Oddessey 680 battery lifespan

JohnJL · 06-11-2009, 07:12 PM

I'm interested in hearing others' experiences with this battery. I have one in my smuggler's box and it started the car fine for 2 years. However now I am seeing very low voltages and having trouble starting the car.

The battery did run low (but not dead) while in storage in the car with a small current drain, however I have trickle charged it for several days and the charger reads "100%." I get 12.4v at the ecu and at the coils.

When cranking the voltage goes down to ~9v. When I flip off the starter the car tries to catch but dies.

I am logging the ECU and see in the logs as soon as I let off the starter the voltages goes back to 12.3v. I've also observed with a timing light that the plugs spark intermittently during cranking but the ignition stabilizes and fires regularly when off the starter (when the motor is trying to catch.)

Perhaps the battery is good enough to turn over the starter but not enopugh to fire the plugs consistently? I am getting fuel no problem.

Also noticed the cranking RPM is only ~130. This is with a high-torque starter turning a 3.2L with 8:1 compression (all cylinders measure 130psi) and a supercharger. Maybe the load is just too much...?

slow&rusty · 06-12-2009, 05:07 AM

Mine lasted two years.

Danimal16 · 06-12-2009, 05:20 AM

What type of charger are you using?

javadog · 06-12-2009, 05:28 AM

In my experience, once you run one of these batteries down below a certain point, they are never the same. I'd suggest getting a new one and keeping a Battery Tender charger on it when you're not driving the car.

JR

KTL · 06-12-2009, 09:13 AM

I think I have the same problem with mine. Dropped to a low charge level and then I put it on the charger (some old K-Mart charger from 1970's that has no protection circuitry, just keeps on charging away as long as it's connected) and forgot about it for a day or two. Oops!

I should be putting mine back in the car this week to finally get it on the road and i'll let you know how my charging and starting goes. I recall when it's on the charger, the ammeter doesn't drop to zero when fully charged. Meter hangs between 1 & 2 so I think I messed up the battery a bit......

drl911 · drl911's Garage

3 years on my first one, recently bought another.

johndglynn · johndglynn's Garage

I use a battery disconnect on mine and am into my third year on it. It stays charged for months when disconnected, never have to plug it in.

TimT · 06-12-2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

I use a battery disconnect on mine and am into my third year on it. It stays charged for months when disconnected, never have to plug it in.

+1

I found with these batteries your starting tune has to be pretty good (on aftermarket efi)... they dont have alot of cranking reserve..

johndglynn · johndglynn's Garage

I flooded my motor one time (long story) but the 680 cranked for ages trying to fire it up. I really cannot rate these things highly enough, they are amazing little devices.

Danimal16 · 06-12-2009, 04:15 PM

The reason why I brought up the charger is because any old run of the mill charger will destroy these batteries. Ask me how I know. You need to consider one of the ones listed here:

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/accessories/omax.htm

I made the same mistake many of you are probably doing at this time. I got an ultimizer charger, with the proper charging sequence, and was not only able to save one odyssey for another year, but the odyssey that I have now is over three years old. Read the lit on this and it will answer many of your questions and resolve the problems (hopefully)

Dan

onlycafe · 06-12-2009, 04:15 PM

forgot to untie mine this past winter. came the spring it cranked my car up on the seventh try.
i am impressed.

Fishcop · Fishcop's Garage

Mine's still good after 5 years, but I plug in a trickle charger every time I park the car. I've accidently flattened it 3 times, but it's come back each time with no apparent ill effects...

JohnJL · 06-13-2009, 04:59 AM

Thanks guys.

I switched in a new and fully charged Optima yellow top from the 'Cruiser and found the same problems...still not starting while cranking and it coughs a few times/ignition stabilizes when the starter is off. But it wont start and catch. Voltage now drops to 10.5 during cranking.

So the battery may be toast, but that seems to not be the only issue...have the tuner coming over to the house later this week...

Awesome backfires though...plenty of fuel + intermittent spark + heated o2 sensor = massive explosions in the muffler.