Date: 14 Feb 2003 06:58:32 -0800 From: peterwangnopsamail.com (Peter Wang) Subject: Re: is the battery gone or the aiternator not charging it?
"Photogenix" <Photognxnopsamcom.com> wrote in message news:<3e4b08c9$1_4nopsam-goliath.newsgroups.com>... > A charging system is not meant to recharge a dead or dying battery. As a > matter of fact, this puts a great strain on the system. When you do change > the battery though, have the alternator checked to see if it is properly > charging, or you will be dealing with a dead battery again. > > Anthony > "Peter Wang" <peterwangnopsamail.com> wrote in message > news:fea00b66.0302100907.1b8c36denopsaming.google.com... > > i have not been using my car (1986 900i) often for the last month or > > so, approximately 2-3 days between short distance drives. a few days > > ago my car refused to start with the starting motor turning very > > slowly, suggesting low power. i got the car jump started with a > > neighbour's car and got on with my journey. however, the car refused > > to start again on my return journey a couple of hours later. I thought > > that the battery was so flat that i didn't charge the battery > > sufficiently (10 min journey). when i got the car jump started, i went > > on an extended route home to charge the battery (lasting about 45 > > min). i thought that the battery was being charged because the lights > > on the panal went off once the engin started running. unfortunately, > > the car refused to start again the next morning, and the indicator > > lights were very dim when i turn the key. i dont know if batteries > > deteriorates so quickly at the end of their life, or is there any > > connection between the alternator and the battery that i should look > > at? > > p.s. i live in manchester and the air temperature was cold but above > > freezing. > > > > > -----------== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Uncensored Usenet News ==---------- > http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! > -----= Over 100,000 Newsgroups - Unlimited Fast Downloads - 19 Servers =----- Thanks for the advice and info gathered from other treads. I brought the flat battery to a nearby garage and got it charged up for free. unfortunately the voltage started dropping gradually once off the charger, reducing from 12.5V and stabilised at 8.3V the next morning. got a new battery installed today and the car is now starting fine. The alternator appeared fine as the voltage increased to approx. 14.5V when the engine is running.