Re: Battery in cold weather
 

On Sun, 07 Dec 2003 19:59:18 GMT, "Victor Bazarov" <v.Abazarov@comAcast.net>
wrote:

>"daytripper" <day_trippr@REMOVEyahoo.com> wrote...
>> On Sun, 07 Dec 2003 17:08:54 GMT, "Victor Bazarov"
><v.Abazarov@comAcast.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Context counts: how old is the battery?
>
>If I'm going to hazard a guess, it's about as old as the car: 5 yrs.
>It's EXIDE 60 Premium, and it has the number 0042187 on it, twice
>printed on a piece of paper attached to the casing. It has markings
>of months and [years], but none noted in any way (like with a notch
>or a cross or...) It looks in good condition, the contacts are not
>corroded.

The advice to give the battery terminals a good cleaning is certainly worth a
try, but from everything you've provided I'd say your battery has reached the
end of its useful life...

/daytripper
'00 s4 6spd

Re: Battery in cold weather
 

All Exide (GNB) Batteries use a dating code consisting of a letter and
number on a sticker indicating when it is shipped to the reseller. This is
an indirect estimate of its inservice date.

http://www.exide.co.nz/pdf/1.3.pdf

A = January

B = February

C = March

4 = 1994 or 2004

5 = 1995 or 2005

6 = 1996 or 2006

Jon

2001 A6 2.7TQ Ming Blue

2001 A4 1.8TQ Catcus Green



"daytripper" <day_trippr@REMOVEyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:6um7tvs40usgmihdatl1pfof2kuo9kdljj@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 07 Dec 2003 19:59:18 GMT, "Victor Bazarov"
<v.Abazarov@comAcast.net>
> wrote:
>
> >"daytripper" <day_trippr@REMOVEyahoo.com> wrote...
> >> On Sun, 07 Dec 2003 17:08:54 GMT, "Victor Bazarov"
> ><v.Abazarov@comAcast.net>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> Context counts: how old is the battery?
> >
> >If I'm going to hazard a guess, it's about as old as the car: 5 yrs.
> >It's EXIDE 60 Premium, and it has the number 0042187 on it, twice
> >printed on a piece of paper attached to the casing. It has markings
> >of months and [years], but none noted in any way (like with a notch
> >or a cross or...) It looks in good condition, the contacts are not
> >corroded.
>
> The advice to give the battery terminals a good cleaning is certainly
worth a
> try, but from everything you've provided I'd say your battery has reached
the
> end of its useful life...
>
> /daytripper
> '00 s4 6spd

Re: Battery in cold weather
 

> >
> > That's not what folks in a parts store said. If the car is not used
> > (running) for several days in cold weather, some measures need to be
> > taken to sustain the battery charge. That's why I asked about the
> > trickle charger. I guess nobody here had any need in one (or didn't
> > know they had a need in it)...
>
My guess goes also to the battery, their lifetimes just aren't that good
as people try to believe. I would recommed to change it. If the problem
isn't with that, you still have new battery which lasts for several years
to come.

Up here it might be few weeks under -30C (~-20F) every winter, and most of
the winter below -10C (~20F) and most of the people don't seem to
understand that at these conditions you must have quite new battery or no
hope starting the car if it has stood for several days. A thumbrule would
be that you should change the battery every second year, or latest every
third. Most people change it when they can't charge it anymore at all. :)
85% of the people are dumber than the average.

Re: Battery in cold weather
 

If the battery has ports get yourself a hydrometer.

I tested a new (14000 miles) battery myself with a hydrometer and found 4 of
the 6 cells well below the recommended SG level. This was following a charge
for a day.

Took it back to the dealership where I bought the car new for their "expert"
to test it. Three days later he tells me battery is OK, I ask "did you test
it with a hydrometer" the phone line went quiet and he then says "No we did
a spark test". I go get battery and test again, it's still faulty as far as
SG goes.

I complain to the dealer that their "expert" aint an expert......got
replacement FREE under warranty for car.

Dont take for granted what the experts have to say

don


"Victor Bazarov" <v.Abazarov@comAcast.net> wrote in message
news:G8JAb.257566$Dw6.880261@attbi_s02...
> Hello,
>
> During cold weather, when it's close to, or below, freezing in
> your garage (or parking), what do you do to keep your battery
> alive? I've had to jump start my car twice already after it
> sat in the garage at about freezing point (2-3 C, 34-36 F) for
> a couple of days.
>
> I've looked at getting a new battery, a trickle charger, a jump
> starter, thought of disconnecting the battery and bringing it
> home... All those options differ in price, outcome, the hassle
> (of installing the trickle charger, resetting some features after
> the battery is disconnected)...
>
> What's your solution?
>
> Thank you.
>
> Victor
>
>

Re: Battery in cold weather
 

My '98 battery is still running strong although last year it "coughed" a
bit. Just before discarding it, try refilling the vases with distilled
water. It did the trick for me. Batteries that boast a free-maintenance
sticker turn out to be not completely so.

My two cents,

JP Roberts

"Victor Bazarov" <v.Abazarov@comAcast.net> escribió en el mensaje
news:pELAb.451114$HS4.3540971@attbi_s01...
> "daytripper" <day_trippr@REMOVEyahoo.com> wrote...
> > On Sun, 07 Dec 2003 17:08:54 GMT, "Victor Bazarov"
> <v.Abazarov@comAcast.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >Hello,
> > >
> > >During cold weather, when it's close to, or below, freezing in
> > >your garage (or parking), what do you do to keep your battery
> > >alive? I've had to jump start my car twice already after it
> > >sat in the garage at about freezing point (2-3 C, 34-36 F) for
> > >a couple of days.
> > >
> > >I've looked at getting a new battery, a trickle charger, a jump
> > >starter, thought of disconnecting the battery and bringing it
> > >home... All those options differ in price, outcome, the hassle
> > >(of installing the trickle charger, resetting some features after
> > >the battery is disconnected)...
> > >
> > >What's your solution?
> >
> > Context counts: how old is the battery?
>
> If I'm going to hazard a guess, it's about as old as the car: 5 yrs.
> It's EXIDE 60 Premium, and it has the number 0042187 on it, twice
> printed on a piece of paper attached to the casing. It has markings
> of months and [years], but none noted in any way (like with a notch
> or a cross or...) It looks in good condition, the contacts are not
> corroded.
>
> > for that matter, how old is the car?
>
> 1998 A4 2.8Q, I got it a few months ago.
>
> > and how well does your car's charging system work?
>
> The voltmeter on the dash shows 14+ volts all the time when the engine
> is running. Beyond that I've no idea how to check. Advice?
>
> I read in the manual that if the voltmeter shows 12-14, it's fine.
>
> > is the alternator ancient?
>
> Could be, how do I check? Of course, I don't think it would be older
> than the car, unless somebody purposely replaced the original with
> another, older one (for whatever reason).
>
> > is the belt so glazed it is slipping at high alternator loads? are you
> > depending on the last few uncorroded strands of the grounding cable?
>
> Doesn't seem like it, the car has been meticulously maintained at Audi
> dealerships.
>
> > Battery technology is so well characterized by the manufacturers that
when
> > they say "36 month battery" you're treading on thin ice once it reaches
40
> > months. Same applies around 54 months for a 48 month battery.
>
> Which is quite possible my problem. If it's 60-months battery (judging
> from the name), and it is original (guessing), it's time is either over
> or close to over.
>
> > If that's your situation, replace the battery. If not, seek help for
> either a
> > charging problem (when the car is actually running), or a *discharge*
> problem
> > (ie: your car is leaking energy when parked)...
>
> It would be nice to learn how to check for leaks. Any suggestions?
> Can it be done outside a dealer's shop?
>
> Thank you for your response (and thanks to others who replied).
>
> Victor
>
>

Re: Battery in cold weather
 

Something is draining the battery. Glove compartment light, bad alarm, trunk
light, hood light, something. A good battery should be good for 2-4 weeks
in 10 degree weather.

"Victor Bazarov" <v.Abazarov@comAcast.net> wrote in message
news:G8JAb.257566$Dw6.880261@attbi_s02...
> Hello,
>
> During cold weather, when it's close to, or below, freezing in
> your garage (or parking), what do you do to keep your battery
> alive? I've had to jump start my car twice already after it
> sat in the garage at about freezing point (2-3 C, 34-36 F) for
> a couple of days.
>
> I've looked at getting a new battery, a trickle charger, a jump
> starter, thought of disconnecting the battery and bringing it
> home... All those options differ in price, outcome, the hassle
> (of installing the trickle charger, resetting some features after
> the battery is disconnected)...
>
> What's your solution?
>
> Thank you.
>
> Victor
>
>