13 replies to this topic

[Jeff]

I realize that we havent contributed much lately to the forum, but i have been popping on to have a look. Hopeing i can get some tips and guidance once again. Our Battery has died in the B4 and its now sitting in the garage. I need a new battery obviously, but, the one that is in it isn't even 1 year old and its actually a warranty replacement from when the same thing happened about 18 months ago so i'm not going to go and get another one of the POS things. We dont drive the car every day, but we do try to drive it atleast once a week for atleast 45min to try and keep some charge in it. This, i thought, should be enough but alas it isn't. There is nothing electronically wrong with the car, it has been checked twice. Nothing left on either. Would it be caused by the extra alarm that the original owner got fitted to the car when he bought it?? It is an Auto Watch alarm, one of those ones that are suppopsed to have some sort of gps tracking thingy in it. Thing is, its not supposed to be activated as we have not subscribed to the service. Is it worth ripping out this alarm and just using a standard battery or looking at something like an optima yellow top?? THanx in advance for your input

[fatcat67]

Jeff, just go to repco and get your hands on a battery conditioner/trickle charger. Priced at around $80 you can't go wrong. A mate of mine has a car here in Brisbane and is overseas all the time. He's only ever here for 2-3weeks every 6 months and used to get flat batteries all the time. He's now got one of these chargers and it is always charged and starts first time every time, in fact the battery is better for the conditioning as the charger recognizes when the battery needs a top up and does it only when needed.

[CodeBurn3r]

unfortunately alternators dont really charge a battery as well as a mains charger, from experience i swapped a near flat battery (went flat from trying to crank a mates dead engine) into my car and drive to geelong (about 1.5hours) and the indicator light on the thing was still saying low i tested it and sure enough it was still weak under load, i drove back home and checked and finally it was green and testing good, thats 3 hours driving to bring the battery back from going near dead flat the previous night. if your battery is near dead and you drive it for 45 mins a week its not really charging full and as such you battery is suffering, sitting at low charge for long periods it starts to oxidise inside and then it wont ever recover. as fatcat says go grab a trickle charger and throw that on it, dont bother with those solar panel ones. also the alarm sounds like it probably is a major point to look at here, just cause the service is not active doesnt stop the gps module from being turned on.. if your not going to pay for the service i would go see a alarm specialist and see if they can remove the module or atleast disable it. i would rather have the problem fixed than have a charger running all the time.

[buzzda]

I was told by a sparkie that if ya battery is completely dead it would take driving to sydney and back (approx. 1600km) with nothing on to fully charge it. Mine does it too (runs battery flat) I read somewhere it fairly common with 'em. I've got a spare battery in the garage that I use as a booster if it wont start.

[RX25SE]

If you do need a new battery (get a load test first) I would recommend a Super Charge EXG maintenance free. They have a two year warranty an dont leak acid. We have used these for over two years and never had a warranty claim. As fatcat and codeburner said, get a charger. Make sure it is a maintenance charger, one that floats the charge when the battery is full, other wise it will overcharge and stuff the battery. I have car that only gets driven 3 or 4 times a year and it is hooked up to a Projecta 900mA charger. Looks like a mobile phone charger and is on 24/7 keeping the battery fully charged, even with the current draw from the alarm system. The only thing with them is they wont begin charging unless the battery is above 5v. Most of my mates who have 'weekend warrior' type cars use these things and swear by them. Hope this helps. Cheers J PS Ty, I think you mean 'sulphation' rather than 'oxidisation'

[Jeff]

If you do need a new battery (get a load test first) I would recommend a Super Charge EXG maintenance free. They have a two year warranty an dont leak acid. We have used these for over two years and never had a warranty claim.
As fatcat and codeburner said, get a charger. Make sure it is a maintenance charger, one that floats the charge when the battery is full, other wise it will overcharge and stuff the battery. I have car that only gets driven 3 or 4 times a year and it is hooked up to a Projecta 900mA charger. Looks like a mobile phone charger and is on 24/7 keeping the battery fully charged, even with the current draw from the alarm system. The only thing with them is they wont begin charging unless the battery is above 5v.
Most of my mates who have 'weekend warrior' type cars use these things and swear by them.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
J

PS Ty, I think you mean 'sulphation' rather than 'oxidisation'

thanks for the advice. I've gone through 4 supercharge batteries on 2 years. I just replaced it under warranty for the 5th time today. Obviously there must be something drawing charge from the battery so I will be taking it to an auto leccy to sort it out hopefully.


As for the maintanance charger, that's a good idea but what if our garage (shed) doesn't have power??? Not all of us can afford such luxurious houses . But in all seriousness, thanx for you help guys.


Now I just need to find a reputable autoleccy in the Newcastle area

[MiniWalks]

Optima D35 Yellow Top

Never done me wrong

*edit* i also have a Projecta Charger

http://www.projecta....4/asset_id/154/

[hawks_123]

My B4 goes flat in a week, since i only use it on weekends, i have got for about $30 the smallest and cheapest charger from bursons (actually for Motorbikes). Hooked it up turned it on, no problems at all now.

[Scuba-Roo]

Now I just need to find a reputable autoleccy in the Newcastle area

i got the side cutters


Newcastle Auto Electrics in wickam would be my pick

[Jeff]

i got the side cutters


Newcastle Auto Electrics in wickam would be my pick

Well Frames at Wallsend are going to have a look at it next Monday... Should i stay away from them Marc????

LMAO

[Scuba-Roo]

Well Frames at Wallsend are going to have a look at it next Monday... Should i stay away from them Marc????

LMAO

i dunno i've never been to an auto electrician hahaha.

just stay away from that repco joint on the corner their. dodgy pricks work their

...no srsly...

oh its MarK

[Jeff]

i dunno i've never been to an auto electrician hahaha.

just stay away from that repco joint on the corner their. dodgy pricks work their

...no srsly...

oh its MarK

Sorry marK. Lol but I'm on my iPhone and sometimes the auto correct feature doesn't quite work the way it shoud

Ill make sure we get it right from now on. Your mate wants to drive it when we drop it off on Monday. Mabe I should stick around to watch just invade someone gets any silly ideas

[Scuba-Roo]

Sorry marK. Lol but I'm on my iPhone and sometimes the auto correct feature doesn't quite work the way it shoud

Ill make sure we get it right from now on. Your mate wants to drive it when we drop it off on Monday. Mabe I should stick around to watch just invade someone gets any silly ideas

taking it their is the first mistake you'll make. IMO im not taking any car i ever own their. ever.


yeah i'd HIGHLY advice sticking around. otherwise your front bumper will be broken in the boot and you'll have more then just a flat battery

[Scuba-Roo]

i got a briefing on this yesterday... get the feeling it wasn't the outcome you had hoped for? i guess atleast your not getting flat batterys