Conference terri::cars_uk

    This might sound strange, but it works...
    
    Drop a couple of aspirin in each cell, and recharge the battery. If
    that fails, then it's dead.
    
    Laurie.

    I don't know the answer, but since I have a dead battery in the
    garage, I'd be interested to know if it can be brought back to life.
    
    There was a similar question to yours in note 607, see if the
    replies to that are of any use to you...  Chances are, you probably
    entered a reply to that yourself, but if not it may be of some help.
    
    J.R.
    
    PS other BATTERY notes :-
    
       352  RDGENG::MOXLEY       12-OCT-1988     6  Batteries and jump starting
       607  AYOU17::NAYLOR       23-MAY-1989    11  Battery death syndrome.
       980   CHEFS::KARVE         9-MAR-1990    15  Aftermath of flat battery - Rade
      1014  MRSLOW::DDSQA         6-APR-1990    16  Battery drain problem
      1357   VOGON::KAPPLER       6-FEB-1991     2  Battery supplier recommendation.
      1407  CRISPY::BUSHNELLJ     3-APR-1991    18  Electrical modifications - including a battery.
      1470   YUPPY::MCINTYRE     17-JUN-1991    11  Escort Battery Light problem
      1509  BLKPUD::WARNESG      22-JUL-1991     4  Battery question.
    

    I think that your battery is probably shot. I seen to remember, from
    the time that I worked on aircraft electrical systems, that the sort of
    lead acid battery used on cars will deteriorate if left for long
    periods, either inactive or on a trickle charge. I think it was
    something to do sulphating of the plates that results in reduced
    capacity and eventual flaking of the plates - the material then falls
    to the bottom of the cell and shorts out the plates. I seem to remember 
    that when we put aircraft into storage for long periods we fully
    charged the battery and then drained the electrolyte - when we took it
    out of storage we replaced the electrolyte with fresh of the correct
    SG.
    
    It's only my opinion but I think that your idea of starting the car
    every month or so is not a good one. Running the engine for half an
    hour will never full heat it up enough to get rid of all the moisture
    that you are creating caused by condensation from the previous run!!!
    I have stripped an engine (from a motorcycle) that was left idle for
    eight years or more, never started, just stored in a brick garage -
    internally it was fine - no corrosion at all. I just put it back
    together, put in fresh oil and ran it. Externally it looked pretty
    grotty, but a good spray of WD40 would have probably prevented that.
    
    - John.

    I bought a Lucas Macho LoadsofLetters recently. It has a very pretty
    display which goes a different colour if you need to re-charge it. It
    also cost me over �50. 
    
    The upshot of this is that I have the old battery kicking around in the
    Shedette. Do you want it? I never did discover whether it was finished
    or not. It's a Motorcraft one. Description of problem (or possible
    non-problem) in one of the other Battery topics.
    
    I'm in Wimgrove Wednesday. 
    
    Dougie
    

    
    let me see if I can explain this........
    
    a battery consists of an outer caseing, a given number of nickel plates
    and lots of acid. The acid reacts with the Nickel and and the offshoot
    is electricity. 
    
    problem 1: the acid causes deteriation of the Nickel plates, the affect
               of this is the edges of the plates flake off and float
               around. eventually the flakes settle in the base of the
               outer casing and short 2+ plates together. 
    diagnosis: plug all holes in the casing, turn battery upside down and
               shake for 1+ minute(s). if battery recharges successfully
               follow next step. 
    solution:  drain acid into suitable container, flush plates and replace
               acid.
    
    problem 2: the acid weakens and fails to react with the plates.
    Diagnosis: obtain a Gunson/generic battery tester and check as per
               tester instructions.
    solution:  replace acid
    
    problem 3: the reaction between the acid and the plates cause the
               plates to totally diintegrate/breakdown
    solution:  replace battery. 
                
    
      Alan.
    

    Check all the connection surfaces!!!! 
    
    And also; I agree that half an hour is not enough to recharge the
    battery, especially if your garage is not warm.
    
    - Jyri -

    Re .5 ........
    
    Where's nickel come into it? The basic reaction is lead + acid --> lead
    sulphate plus electrons..... hence they are called lead/acid batteries.
    Unless, of course you are using a sodium/liquid sulphur battery........
    
    Am I missing something?

    
    re-1
       dunno.... I always thought that they nickel cadmium but the same
    thing happens with Lead and acid.....just change the names and stop
    being pedantic :-)...
    
      Alan.

    Sorry Alan, I forgot to put my smiley in......
    
    NiCads are the little rechargeables that my kids put in their Walkman
    thingeys and radio control cars etc and I in my cordless drill.
    
    I wasn't joking about some of the more exotic batteries, either. There
    have been alsorts of wierd combinations and the sulphur/liquid sodium
    was used in some bits of the US space programme.
    
    I was told recently that a battery change for an average milk float
    costs in the region of �10K........
    
    There, that's worked that rathole to death.... ;-)

    no it ain't.......
                      .
                       :-) 
    
    As any good forklift/milkfloat injuneer knows...batteries for these
    naffers are mega wads of dosh...they are humungeous 2v cells joined by
    massive lumps of lead, and can last an incredible amount of time if
    looked after properly, but when a replacement is required....the
    customer is _at first_  pleased his truck/float is working again....
    
    until he gets the bill.........
    
    :-) :-( :-) :-(
    
    Paul (ex long_suffering_Bagnalls_Injuneer)

PROBLEM : I have an Escort that seems to have battery problems !

	The car starts fine for a week or so then it decides not to start.
        Hence, I have to jump start it and run it to re-charge the battery, 
	then its fine again for another couple of weeks then it plays up
	again.

	Is it likely to be the Battery (New One ?) or the Alternator ?


	Sandra

	What do you mean by not starting?  Is the engine turning over at all?
	If not, then it sounds like a loose connection.  As it's an intermittant
	problem, then loose connections are likely.  If it's a duff alternator,
	the ignition warning light will come on (maybe not all the time,
	just some of the time), and the battery will slowly drain until one
	day it hasn't enough juice to turn the motor.

	Dave

    Slipping Fan belt?
    
    Huw.

    
    
    ...short running distance (a diascharged battery requires approx 13
    miles to recharge)
    
    Al

    Should you protect your battery in any way [cover it] if you are up in
    the mountains and plan to leave your car standing around outside for a
    week. Thinking that it can get mighty cold at night up at 6000 feet...
    
    Can the acid actually freeze and/or can the cold cause any damage? If
    it does freeze do you just take it inside overnight and let it warm up
    slowly...?
    
    Dave

If the acid level topped off, and the battery has a good charge, then the cold 
will only cause the battery to loose some power.  It should not freeze or 
otherwise get damaged.  If it gets cold enough for the acid to freeze, I would 
suspect the anti-freeze or fuel would have frozen as well and you have major 
problems.

Keeping the battery warm would not be a bad idea.  A few weeks ago it was 
dipping into the single digits (F, not C) and the battery in our '71 VW was a 
little weak.  I placed a drop light with a 40w bulb next to the battery 
overnight and it started right up in the morning.

If you do plan to remove the battery from the car, make sure it won't mess up 
the new radios with the access codes or whatever.

Dave

I left mine in the alps for 14 days with the alarm enabled and it 
started up no probs. That was a 1 yr old cavalier.

Alan

    RE: .16
    
    ##how cold is cold?
    
    Well cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!
    
    If it's at night with a cloudless sky and the wind blowing up at 6000+
    feet I imagine you could easily get into the single digits or below in
    �F.
    
    The reason for checking was that someone here got stung by a garage up
    in the Alps - they said it was a frozen battery!! The garage also had a
    nice call out "business" going charging 200FF for each car jump started
    with cash straight into the pocket...!!
    
    I also wondered about it because on my Mondeo it has a cover around the
    sides of the battery so I wondered just how much protection it gave...
    I was up in Isola for 1 week but started the car the middle of the week
    so I wouldn't have any surprises when it was time to go. It spluttered
    a bit when initially starting and it stalled once but battery wise no
    problems
    
    Dave 

It might drop down very cold during the night, but if it's sunny and only 
somewhat cold when you go to start the car, it should be okay.

Some people claim turning on your headlights or radio a little before trying 
to start the car helps to warm the battery up.  

Dave