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Registered
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Featherston, New Zealand
Posts: 962
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Battery 'kiss of life'?
I just bought the dreaded Audi Wagon[Its blue rather than black!] and after driving it home found the battery flat the next morning. Investigation showed no water---I put in about a quart/[litre] to cover the plates and trickle charged it overnight. Still struggles a bit to start the V6,but reads 13.2 volts
after standing for a while. Anyone had any experience with additives to refurbish a battery? I understand its phosphoric acid---the bottle is cheap enough, and just might save me the cost of a new battery. [Incidentally ,I paid NZD$505.00 at Auction,thats USD $389.00!] 
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01-04-2008, 07:42 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Tucson AZ USA
Posts: 8,228
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If you can afford it, get the new battery. Nothing worse than being stranded somewhere. Your local parts store can test the unit and see how it reacts under full load. Usually that service is free.
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Bob S. former owner of a 1984 silver 944 |
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01-04-2008, 07:55 PM
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Detached Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: southern California
Posts: 26,964
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The battery regenerating stuff that the Brits use is EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), a chelating agent (Latin meaning a claw that grabs) to clean up the plates, but just buy a new battery. When batteries die its usually because of a lead sludge in the bottom of the battery that eats up the connections between the plates.
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Hugh |
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01-04-2008, 08:07 PM
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Registered
Join Date: May 2002
Location: St Louis
Posts: 4,211
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Was that 13.2 volts with the engine off? No water sounds like a serious overcharge.
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Rick 88 Cab |
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01-04-2008, 09:39 PM
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Now in 993 land ...
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When an old battery shortens internally, it will also burn off the water. Any new battery, even the cheapest one, is better than what's in there now, regardless on how you nurse it.
George |
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01-04-2008, 09:44 PM
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Free minder
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By the way, lead-acid batteries electrolyte is sulphuric acid, not phosphoric acid...
Aurel |
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01-05-2008, 04:58 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Featherston, New Zealand
Posts: 962
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Aurel--I knew that!---do a bit of research!
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1986trou...36..387I |
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01-05-2008, 05:50 AM
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Free minder
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Quote:
If the battery self-discharges overnight, it is too far gone to be restored. Aurel |
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01-05-2008, 06:23 AM
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Slumlord
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 4,983
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I guess you could spend $50 in time, gas and materials to get six more months out of it. But why bother? If you were selling it fine, but aren't you keeping the car?
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01-05-2008, 06:51 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
Posts: 48,510
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I would suggest doing a voltmeter test with the car running...perhaps a voltage regulator bad causing the dry battery?
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"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
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01-05-2008, 10:05 AM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,943
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When the plates are dry they heat up, warping and touching each other, which shorts them out.
Buy a new battery and be done with it.
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2013 Jag XF, 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins (the workhorse), 1992 Jaguar XJ S-3 V-12 VDP (one of only 100 examples made), 1969 Jaguar XJ (been in the family since new), 1985 911 Targa backdated to 1973 RS specs with a 3.6 shoehorned in the back, 1959 Austin Healey Sprite (former SCCA H-Prod), 1995 BMW R1100RSL, 1971 & '72 BMW R75/5 "Toaster," Ural Tourist w/sidecar, 1949 Aeronca Sedan / QB |
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01-05-2008, 10:55 AM
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