1964-1974 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
1) It may not have been JUST a dead battery, but for sure a dead battery was ONE of your problems (possibly the only one, possibly not.) The real question is WHY it went dead. Your voltage readings seem pretty good, although I'm no expert on these.
2) Bad regulator or alternator wouldn't exactly DRAIN the battery, but if they don't produce enough output to charge it fully, it will go flat eventually. Auto parts stores can test these too. But it's a big enough pain to get the alternator out of a Sonett that I would suggest checking easier stuff first.
3) The battery could be getting drained by a short or a current consumer that doesn't shut off when you turn off the car. Even if it was fully charged when you put it away, a current drain can run it down in a week. You can use an ammeter to see whether anything is drawing current from the battery when the car is shut off.
4) If you don't drive the car very much or very often, the battery could be going bad through sheer disuse. A battery can last a ridiculously long time if you drive the car almost every day long enough to get a full charge, and if you're careful to keep the electrolyte level topped up. If you don't do either or both of these things (the electrolyte can just evaporate if the car sits long enough) the battery gradually loses its ability to hold a charge.
I try to drive my Sonett at least two or three times a week in summer, but can't drive it much in the winter. And I try to keep an eye on the electrolyte level, but sometimes I, um, forget. Because of this, I can't usually get a battery to last more than 2 or 3 years in my Sonett.
Yeah, part of the problem may be that I buy cheapo batteries, too -- but even an expensive battery won't withstand too much abuse and neglect, so I figure that if I can't help ruining them, I might as well ruin cheap ones.
posted by 204.76.11...
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
