Batteries Totally Dead

[domtoni]

Guys,

Early this year, I noted that my car was cranking slower than it did when the batteries were new. The car was equiped with Exide batteries and I found them excellent.

About 8 weeks ago, I bought two Brazilian replacements from my local parts house. This is the same chappie who sold me the Exides years ago. Always good service. I noticed after a few weeks that the car did not crank as fast as it did when the Exides were new. I put this down the different batteries, and a battery that was not as good as the Exide.

About a month ago, I had a Pertronix igniter installed. We attached the hot wire to the fuse block in the rear of the car. The block has three fuses, two which are continously live, and one that is live only when the ignition is on.
The Pertronix instructions say to hook the hot wire to this kind of power source. We did this.

I was in Italy for two weeks, returned home on monday, and tried to start the car. The car cranked very slowly, but after counting to three, it did fire, and ran well.

I ran the car for 10 minutes, turned it off.

I tried to start the car tonight, and it was totally dead, not even enough power to run the radio.

I don't think the Pertronix is installed incorrectly (as it originally started the car like wild fire).

The batteries should not completely die.

Could it be a voltage regulator or something in the alternator? Any ideas?

Thanks
Dom
_________________
domtoni
1969 911E
ER Polybronze bushings, turbo tie rod ends, and 21/26mm torsion bars

[kucharskimb]

simple multi-meter should do the trick here. check for 14+ volts at the battery when running. this will tell you if:

1) you are getting a charge from the alternator--alternator working
2) how much the charge is--voltage regulator

if 1 and 2 are satisfactory, then run the car to ensure full battery charge then park it. disconnect the wires to the pertronix and let sit for a couple days. then reconnect and try to start.

or

an alternate way to look for a draw would be to use the current (amps) side of your multi-meter to see if you are getting a slow drain.

if you're not in the mood, go back to place of purchase and mech should have a handy cart that rolls out to the parking lot and checks all charging system components at one time.

good luck

[EarlyPorsche]

Yeah just see how many volts when running. You might need to jump the car first though.

[domtoni]

Batteries on charge, the first one has been charging for 7 hours, and is almost up to a full charge.

the car will not take a jump yet as the second battery is totally dead.

Thanks
Dom

[Mo_Gearhead]

Dom, Good suggestions so far.

Be certain your batteries are fully charged because you can damage your alternator by having low battery charge and making the alternator try and charge them.

[domtoni]

Thanks

[domtoni]

Guys,

Anyone know just how much current the clock takes, and what we should expect? I expect the clock to take very little current.

We measured the Pertronix with ignition off, and the unit took no current.

With two fully charged batteries, the car literally exploded to life.

Best
Dom

[EarlyPorsche]

I am not sure on the clock, its not much. I would buy a little trunk mounted trickle charger and install one. I think you could install it on just one of the batteries and plug it in. Should slowly keep a float charge on both batteries extending their life a bunch. Just install the charger under the hood and then you can just plug it in as needed.

[domtoni]

Great idea.

[domtoni]

Guys,

Following my Batteries are totally Dead post, do we have a battery engineer present?

I suspect that batteries are made to different specs, and some of the lower cost aftermarket batteries do not have the power or the punch to start some of the more demanding cars.

If this is so, then I would be better to dump my low cost Brazialian replacements for some good old Exides, Boschs or ???

Any comments or experience?

Best
Dom