Hey Guys, I think my battery is dead.
I haven't driven it for about a week and when I get in and get the car to a start state (which it does, fuel pump primes) as soon as I turn the key the whole dash freaks out and flashes with a ticking noise. Wtf does this mean lol?
Also can it be jump started (connected to dads commodore) just to get me down to the battery shop, or go for a drive and get some juice into it? Car ran fine when I took it out last week... Just seems like there isn't enough power to crank it at all and it sucks it all from the rest of the car.
Battery Dead? Fuel pump activates, interior electronics freak out on start.
Started by TSG, Nov 13 2012 03:52 PM
25 replies to this topic
#2
nickknack
-
- Members
-
- 2,619 posts
Regular Member
- Gender:Male
- Location:VoD
Posted 13 November 2012 - 04:03 PM
How old is the battery? It should be fine to just jump it and go for a drive, if it persists then you need a new battery 
Have you still got the brandt? The previous owner of mine put in a heavy duty battery because apparently it drains a lot of juice.
Have you still got the brandt? The previous owner of mine put in a heavy duty battery because apparently it drains a lot of juice.
#3
TSG
-
- Members
-
- 2,569 posts
Cured
- Gender:Male
- Location:Brisbane
Posted 13 November 2012 - 04:07 PM
Previous owner has put a larger than normal battery in it - have never had issues before. Just shit myself when I had to duck out to a meeting and my car is flashing lights and radio at me. I have the brant, but it seems to work fine still, the fuel pump primed as I said, but the car wouldn't start. We'll try jumping it when dad gets home.
Anything I need to worry about with jumping it? I guess you connect my car somewhere on the motor and positive - his on the battery. Haven't had to jump a car for years.
Anything I need to worry about with jumping it? I guess you connect my car somewhere on the motor and positive - his on the battery. Haven't had to jump a car for years.
#4
Cam.
-
- SubyClub Area Rep
-
- 4,906 posts
OEM+
- Gender:Male
- Location:Newy
Posted 13 November 2012 - 04:36 PM
Positive terminal on first.
Followed by negative terminal.
With the donor car running, Start the dead car.
Followed by negative terminal.
With the donor car running, Start the dead car.
#5
TSG
-
- Members
-
- 2,569 posts
Cured
- Gender:Male
- Location:Brisbane
Posted 13 November 2012 - 05:59 PM
It lives again. Will needa drive it a little more often methinks 
#6
Scuba-Roo
-
- Members
-
- 6,960 posts
The local
- Gender:Male
- Location:Newcastle
Posted 13 November 2012 - 07:40 PM
check the water level, when i wasnt driving my car much, my battery wasnt holding a charge, even just over night it would struggle in the morning. Eventualy i checked the water and it took a fair bit, but after a good charge its fine again 
Subyclub, The place where random internet weirdos become good mates
#7
TSG
-
- Members
-
- 2,569 posts
Cured
- Gender:Male
- Location:Brisbane
Posted 13 November 2012 - 08:22 PM
Its one of those maintenance free style ones, I am not sure if I can even take a look. It might just be time to pick up a new one.
#8
Scuba-Roo
-
- Members
-
- 6,960 posts
The local
- Gender:Male
- Location:Newcastle
Posted 13 November 2012 - 08:32 PM
Aahh okay then
Subyclub, The place where random internet weirdos become good mates
#9
RX25SE
-
- Members
-
- 12,751 posts
...............Car nerd................ now a H6 pilot
- Gender:Male
- Location:Melbourne eastern 'burbs
- Interests:Cars with chrome bumpers!
Posted 13 November 2012 - 10:24 PM
Even though you got it running..
Last connection is the negative and this should be connected to the engine, away from the battery as batteries emit hydrogen gas, so it don't go boom. (the boom may or may not occur)
With some cars having a 'smart charge' system (such as VE where the Body Computer controls alternator output) I start the dead car with the good car's engine off. This prevents the two alternators 'fighting' each other and lowers the voltage difference between the two cars thus reducing the possibility of voltage spikes. Leave the dead car running for a while before disconnecting the donor car as this allows the battery to soak some charge and keeps the field windings in the alternator powered.
Last connection is the negative and this should be connected to the engine, away from the battery as batteries emit hydrogen gas, so it don't go boom. (the boom may or may not occur)
With some cars having a 'smart charge' system (such as VE where the Body Computer controls alternator output) I start the dead car with the good car's engine off. This prevents the two alternators 'fighting' each other and lowers the voltage difference between the two cars thus reducing the possibility of voltage spikes. Leave the dead car running for a while before disconnecting the donor car as this allows the battery to soak some charge and keeps the field windings in the alternator powered.
If I told you I was a compulsive liar, would you believe me?
#10
TSG
-
- Members
-
- 2,569 posts
Cured
- Gender:Male
- Location:Brisbane
Posted 13 November 2012 - 11:29 PM
Basically what we did, because of the mess that is the B4 engine bay, we actually used a bolt on the body away from the battery for ground. Turned over a couple times then burst into life. Took it for about an hours drive around town. If it happens again I'll just get a new battery, a couple hundred for peace of mind.
#11
Morgan
-
- Members
-
- 25,485 posts
...jus waitin' 4 a m8
- Gender:Male
- Location:Central Coast
- Interests:Taking a poo
Posted 13 November 2012 - 11:51 PM
Couple of hundred?!
Ouch!
Ouch!
#12
TSG
-
- Members
-
- 2,569 posts
Cured
- Gender:Male
- Location:Brisbane
Posted 14 November 2012 - 02:52 AM
Dads 4x4 ones are usually ~$200.. but yeah I could probably get one for around $100... I checked the date today and its August 2010, but the problem is the car sits anywhere from one week to two weeks. Great for mileage... not so great for battery life. Parked in the shade in the yard so I can't even trickle charge it with a battery charger.
#13
aekOne
-
- Administrators
-
- 10,349 posts
Boss Pelican
- Gender:Male
- Location:Brisbane - Sunshine State
- Interests:Regulating
Posted 14 November 2012 - 07:47 AM
one of the chics from work just replaced the battery in Cherokee and she paid $480 genuine from Jeep, "installed" 
#14
Morgan
-
- Members
-
- 25,485 posts
...jus waitin' 4 a m8
- Gender:Male
- Location:Central Coast
- Interests:Taking a poo
Posted 14 November 2012 - 07:55 AM
Lol.
Last one I bought was $80 'installed'.
Heavy duty one too
Last one I bought was $80 'installed'.
Heavy duty one too
#15
RX25SE
-
- Members
-
- 12,751 posts
...............Car nerd................ now a H6 pilot
- Gender:Male
- Location:Melbourne eastern 'burbs
- Interests:Cars with chrome bumpers!
Posted 14 November 2012 - 11:25 AM
Parked in the shade in the yard so I can't even trickle charge it with a battery charger.
Solar charger?
If I told you I was a compulsive liar, would you believe me?
#16
Adam
-
- Members
-
- 46,970 posts
Snack down!
- Gender:Male
- Location:Bargo
- Interests:Not knowing things about stuff
Posted 14 November 2012 - 11:49 AM
Just start it regularly?
#17
allpaw4
-
- Members
-
- 2,133 posts
Chief Sparky
- Gender:Male
- Location:Ararat
- Interests:Cars, Stereos, Electrical
Posted 10 January 2013 - 11:57 AM
Sorry to drag up an old thread, but here I would say check the battery - Maintenance free ones have a little inspection port - green is good, black is needs charge and red is stuffed. Last time this happened to my partner, and hers had about 2 - 3mm of lead plates showing. Damn lucky it didnt go bang the last time she started it. Hers wasnt a maintenance free one though.
MY00 Red RX, a nice daily that was sold off once the B4 became reliable...
MY02 Blue B4, aka 'The Project' - v8 JDM STi engine package and assorted other 'goodies' - Sold, then bought back for parts. Stripped and crushed.
MY03 Blue RX, the newer old daily, pretty well more B4 than RX now... In the process of being converted to the track toy... Watch this space!
MY02 Silver Wagon, H6 conversion, full blue/black leather and almost full black interior to go with it.
MY03 White/Silver H6 Outback, donor car for silver waghoon.
MY97 Silver RX, acquired to become track car, but plans changed. To be stripped and scrapped in time.
#18
RX25SE
-
- Members
-
- 12,751 posts
...............Car nerd................ now a H6 pilot
- Gender:Male
- Location:Melbourne eastern 'burbs
- Interests:Cars with chrome bumpers!
Posted 10 January 2013 - 02:48 PM
Bear in mind that the 'inspection port' in a maintenance free battery only shows state of one of the six cells.
It is not uncommon for this to show all is OK when another cell is dead.
It is not uncommon for this to show all is OK when another cell is dead.
If I told you I was a compulsive liar, would you believe me?
#19
allpaw4
-
- Members
-
- 2,133 posts
Chief Sparky
- Gender:Male
- Location:Ararat
- Interests:Cars, Stereos, Electrical
Posted 10 January 2013 - 03:21 PM
Oh, I didnt know that! But it does make sence, so...
MY00 Red RX, a nice daily that was sold off once the B4 became reliable...
MY02 Blue B4, aka 'The Project' - v8 JDM STi engine package and assorted other 'goodies' - Sold, then bought back for parts. Stripped and crushed.
MY03 Blue RX, the newer old daily, pretty well more B4 than RX now... In the process of being converted to the track toy... Watch this space!
MY02 Silver Wagon, H6 conversion, full blue/black leather and almost full black interior to go with it.
MY03 White/Silver H6 Outback, donor car for silver waghoon.
MY97 Silver RX, acquired to become track car, but plans changed. To be stripped and scrapped in time.
#20
Adam
-
- Members
-
- 46,970 posts
Snack down!
- Gender:Male
- Location:Bargo
- Interests:Not knowing things about stuff
Posted 10 January 2013 - 03:38 PM
Bear in mind that the 'inspection port' in a maintenance free battery only shows state of one of the six cells.
It is not uncommon for this to show all is OK when another cell is dead.
That's
'ing useless then!!!
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users
