Battery discharging
#2724979
12/17/19 11:16 PM
12/17/19 11:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,340 Crook County, ILL
Mastershake340
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,340
Crook County, ILL
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The battery in my 2014 Dart went bad last summer and I bought a new one for it at Walmart. Everything was fine until one morning 3 weeks ago, I went to start it, and it barely turned over. Third attempt it started. Since then has started each time, but after sitting all night or for the day while I’m at work, it shows signs the battery is weak. It’s fine when warm or when it’s only been parked 4 or 5 hours. I went to Walmart the other day and told them I was suspicious the battery was no good, but they tested it and it passed. I checked the terminals and they look clean, and connections tight. Only thing I noted was evidence a mouse had visited the insulated battery cover, left some seeds and a few droppings behind, so I put a few drops of peppermint oil on the cover to hopefully repel him. Is there any possibility the battery isn’t good despite what the stores tester showed? If so, how does one further test? I don’t have a multimeter, working all day the next two days, then having foot surgery Friday. I’m not planning to try to drive for a week afterward, and betting it will be dead when I try to start it late next week. Beyond the battery I’m pretty limited what I can do now. Any ideas would be appreciated, I’m thinking if it can’t be the battery I’m going to have to take it in to see if something is stuck on and discharging the battery when it’s parked.
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Re: Battery discharging
[Re: Pacnorthcuda]
#2725044
12/18/19 08:45 AM
12/18/19 08:45 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,005 Tulsa OK
Bad340fish
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,005
Tulsa OK
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Did the store use a digital tester? Those things have their place but they are for sure not the best way to test a battery, especially one that is having issues.
The battery could have a bad cell and when you driving it enough its proping the voltage up enough to start the car OK, after it sits a day or two that is no longer the case and it cranks slow. Low cranking voltage is very hard on electronics so try to track it down ASAP of course. You might go by an Interstate Battery Distributor and ask them to do a load test for you. If you can carry it in to one of them they can keep it, charge it, and properly test it to make %100 sure its good. We do that at no charge here, I am not sure about others.
68 Barracuda Formula S 340 87 "Chrysler" Conquest
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Re: Battery discharging
[Re: AARCONV]
#2725110
12/18/19 12:52 PM
12/18/19 12:52 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,808 Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,808
Kirkland, Washington
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Not once did you mention that you jumped the battery to start it so I would go with a new starter Huh? Just start throwing new parts at it?
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Re: Battery discharging
[Re: Pacnorthcuda]
#2725121
12/18/19 01:18 PM
12/18/19 01:18 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,340 Crook County, ILL
Mastershake340
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,340
Crook County, ILL
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I haven't had to jump it yet, but it barely turned over quick enough to finally start after several tries a few weeks ago. It has turned over at what seems to be a normal or near normal rate every time since then, though with a few exceptions when the starter seemed to lag for a second at first. It was 12° this morning and I had my jumper/air pump unit charged up and ready to go, but it did start thankfully. I can tell the starter unit is not turning over normally often after the car has been sitting 9 or more hours in recent weeks. Plus when the battery was on its last legs last summer, I'd noticed the instrument panel does a strange thing when you open the door, and when you first turn the key. It rattles, and a faint white screen comes up momentarily in the screen where the odometer/MPG/MPH info can be displayed. It wasn't doing that after I replaced the battery until that morning it almost didn't start. And it doesn't do that when I go to start when the engine is warm or the car has been driven in the last few hours. That rattle in the instruments seems to be a telltale that the battery is weak.
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Re: Battery discharging
[Re: hemirdrnnr]
#2725177
12/18/19 06:04 PM
12/18/19 06:04 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,358 Iowa
burdar
Owen's Dad
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Owen's Dad
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,358
Iowa
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I'd noticed the instrument panel does a strange thing when you open the door, and when you first turn the key. It rattles, and a faint white screen comes up momentarily in the screen where the odometer/MPG/MPH info can be displayed. It wasn't doing that after I replaced the battery until that morning it almost didn't start. And it doesn't do that when I go to start when the engine is warm or the car has been driven in the last few hours. That rattle in the instruments seems to be a telltale that the battery is weak. We have a 16 Dart my wife drives every day. Whenever I drive it(about once a week) I notice the same thing. It's always done it. I don't think that is a sign of a battery problem. I'd like to hear from a tech though that's familiar with these cars to see if they all do that. I haven't checked on a Dart specific website to see if they mention it at all. When the dash "rattles" the gauge needles swing wildly for a second before they settle down to their stops. If you are having surgery soon I'd drive the car so the battery is good and charged. When you park it, disconnect the battery. When you come back to it, see if it still starts hard. If it starts normally, then there is a drain. If the battery is dead or the car starts really hard, then I think you can say the battery is junk. By disconnecting the battery after you've driven it for awhile, it should still have full charge after a week.
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Re: Battery discharging
[Re: Pacnorthcuda]
#2725279
12/19/19 01:13 AM
12/19/19 01:13 AM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,193 NEW JERSEY
AARCONV
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,193
NEW JERSEY
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Not once did you mention that you jumped the battery to start it so I would go with a new starter Huh? Just start throwing new parts at it? You suggested to check for a drain..did he say he jumped the battery to start it?
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