Today was visit family day down South of Melbourne. I am in North East VIC. so at 4.45am went out to car and pushed remote to open doors. Bugga, dead as a dodo. Tried the spare remote, same thing. I opened driver door by key and put key in ignition to start that way. Nothing. Yep, definitely a flat battery, real flat. Then, I discovered the key was locked in ignition. Something to do with security system me thinks. I was out checking oil etc late yesterday but sure everything was closed, locked properly etc. Mmmm. Maybe another 'Uncle Al' moment.
That said, I waited till light and tried my ARB battery jump start thingy. It is supposed to start a truck. Nope, no go. Yes, it was fully charged. I rang RACV and they came out one hour later and jumped the battery with a very similar thingy to mine, just slightly bigger. Battery tested up OK just not enough ooomf to start the Collie. Volts = 11.3...Measured = 61CCA...Rating = 800CCA. I have no idea what all that means but sounds OK. That was on the printout he gave me.
So, it was too late by then to head down to family due to another commitment they had at 2.00pm so instead, I went for an 80km drive and return so gave the battery a 160km charge time. Should have done the Particulate Filter (if it has one) a good clean out while at it, another story for another day maybe.
So, not sure what went wrong but yet another thing for DOUGWE to keep an eye on. The list grows.
I have a 2014 RG Colorado Diesel twin cab ute, 2.8lt. with a AC Delco 100amp hour premium car/truck battery under the hood and only three years old. If anyone would like to comment, go for it.
Sorry about blue highlight, this went in another section for some reason and cut and pasted here.
Keep an eye on it, although it may go for a few more years if maintained correctly.
wasn_me said
07:29 PM Feb 16, 2020
Hi Doug. 61 CCA measured can't be right. Should 761 or 661. 561 is probably getting a bit sluggish. Cheers Pete
Dougwe said
11:44 AM Feb 17, 2020
Thanks Ali and Peter.
Peter, that 61 CCA is what was on the printout. It's rated at 800 CCA.
I have decided to get a new battery as don't want to get stranded.
Kebbin said
11:47 AM Feb 17, 2020
Just a thought, but was your alternator belt checked for adjustment? Lots of those jump starters a way over rated in amps, it would seem the case with yours as you said it was fully charged? Noco Genius Brand have had good reports on forums
-- Edited by Kebbin on Monday 17th of February 2020 12:00:11 PM
Whenarewethere said
11:59 AM Feb 17, 2020
While at home we don't drive our car very much & when we do it is generally short trips (need another holiday) easier to walk to the shops.
The other day I stuck our Victron 10amp charger on the battery to top it up, can just get the Bluetooth signal at our from door. Next I will top up the auxiliary batteries.
Our vehicles sit for days at a time and with modern vehicles there are small power draws on the battery going on all the time from body control modules and security systems. As a result, poor battery life spans are common if the car is not being used every day.
I keep ours on maintenance chargers all the time. Since I began this practice, the battery life in our vehicles is now increased dramatically and no more flat batteries. My race car, which is fitted with a very small Odessey battery, used to get a life span of two years now is upto 9 years and still going strong
Many of the chargers come with a lead option to hardwire to the battery and have a plug on the end of the lead. I have the plug just projecting through the grill so I don't have to raise the bonnet every time, just plug the charger in. You don't need to spend a fortune on a charger. I have some small Battery Fighter brand from Super cheap but ones like C-Tec are very good also.
Whenarewethere said
12:59 PM Feb 17, 2020
My Land Rover goes through various stages of shutdown over a month to further reduce battery drain. After a month one needs to manually open the car. I have never got to this stage but other Land Rover owners have. A bit of a sh_t if the passenger door is smack up against a garage wall.
Whenarewethere said
01:08 PM Feb 17, 2020
Greg 1 wrote:
I have the plug just projecting through the grill so I don't have to raise the bonnet every time, just plug the charger in.
As I can't get to the front of the car as our garage is too short I have run a 2m Victron extension lead to the right of the car so I can plug the charge in.
dogbox said
01:28 PM Feb 17, 2020
Dougwe wrote:
Thanks Ali and Peter.
Peter, that 61 CCA is what was on the printout. It's rated at 800 CCA.
I have decided to get a new battery as don't want to get stranded.
my battery lasted 7 years when checked it tested ok then one morning nothing it seem the batteries don't give any warning like they use, to they seem to work or not work. battery man said take it for a drive it will be okay I would rather buy a new one then get stuck somewhere inconvienent
Whenarewethere said
01:57 PM Feb 17, 2020
dogbox wrote:
I would rather buy a new one then get stuck somewhere inconvienent
Not worth the inconvenience!
Hylife said
03:34 PM Feb 17, 2020
I have my auxiliary 100ah deep cycle flooded type battery under the bonnet (Hilux wagon).
It is isolated by the DCDC charger (under the front passenger seat) once the engine is turned off.
The DCDC only has an 8ma draw in standby so just 5 or so amps per month (the battery's own self discharge is 3 times more).
On the odd occasion that I have experienced a flat crank battery I have simply required a single jumper lead from + to + .
I now just have to carry a half meter long heavy duty red lead with large battery clips.
Whenarewethere said
05:44 PM Feb 17, 2020
I can jump start myself with a 2.5m cable & have an Anderson plug at both batteries. Plus 2 sets of clamps to jump start others. I can use the jumper cable if I need a few extra metres for the solar panels. A bit over the top but if it reaches the sun all the better!
Today was visit family day down South of Melbourne. I am in North East VIC. so at 4.45am went out to car and pushed remote to open doors. Bugga, dead as a dodo. Tried the spare remote, same thing. I opened driver door by key and put key in ignition to start that way. Nothing. Yep, definitely a flat battery, real flat. Then, I discovered the key was locked in ignition. Something to do with security system me thinks. I was out checking oil etc late yesterday but sure everything was closed, locked properly etc. Mmmm. Maybe another 'Uncle Al' moment.
That said, I waited till light and tried my ARB battery jump start thingy. It is supposed to start a truck. Nope, no go. Yes, it was fully charged. I rang RACV and they came out one hour later and jumped the battery with a very similar thingy to mine, just slightly bigger. Battery tested up OK just not enough ooomf to start the Collie. Volts = 11.3...Measured = 61CCA...Rating = 800CCA. I have no idea what all that means but sounds OK. That was on the printout he gave me.
So, it was too late by then to head down to family due to another commitment they had at 2.00pm so instead, I went for an 80km drive and return so gave the battery a 160km charge time. Should have done the Particulate Filter (if it has one) a good clean out while at it, another story for another day maybe.
So, not sure what went wrong but yet another thing for DOUGWE to keep an eye on. The list grows.
I have a 2014 RG Colorado Diesel twin cab ute, 2.8lt. with a AC Delco 100amp hour premium car/truck battery under the hood and only three years old. If anyone would like to comment, go for it.
Sorry about blue highlight, this went in another section for some reason and cut and pasted here.
Keep an eye on it, although it may go for a few more years if maintained correctly.
Peter, that 61 CCA is what was on the printout. It's rated at 800 CCA.
I have decided to get a new battery as don't want to get stranded.
Just a thought, but was your alternator belt checked for adjustment? Lots of those jump starters a way over rated in amps, it would seem the case with yours as you said it was fully charged? Noco Genius Brand have had good reports on forums
-- Edited by Kebbin on Monday 17th of February 2020 12:00:11 PM
While at home we don't drive our car very much & when we do it is generally short trips (need another holiday) easier to walk to the shops.
The other day I stuck our Victron 10amp charger on the battery to top it up, can just get the Bluetooth signal at our from door. Next I will top up the auxiliary batteries.
My Land Rover goes through various stages of shutdown over a month to further reduce battery drain. After a month one needs to manually open the car. I have never got to this stage but other Land Rover owners have. A bit of a sh_t if the passenger door is smack up against a garage wall.
As I can't get to the front of the car as our garage is too short I have run a 2m Victron extension lead to the right of the car so I can plug the charge in.
my battery lasted 7 years when checked it tested ok then one morning nothing it seem the batteries don't give any warning like they use, to they seem to work or not work. battery man said take it for a drive it will be okay I would rather buy a new one then get stuck somewhere inconvienent
Not worth the inconvenience!
It is isolated by the DCDC charger (under the front passenger seat) once the engine is turned off.
The DCDC only has an 8ma draw in standby so just 5 or so amps per month (the battery's own self discharge is 3 times more).
On the odd occasion that I have experienced a flat crank battery I have simply required a single jumper lead from + to + .
I now just have to carry a half meter long heavy duty red lead with large battery clips.
I can jump start myself with a 2.5m cable & have an Anderson plug at both batteries. Plus 2 sets of clamps to jump start others. I can use the jumper cable if I need a few extra metres for the solar panels. A bit over the top but if it reaches the sun all the better!
Ken