quick, going out of town to a wedding this weekend, actually in about 9 hours.

The equipment to test a battery would not be at a dealer ? did you really just say that?? lol
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Old Nov 23, 2008 | 05:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Sint3k
The equipment to test a battery would not be at a dealer ? did you really just say that?? lol
Yes, the equipment needed to do an internal resistance test on a battery is likely not going to be at the dealer. It is specialized and fairly expensive. That would be the only way to check the battery's internal condition if it has not failed already. An opening cell may very well pass a simple load/voltage test.
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Old Nov 25, 2008 | 05:07 PM
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Well it did it again yesterday and today. Yesterday i checked to see if it would start when i got off work at 6am it had 11.24 volts, then at 5 i went to go start it and it had 9 and wouldnt start. I jumped it and it started.

Then today i went to go start it at 230 its said it had 12 volts but wouldnt start acted like it had a dead battery, then the voltz started to fall rapidly down to 9. I jumped it and it started right up.

Im thinking it has to be the battery now, does that seem right?

Thanks
Luke
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Old Nov 25, 2008 | 06:08 PM
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Yes. 9 volts means an open cell. The battery is toast.
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