how long to charge battery?RESOLVED

[4uall]

ok here goes nothing. Fiona does not want to start under her own power. Once started (by boosting) and then turned off I am not able to restart her. I have had my battery on a trickle charger and it will indicate full charge. Battery shows manufactured March 2011 (so not old), and when I put a multi meter on it displayed 12.3V If I boost her she starts and purrs like a kitten. I usually let her run through 2 fan cycles. Prior to storing her in my attached garage I had no battery issues. No loose wires. Grounds all seem fine. If you live near me I would love your help. If you do not, your insight is greatly appreciated.

Jay

[redcars]

Check your grounds and battery cable ends. If you can put a different battery in it you can tell if it is the battery. As for how long to charge a battery it depends on how much capacity the battery has, how low the battery is, and how many amps you are charging at. Over night on most chargers will charge most batterys.

[4uall]

Check your grounds and battery cable ends. If you can put a different battery in it you can tell if it is the battery. As for how long to charge a battery it depends on how much capacity the battery has, how low the battery is, and how many amps you are charging at. Over night on most chargers will charge most batterys.

sorry I think I may not have explained myself clearly. I will certainly try the swap out tomorrow. The cables are in great shape. I thought I had heard that a running car will charge a battery within 30-45min, urban myth? I have tried both 2A & 4A cycles with the same result each time I also have a brand new 95amp alternator which I will be putting soon. Was hoping to have this fixed prior to adding new alternator sigh


Canadian Tire Motormaster Eliminator Battery by itzebtze, on Flickr

[redcars]

I have had a completly dead battery, left lights on at airport parking for 2 weeks, and after a jump start and driving for 30 to 40 minutes it stated fine the next day.

[124JOE]

i have a crappy batt, it charges and a day later its half dead,
i was told to pull the caps and test each cell also top it off if its low.

it came from the salvage yard for $20 last year, soooo.....
im going back very soon.

[majicwrench]

4uall,
So she starts after being charged with trickle charger??
Then doesn't after running a while??
Are you sure your charging system works??
A ful charged battery will read 12.6+ volts. Charge battery on trickle charger overnight, remove charger, turn lights on for 20 seconds or so to remove surface charge. Let battery sit, with charger off, and cables off, for 10 minutes. Now check voltage. Should be 12.6+ volts. If it is not, either not charged or ( very possibly) bad cell in battery.
35-40 minutes of running would do a good job of charging up a good battery if you had a good charging system.
Keith

[4uall]

LMFAO! I swapped the 1 year old 800 cold crank battery that was in Fiona


Canadian Tire Motormaster Eliminator Battery by itzebtze, on Flickr

for my 8 year old 440 cold crank Honda battery and of course Fiona started without even trying. SOB it was the battery the whole time Whipped over to Canadian Tire and swapped for a new one


New battery for Fiona by itzebtze, on Flickr

When they tested the 1 year old battery it was showing 108 cold crank after I charged it over night LOL I am still going to put in the new 95A alternator

Thanks everyone for the help. I love this community. Every time I need help it makes me more proud to be a fiat owner.

[RRoller123]

Looking at your battery picture I see that my car has none of the hold-in hardware that runs along the base of each side of the battery! If anyone has a set of that hardware for sale, I would be very interested. Amazing all the things I learn from this great forum!

[4uall]

I only found this so far

http://www.autoricambi.us/cgi/commerce. ... ey=EL0-001

[RRoller123]

It looks like yours has 2 threaded bars that hook somehow into the back of the battery case, and this battery strap that you forwarded (thanks!) goes across the front and is held on by two nuts, clamping the battery tightly up against the back of the battery case? Is that what I see in the picture? I don't have any of that stuff.

[4uall]

they are (how I would describe them as) J hooks. They just slip in to the existing slits (that's right I said slits) then go through the holes on either side of the brace bar. Tighten the nuts and voila. Funny, I have not been able to come across any. If I do I will send you info. They may be common?

[4uall]

they are called Battery Hold Down Bolts, and usually come in 8 and 10 inch lengths 5-7 bucks

[124ADDHE]

I have run several of those eliminator batteries and they all crapped out and Cantire is getting tough on the warrantly claims. I hear napa stocks some good batteries.

[4uall]

I guess I am one of the lucky few. In all my years of driving (24yrs) this is the only battery that has ever died. As far as Canadian Tire goes they were actually really decent today. Seeing as this was the battery in Fiona when I bought her last fall and I had no receipt they gave me 50% off any new battery. The new battery comes with a 3yr no bs replacement and I now have a receipt all for $50. KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS

[RRoller123]

Thanks for the info on the battery hold down! Time to upgrade the wooden blocks that currently hold everything in place.
<{:^)