Ok I have a battery I know is bad but I used it anyway to start my 85 Cutlass w/ stock 307 project. I'm about to replace the battery in the next few weeks when my budget allows. However I noticed when I tried to jump the battery from two different cars absolutely nothing happened. Then I removed the entire batt from the car and manually put the battery on a wall charger on two separate occasions and when I put the battery back in the car it fired right up first turn of the key and ran perfectly. So my elementary question is obvious; which part of the ignition / starting system does this indicate should I also consider faulty besides the battery? I am sure some other component must be responsible for the strange fact that this battery would not accept a jump but fired up perfectly fine after being on the wall charger? The alternator seems to work but I don't have ampere at my house to verify and it's impossible to blame the alternator before I replace the entire battery. I am really hoping some other cheaper dollar part such as the neutral safety switch / fusible link might be responsible?
Riddle me this; elementary charging question
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sounds like your battery has a dead cell so when dead it won't take a jump. You can still charge a battery with a bad cell so if you had let the other leave the booster wires on it for 10 or so minutes to charge your battery your car may have started.
I've seen batteries that are so drained they sucked the life right out of the jumper battery. Sometimes it takes a half an hour of jumping to recharge the bad battery enough so the jumper can start the car. Removing or disconnecting the battery and charging separately is the proper way to do it and an overnight charge is usually all it takes to get it as charged as it will go. Once the battery is back in the car and the motor is running, turn on everything electrical, lights, blower, wipers, etc. A good alternator will handle the load as well as maintain the battery. A bad alternator cannot and you will see the battery slowly drain, lights dim, wipers slow down,etc. Once fully charged, a battery with removable caps, like Diehard, can be checked with a hydrometer to see if all the cells are healthy. One bad cell can cause problems.
Put a voltmeter across the battery terminals. A bad battery will show less than 11 volts before you do anything. Once the engine is running it should show 13-14.5 volts with a good alternator. A bad battery may upset this, and cause other electrical oddities as well.
A dead cell might well prevent jump starting, a completely flat battery will give similar trouble.
Roger.
A dead cell might well prevent jump starting, a completely flat battery will give similar trouble.
Roger.
This battery was from Wal-Mart. I don't feel like typing an anti Wal Mart rant today so I'll keep it short: Don't buy any auto parts from WalMart. Period. Just don't. This battery did not even last the entire year it was warrantied but I am not going to even try to cash in on the warranty because why would I want to replace crap with crap.
Oddly enough, I've had good luck with Walmart Everstart batteries. I've actually had one for 10 yrs., if you can believe that. I just put one in my Chevy a few weeks ago and replaced the one in my Foxbody Capri. But my alternator took a crap the other day. :?
The batteries you buy at Walmart are re branded just like most of the other batteries in other stores.
You're absolutely right about that. There's only a few companies that manufacture batteries for the masses. As you said, they're re-branded for Walmart, Autozone, Interstate, etc.
I've had a new Die Hard go bad within 6 months with a dead cell. Sears replaced it no problem. And I have also scrounged a dumped old Die Hard from the parking lot at work, flushed it out, added new acid, and it lasted me 5 years. Go figure.
Mark,
I've also had a Diehard "die hard" some years back. This one lasted a whole 2 1/2 yrs. Can you still purchase sulfuric acid? I remember when buying a new battery, it was dry and you had to add your own acid (which came with the battery) to activate it. I always used to have a container of acid hanging out in the garage. I'm probably dating myself... :wink:
I've also had a Diehard "die hard" some years back. This one lasted a whole 2 1/2 yrs. Can you still purchase sulfuric acid? I remember when buying a new battery, it was dry and you had to add your own acid (which came with the battery) to activate it. I always used to have a container of acid hanging out in the garage. I'm probably dating myself... :wink:
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