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Author Topic: Battery voltage  (Read 1165 times)

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Kaycee

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Battery voltage
« on: 12 August 2009, 13:51:22 »

Hi all
Just come back of hols been gone a week went to start car but was flat battery i scratched head as my last car 2.5 cdx used to start even after a fortnight got it slaved of and on arrival home went to see mechanic he said the battery was only a 53ah 470cranking Halfords and should be far bigger than this for the 3.2 elite book states 85AH but he also said alternator was only outputing 13.8 v i always thought should be 14.2 could i have duff battery or duff alternator

thanks
Robert
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Kevin Wood

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Re: Battery voltage
« Reply #1 on: 12 August 2009, 13:56:57 »

My 3.2 is on the original battery as far as I can see and it's 65 AH. If the battery is in good condition I'd say the difference in capacity is not important.

13.8 is a little on the low side. Does it improve at a fast idle (2000 RPM?).

Also, check that the cables haven't come loose where they're crimped into the battery terminals.

Worth working through the checks here http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1225724099.

If it's charging OK you need to check the quiescent current drain (all in the above link).  :y

Kevin
« Last Edit: 12 August 2009, 13:58:19 by Kevin_Wood »
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Kaycee

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Re: Battery voltage
« Reply #2 on: 12 August 2009, 14:48:35 »

Thanks for that Kevin
i put all loads on headlights ,heated screen and heated seat at 2000 rpm it only managed 13.4 volts after switching all accesorys of it went back to 13.7
ive just had a look at the battery cables and they are not warm and dont look loose in the crimping

so is 13.8 low and battery on first check with maplins tester was 12.4
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Kevin Wood

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Re: Battery voltage
« Reply #3 on: 12 August 2009, 15:16:02 »

Hmm. :-/ 13.8 is lower than I would expect (14 - 14.5 is more typical) but not sure it's bad enough to condemn anything. It could be that the alternator is on the way out, or the connection (positive or negative) between it and the battery is not great.

What state was the battery in when you measured it? Has it been fully recharged since it went flat or has it just been jump-started? Just wondering if the low readings (both when stopped and running) are indicative that the battery is low and taking a fair charging current at the moment. Might be worth charging it overnight at a low rate using a mains charger and the re-testing.

Another thing to check is to measure the voltage between the battery negative terminal and the engine with a bit of load on - just in case the connections between negative terminal, body and engine block have worked loose.

Kevin
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Kaycee

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Re: Battery voltage
« Reply #4 on: 12 August 2009, 15:22:00 »

Hi kevin
No it asnt been fully charged with Mains but as i had come up from my daughters at Hemel Hemstead i thought it would have charged up but i will Recharge it now till evening
But having said that during the winter months it got a bit low and i had to recharge but i just put it down to OH having bum warmer on all the time.
Robert
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Kaycee

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Re: Battery voltage
« Reply #5 on: 12 August 2009, 15:23:09 »

Kevin
Just a point Voltage between Neg and Engine How do i do that ?
Robert
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Kevin Wood

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Re: Battery voltage
« Reply #6 on: 12 August 2009, 15:29:43 »

One lead from the multimeter on the battery negative terminal, and the other on the engine (a screw head, for example, where you'll get a good contact). You should get a very low reading if it's more than 0.2 - 0.3 volts I'd say you might have an issue.

I would have thought a long journey like that should have charged it, and the fact that you've had to "top it up" in the past makes me think that the low charging voltage is your issue. The question is: is it a failing alternator, or a poor connection between it and the battery.

Kevin
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Kaycee

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Re: Battery voltage
« Reply #7 on: 12 August 2009, 15:45:26 »

Hi Kevin
Sorry for being a nuisance ive just checked between neg and engine and am getting  001 and 002
i always thought that alternators either worked or not so would you not get another battery yet as when the mechanic said it was a low battery i just assumed i needed the one for the job 85 ah

robert
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Kevin Wood

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Re: Battery voltage
« Reply #8 on: 12 August 2009, 16:44:31 »

I believe a member ordered an 85AH battery for his 3.2 not long ago and when it turned up it was way too big to fit, so I believe that listing may be in error.

If the battery were the problem the charging voltage would be OK. I'm still leaning towards weak charging, especially if the battery will still happily start the car once charged.

Kevin
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Kaycee

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Re: Battery voltage
« Reply #9 on: 13 August 2009, 16:11:20 »

Hi Kevin
I am sure your dignosis of alternator is right
i went to a specialist this morning and he gave me readout as follows
battery Test            12.37
Capacity                 81%

alternator Test
Regulator volt LOW
Switch on Load Press Enter

Alternator Test
Ripple      OK
Regultor VOLTAGE     13.16
                               TOO LOW
                             CHECK/ REPLACE ALTERNATOR
 so looks like ive got the cost of an alternator up my jumper

Robert
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Re: Battery voltage
« Reply #10 on: 13 August 2009, 16:45:43 »

Do check the positive wire between battery and alternator and the grounding strap between engine and chassis / battery before shelling out for a new one though.

Oh, and alternators are pretty reliable so a 2nd hand one wouldn't  be a bad idea. I believe the brushes and regulator / diode pack can be renewed cheaply too.  :y

Kevin
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Andy B

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Re: Battery voltage
« Reply #11 on: 13 August 2009, 21:49:08 »

Just for comparison my 99 3.0 had a 72 A/hr battery fitted (presumably from new) when I bought, and I replaced like for like. :y
« Last Edit: 13 August 2009, 21:49:58 by Andy_B »
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Re: Battery voltage
« Reply #12 on: 13 August 2009, 22:45:12 »

Quote
I believe a member ordered an 85AH battery for his 3.2 not long ago and when it turned up it was way too big to fit, so I believe that listing may be in error.

If the battery were the problem the charging voltage would be OK. I'm still leaning towards weak charging, especially if the battery will still happily start the car once charged.

Kevin

I ordered a batt for my 3.2 Elite trough Trade Club and found it physically too big to fit.

S
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Kaycee

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Re: Battery voltage
« Reply #13 on: 14 August 2009, 07:56:02 »

Thanks for that im putting battery on hold now till i get alternator sorted it might be i could get away with this 53Ah halfords battery its only 15 month old bloke fitted week before i got car I did wonder if he knew about alternator when he sold it me cos it been like that more or less since i bought it

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Re: Battery voltage
« Reply #14 on: 14 August 2009, 09:29:05 »

This link might be worth a look.  :y

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1153772945

Kevin
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