Battery Problems

[beattiedh]

Hi

My battery has been low on charge as the car has stood still for some months whilst I have been away. I put it on a charger for a day and it does not seem to have improved and now will not start the landy.

1) Should it be left on for longer?
2) Jump it and run take it for a good drive?
3) If none of the above who does good value but affordable batteries online?

thanks

Duncan

[thermidorthelobster]

I take it you've checked the water levels.  Are you sure the charger works?

[beattiedh]

I have checked and they seem OK.

How full should they be?

Tried two differnet chargers.

thanks

Duncan

[Terranosaurus]

Water should be fully covering the plates when you take the caps off each cell.

As you say, give it a jump, take it out for a run, lots of revs don't plod around in top. if it won't start tomorrowe, batteries goosed. TBH if it's been stood probablyt goosed anyway, they don't like not being used.

not sure of onlione suppliers, postage would kill any saving anyway surely.

[J.D.]

From experience, argicultural shops seem to sell batteries a lot cheaper than places like Halfords.

[L90OOK]

The water level should be to the bottom of the plastic inside the hole.
Don't jump it & take it for a drive as alternators only top up batteries not charge them properly from flat.
Charge the battery overnight...providing the chargers working & go from there.
You can take the battery into somewhere like ATS who will be able to drop test the battery & tell you if it's ok or not.

[CNorman]

L9000K, i believe the disco and rrc alternators are something like 80Amps, if they are they would recharge a totally dead, flat battery to totally full in about 90 mins.

Only 20 minutes should see it amply charged for restarting the vehicle.

[driftwood]

when the battery is flat take all the cell caps off, get someone to try and start the engine.........1 sign of a duff battery is as you start it ( obviously the engine wont crank ) look for tiny bubbles in each cell. if there is a load in one of them.....new battery  

also with the engine running check the voltage of the battery, it should be more than 12 volts, dont quote me but 13-14 volts i think , more than 12 though. this will check to see if the alternator is working to a degree. it could be the alternator belt that require tightning also.....

[Terranosaurus]

also with the engine running check the voltage of the battery, it should be more than 12 volts, dont quote me but 13-14 volts i think ,

You need 13.8v to charge a battery (to about 90%), for a full charge you need 14.2v and no more as this will damage the battery. Anywhere between the two is fine.

[beattiedh]

Many thanks Guys

Been out for a drive and she seems OK now.

Going to take her for a long drive tomorrow to make sure the Battery is given a good blast.

It is a 3.5 EFi so it has a good alternator onit.

Will also top up the battery with distilled water tomorrow.

Duncan