1979-1993 & 94 Conv [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
I drive infrequently, maybe once or twice a week for short trips; battery is about 15 months into a 50 month warranty. I'm hoping it's just a battery failing to hold charge rather than anything more, but i'm taking it to a mechanic tomorrow (Interstate Battery dealer) to assess the situation, but would like to be somewhat educated before going in.
About 3 weeks ago i tried to start the car and the battery was dead. I jumped it with a portable jump start kit and all went fine, drove the car 45 minutes, ate dinner, car restarted again and drove 45 minutes home.
Two or three days later i went to drive again and the car started, but turned over slowly and took longer to "kick-in" than usual.
It's been about 7-10 days since driven and went to check car and totally dead (power locks didn't even open passenger side door when turning key in driver's side).
MY PLAN:
I plan on jumping the car tonite and driving around for a bit, using a volt meter near the end of my driving around (with the engine running) to see the charge that is getting to the battery. I THINK it should be 14.x volts?
Then i'll check the voltage with the car off to see just what charge the battery has. Then in the morning, i'll check the voltage again before starting the car to see if its lost any of its charge. (i think voltage with engine off should be 12.x?)
The battery did fully discharge once due to a fluke shortly after it was newly installed, and discharged one other time due to battery warning lite in dash not being connected.
Does this sound like a classic case of a battery not holding a charge, or something more (alternator, bushings, ???). The alternator ground should be fine as it was replaced a few years back with a MUCH larger grade wire, and i did look to see that it was still in tact.
Anything other tests i can do to make sure it's not something like the alternator, brushes, or something else? Is my procedure above a good start? (<-- pun intended)
Thanks.
posted by 67.80.2...
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