Battery in, no start

[kach22i]

In the fall I took the battery out of the car. The battery had needed a jump to get the car in the garage that last time. I put the battery in the house and charged it up. The battery sat in the house on a wood stair landing for the rest of the winter.

I put the battery in the car being careful not to switch positive and negative. Turn the key, no turning over sound at all.

However, release the key to the half-way position and the speedometer will flick up to 70 mph!

1. Dead battery?

2. Overcharged battery?

NOTE-1: When in the half-way key position there is an electric motor sound of some kind. It's either coming from the dash or just on the other side of the front firewall.

NOTE-2: I have checked the front and rear fuse boxes, all looks good. Pulled out and put back in the three front relays to no affect.

[vash]

do you have a voltmeter?

[kach22i]

Originally posted by vash
do you have a voltmeter?

No, and my charger is not the auto-shut-off type, no indicator at all.

[PLouie]

Here is a link to info on batteries: http://www.phrannie.org/battery.html

[Netspeed]

Dead battery...

If it was weak to start before the winter, I bet the plates have been stoned over and now it won't take a charge.

[kach22i]

I'm thinking dead battery too, and the sound I heard was the hopefuly the fuel pump going at it. Just did a SEARCH and read up.

Why or how would the speedo act up like that?

[Netspeed]

Just enough voltage to make weird things happen....

[Netspeed]

Question: Where was the car when the battery was out?

[wholberg]

It's dead. Replace the battery and buy a battery tender for next winter.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by Netspeed
Question: Where was the car when the battery was out?

In the garage all winter, all nice and dry.

I just checked the water level in the cells. Low, the lowest ones near the front.

None of the cells were exposed, it was just a little low.

However topping them all off still took close to 12 ounces (minor spillage).

I'm guessing the first charge never took acording to plans because of low water/acid levels. I have the charger on it now, but with my luck the charger is bad too.

I think I'm looking at a new battery either way. Even if I give it a jump, I will never trust it - and I sure don't want to get stranded on my first joy ride of the season.

Thanks for all the help everyone.

[madmmac]

Do yourself a longterm favor and buy a digital multimeter.

[911pcars]

Replacing a good battery with a new one is big business in the automotive aftermarket.

I can go down to a battery shop and take my pick of previously-owned batteries for $15. These are batteries exchanged because the customer wanted a new one - nothing wrong with old one except maybe discharged.

Not to say yours is in the above category. Before buying a new one, I'd suggest taking it down to an automotive electric shop and ask them to check it. The latest testers can test even a discharged battery.

Before you remove it from the car, perform this test. Switch the headlights ON. Are they as bright as they usually are? If not, battery might be discharged. If they're bright (indicates battery has enough capacity for headlights), crank the engine and watch the headlights. You know it's not going to do anything, but listen for a click and watch the headlights.

If they dim, then the cranking circuit is complete - but the battery is low.

If they don't dim, you might have a bad connection (ground or positive cable). The battery could also be low.

The above are generalities. As in life, there's usually a combination of factors mucking up our lives.

Sherwood

[Netspeed]

The reason I asked where the car was stored was because I've seen numerous cars with weird electrical problems cause by rodents. Cars make great places to nest.

[vash]

i agree, if you dont have the tools, take it to a pepboys or something. they charge for free.

[ischmitz]

If your charger does not turn itself off (smart charger, trickle charger) and you had the battery on the 2 Amp setting all winter long chances are your battery is done and dead. Once they are fully charges irreversible processes kick in and you'll loose capacity to the point where it won't take or hold a charge.

In any case it comes down to money vs. hassle. I would get a 100$ Optima Redtop at your friendly Costco and a cheapo digital voltmeter for 30 bucks.

You might also take the battery to a PepBoys or AutoZone and have them put it on a tester. They'll charge it and check if its holds a charge. That'll take the guess-work out of it.

[kach22i]

Thanks for the advice once again.

I put the jumper cables on the battery from my other car and it was so weak that I could not turn over the engine until my wife gave the good car some gas.

The car runs strong, I parked it in my drive so that the next jump (if I needed) or working to get the battery out again will be much easier setup.

I'll take the battery out again and take it to the battery store to get it checked.

The charger was not on all winter just in case you were wondering - followed directions.

The car cover is on, waiting for a good rain to wash the last road salts away. For me spring is here.

[Netspeed]

I'd still replace the battery. True some shop could charge it up and it will start your car, but it might be at 75% capacity and that's where you get the cranking power. All it would take is to leave the radio on some lights on while your working on it and you're back to zero again.

I agree with ischmitz....get an Optima if they fit (they may not). A volt meter will tell you the voltage but not the amperage and that's the measure of the cranking power. Nothing beats a shop with a proper load test machine.

[ischmitz]

One thing to watch out for is that a completely dead battery can be potentially dangerous to other components of the electrical system. The battery act as a certain load as a function of voltage. If the battery has an internal short or is open this could destroy the alternator diodes or cause over-voltage conditions killiing the CDI box. There are usually warnings to NOT run or jump-start a car without a battery present.

[Netspeed]

I agree!
ischmitz...Are you a member of the SBA PCA?

[ischmitz]

Netspeed, nope I am not. Maybe I should look into it, hm....