Battery Dead?????

malcolm · Post by **malcolm** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 16:35

Went to start the Excel today and no go. It will just wind the window down and other low power jobs but not start. Checked the battery and all the cells are very low in fluid. Ive put 1Ltr of top up water in accros all 6 cells and attached it to the trickle charger. Am I wasting my time ? Should I just get another battery. Hadnt checked the levals for a couple of years so its my own fault but up till today starts 1st time no probs. Is their anything else I can do to help resurect this battery as I could do without spending £80 on another.

amarshall · Post by **amarshall** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 16:37

What are the exact symptoms of it failing to start ? If it isn't even turning over and you can't hear the solenoid - check the starter relay for corrosion.

Ozzy_UK · Post by **Ozzy_UK** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 18:09

if i leave mine for more than about 2 days turning the key does nothing at all, even radio wont come on...
just have to jump battery off my honda, then run if for 15 mins and then its fine untill i leave it for more than 2 days again, havent had time to diagnose why its doing it...

malcolm · Post by **malcolm** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 18:12

It turned over slowly twice then just the solonoid clicking. As I managed to put 1 ltr of distilled water in to the battery im fairly sure thats the problem. I couldnt get another car up to it to jump start it but will try that tomorrow.

chrisw2811 · Post by **chrisw2811** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 22:33

You may be able to recover it. Leaving a battery to self-discharge for a long time can result in debris from the plates that builds up at the bottom until it causes an internal short. I have recovered batteries by re-charging them and then tipping out the old acid, rinsing with de-ionised water to shift all the muck from the bottom of the cells and then re-filling with fresh acid, followed by overnight trickle charge.

amarshall · Post by **amarshall** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 23:24

Sounds like battery to me - but could also be bad block-chassis earthing ?

Battery's easier to check and fiddle with though.

dpr59 · Post by **dpr59** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 23:37

chrisw2811 wrote:You may be able to recover it. Leaving a battery to self-discharge for a long time can result in debris from the plates that builds up at the bottom until it causes an internal short. I have recovered batteries by re-charging them and then tipping out the old acid, rinsing with de-ionised water to shift all the muck from the bottom of the cells and then re-filling with fresh acid, followed by overnight trickle charge.

If you can get some also rince with EDTA as it removes metal contaminants.

With an auto box, when I hiot problems with battery reserves it was a trip to Halfrauds and a somewhat larger than std battery purchased.

Markexel · Post by **Markexel** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 00:20

£80 for a battery! ,u should be able to get a good one for £25/£35

If its had it u are better just gettin a new one

Theres nothing worse than an unreliable car with starting/charging problems ,especially this time of year

A decent battery/alternator/starter motor are worth there weight in gold

cold weather and a low use car soon kill a battery

Mark