All stuffed up ?
Chuck Norcutt wrote:
> And whatever happened to Dr. Plumbub?
>
> Dr. Short
>
> usher99@xxxxxxx wrote:
>
>> I've had a similar problem though the etiology was no mystery. My '79
>> firebird sits for weeks at a time and typically gets exercise only to
>> go out and purchase a part for repair. It requires mega power for
>> turning over with cold viscous oil---the batteries have a ton of
>> surface area on the Pb/PbO2 plates but are subject to forming dendrites
>> and short out. This is largely due to the deeper cycling and sulfation
>> of the plates. I went through a few batteries at one year intervals and
>> then tried trickle charging every 2 weeks. There is a common opinion
>> that Pb acid batteries store best on float charge but I believe that is
>> not correct. Don't ask how I know that 2 weeks is not often enough but
>> every week trickle charge has worked for 5 years now.
>> I wonder if you drive it enough to keep its charge up or perhaps the
>> battery design is ugly per Dr. Short.
>> Have you checked the charge on the battery intermittently? Perhaps our
>> very own Dr. Battery will chime in
>> Tim---
>>
>> Dr. Lead (protégé of Dr. Short)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Since both batteries have apparently failed from internal shorts (and
>> since I've ridden in that car with you over the bouncy, bumpy, winding
>> streets of Berzerkely at near double the speed limit) I would suggest
>> that the case and internal structure of the 96 month Autolite Platinum
>> isn't up to the physical rigors you're subjecting it to. I'd change
>> brands to get a different mechanical design. :-)
>>
>> Dr. Short
>>
>>
>> Moose wrote:
>>
>>> Chuck Norcutt wrote:
>>>
>>>> Speaking of emissions controls, one of the unexpected adventures
>>>>
>> upon my
>>
>>>> return was to find that the older car left sitting in the driveway
>>>>
>> felt so
>>
>>>> neglected that it shorted its battery internally during my absence.
>>>>
>>> I've had a strange thing happening with my '95 Olds convertible. Back
>>>
>> in
>>
>>> late May, the battery started failing. No big deal, as it was at the
>>>
>> end
>>
>>> of its warranty life, 7 years, I think.
>>>
>>> In early June, I put in a new Autolite Platinum 96 month battery. In
>>> less than two months, I go out one day and the car is dead, really,
>>> really dead, flatlined. I attach the charger, it eats amps like
>>>
>> crazy,
>>
>>> gets rather hot and doesn't charge above about 6v. Off I go and get a
>>> free replacement.
>>>
>>> I think maybe something in the car was left on for a few days,
>>>
>> draining
>>
>>> and killing the battery. So I put an ammeter on it. When first hooked
>>> up, there is a changing drain of under one amp for a few seconds.
>>>
>> Then
>>
>>> it settles down to a few milliamps. Simple checks with a voltmeter
>>>
>> show
>>
>>> the charging system is delivering correct voltage.
>>>
>>> Everything is fine for, wait for it, two months, again. Again, I come
>>> out to find the car dead, dead, dead. Battery is down to about 3-4v.
>>> This time it will charge, but only up to 11v, and one spot gets
>>>
>> hotish.
>>
>>> Only one shorted cell this time.
>>>
>>> Back for another replacement. Of course, this is a GM car, and a
>>> convertible, so the battery is under the WW fluid tank, a stiffening
>>> strut and an electrical block. And the battery hold down bracket also
>>> supports the air filter housing. However, I'm getting quite adept at
>>>
>> the
>>
>>> switch by now.
>>>
>>> As part of the switch, I again check current drain. After the switch,
>>>
>> I
>>
>>> go back and have them run a charging system test, which passes
>>> perfectly. I ask the guy if they have had others of this brand/model
>>> battery coming back - not that he noticed (which may mean nothing).
>>>
>>> Will this go on, every two months, until the two year free
>>>
>> replacement
>>
>>> warranty period is up? Next time would be around the second week of
>>> December. At least I now have a copy of their own charging system
>>>
>> test
>>
>>> showing it's OK. Fortunately, it doesn't snow around here.
>>>
>>> Anybody have a clue what might be going on?
>>>
>>> Moose
>>>
>>> ==============================================
>>>
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>>
>
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