Battery Problem - Questions

[notJDM]

Hey guys, I own an EG5 though I would like to share with you my battery experiences and some questions.

I think it's time for a new battery though can't buy a new one just yet. The first time my battery played up, I couldn't start my car. So I jump started with jumper leads, which got it working for awhile until. Second time round, tried to start my car but the car would not start and this time it didn't even make the cranking noise, so I assumed the worse but turned out to be just the battery again (jump started with jumper leads again), got it running for a week or so. Today, car did the same thing, car couldn't start and would not crank again. - Just wondering do I need a new battery or am I just jump starting it not properly?

My method - I hook the jumper leads on both cars, while the other car is running I wait for around 30 seconds then I go try to start up my car, once my car starts I will rev the other car for 30 seconds here and there. After that I just leave both cars running for 1-2 minutes then disconnect the jumper leads. - I would like to know if I'm jump starting correctly? If not, what would be the correct way to do so, so my battery can be charged properly?


Thanks, hope you can help!

[flipfire]

Yes you are jump starting it fine, your battery just cant hold enough amps to crank the motor. Buy a new one.

[NeedVtec]

Check battery cables!
Exact same thing happened to me, ended up buying new battery.

[notJDM]

If yall say my jump starting with jumper leads method is correct, I would of thought that the battery would atleast be charged/working for longer. But it seems to be going flat way faster than expected.

Another question, since this is like the 3rd time the battery went flat, will it still work if I jumpstart it again with jumper leads? If so, how long will it be able to run for till the battery goes flat again? - hence I'm asking all of this because I thought that my jumpstarting with jumper leads method was wrong, since the battery is going flat faster than expected whilst charged.

[mocchi]

you jump start, to start the car not to recharge the battery.
normal batteries (non-agm) usually doesnt hold proper charge after going flat. also check water level.
so just get a good second hand ones from wreckers ($20-$30). they usually have multimeter for you to test it first.
if your battery goes flat again, probably your alternator doesnt charge.

[trism]

With a regular style lead acid battery, once it gets totally discharged once, it begins a downwards spiral of never lasting as long.

However. With the car running, use a multimeter and test the voltage across the battery terminals. It should be reading between 13.8 and 14.4 volts. This means its charging. If it reads less than this, your alternator is not charging properly.

[notJDM]

With a regular style lead acid battery, once it gets totally discharged once, it begins a downwards spiral of never lasting as long.

However. With the car running, use a multimeter and test the voltage across the battery terminals. It should be reading between 13.8 and 14.4 volts. This means its charging. If it reads less than this, your alternator is not charging properly.

Wierd thing just happend, last night the car couldn't start and it wouldn't crank, but just tried it this morning and the car turned on normally. Does this mean last night the battery wasn't charging the alternator, and till now it had slowly charged the alternator? - what should I do in this case etc.?

Also, If the alternator is not charging properly, what does this mean?

[flipfire]

You got it wrong way around alternator charges the battery.

The battery is pretty much just used to start the engine. Once the car is started all the electronics gets its juice from the alternator.

[notJDM]

Ok, can anyone answer my question that I asked?

Another thing, if the water levels are low on the battery, what does this mean? What does the water do?

[flipfire]

Slow down turbo, you asked like 100 questions.

If your alternator is faulty then you can recondition them by changing the brushes inside or just replacing the whole unit.

But since you say the water on the battery is low, its highly likely the battery. The water acts as an electrolyte, so low water = low capacity. You can try topping it up with distilled water but i suggest just replacing it.

[jeremydawg]

Lol

Get yourself a multimetre and test it. Its that simple!

how long will it be able to run for till the battery goes flat again?

3days 12hrs 27mins 4secs 42msecs

[stiadouc]

Same issue with mine, at first I thought it was a faulty battery, got it tested and it wasn't, then thought it was the alternator, then it wasn't that either. Found out it was a power leak from my central locking. 'if symptoms persist, see your local auto electrician' but check your wires etc