Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:06:04 -0500
Reply-To: pat <psdooley@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: pat <psdooley@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: NVC Small battery question
In-Reply-To: <4F480F57.8070509@turbovans.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Yep, I should have checked the SG before adding acid.
I thought the voltage fell off when one or more cells are bad. My battery
read 12.6V.
Expensive? The AGM version of this battery is $57 at Walmart.
My particular battery is an "Autocraft" brand from Advance Auto.
I checked the Advance Auto website and read the reviews on this battery.
All poor reviews- same problem as mine, died prematurely and didn't have
much water/acid in it when failed.
Regardless, today I emptied out most of the acid heeding Mcneely's advice
and added distilled water. Let her charge for a few hours and tried again.
This time the motor would turn over a complete revolution and quit. Little
better but still no good.
Jumper cables from a car battery got it started, confirming the starter is
not bad and engine isn't seized.
Time to go battery shopping tomorrow.
Thanks everybody for the input.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Scott Daniel - Turbovans
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2012 5:30 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: NVC Small battery question
I did see a long time ago , an additive for batteries that was suppossed
to restore them back to life after being suffatted ..
I think it's call..
the long term damge that naturally occurs.
I'd say that batter is shot.
I suggest invest under $ 3 in a battery electrolyte tester device.
little squease bulb thing.
what you likely will find is some of the cells are fine ..
one or two are not.
since the cells are in series..
one bad cell means the whole battery is done.
Doesn't sound like a very expensive battery anyway.
or get it load tested.
I bought my battery load tester from HF for $ 55 I think..
when it's put on a well charged but weak battery ..
it's immediately evident the battery can't put out any real current.
also ..if factory original battery ..
those are always suspect ..even if after only a year.
if it's the battery the manufacturer put in ..
I bet they paid $ 6 for it .
Factory installed batteries are always an automatic red flag in my world..
like on a small japanese car and the battery is 3 or 4 yrs old and not
performing well, for example.
scott
On 2/24/2012 11:13 AM, pat wrote:
> Or maybe better said, a question about a small battery.
>
> Not for a Vanagon, but I hope to garner some list wisdom and maybe help
> someone else with the knowledge in the future.
>
> I have an ATV/motorsport battery (9BS) that is acting strange.
>
> It shows 12.6V at rest, but drops to about 0.13V when any load is applied,
> even a 12V lightbulb.
>
> I popped the caps and the electrolyte was very low in all the cells. The
> plates looked pretty clean so I bought some battery acid and filled it up.
>
> Gave it a 2amp charge until indicated fully charged, about 4-5 hours
later.
> Now my test light burns bright- promising.
>
> However, when installed in my motorcycle, it cranks half a turn and dies.
>
> So, the battery is probably damaged even though the inside looks pretty
> good, from what I can see.
>
>
>
> Just thought maybe someone here has some experience with bringing
batteries
> like this back to life.
>
> Any help or advice before I buy a new battery is appreciated.
>
