battery problem
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 27
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From: Placerville, CALIF
battery problem
I,ve got a battery that is still under warranty and it won't turn the engine over. I can jump start the truck-no problem. I put a new positive clamp on the wire, replaced the ground wire, cleaned the battery posts, and tried to start the engine--same thing. I put the charger on the battery and it registered fully charged. I tested the voltage and it had 13.25. Checked the electrolite level-good. THEN...........I ran a hydrometer test and all 6 cells were bad (1.25).
Took it back to Kragens. The girl put a meter on the posts, announced it had 13.25 volts and X number of cold cranking amps.She pushed it back across the counter and stated it was a good battery. I asked about a hydrometer test and she said she never heard of one.
I did get a battery and it's run fine since.
MY QUESTION IS-------Are hydrometer tests outdated??? The battery was obviously shot. The way I see it, those meters don't tell the whole story.
dan
Took it back to Kragens. The girl put a meter on the posts, announced it had 13.25 volts and X number of cold cranking amps.She pushed it back across the counter and stated it was a good battery. I asked about a hydrometer test and she said she never heard of one.
I did get a battery and it's run fine since.
MY QUESTION IS-------Are hydrometer tests outdated??? The battery was obviously shot. The way I see it, those meters don't tell the whole story.
dan
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: Roland, Ar
If you still have the battery take it back to Kragens and show them that you had to buy a new one. Talk to the manager, maybe he will know how to load test the battery, the girl that helped you did not know how to do it.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 482
Likes: 2
Hydrometer tests are not outdated on flooded batteries. It is not a popular test because you have to open the battery and mess with the acid. This can be hazardous if not done correctly and is very easy to get incorrect readings. Main cause of incorrect readings is failure to compensate for temperature. As you are aware the voltage test is a good start, and as pointed out, the load test is a true test of what you want the battery to do. The hydrometer test will start to tell you why the battery is not doing what it should. But if it fails the load test after a charge do you care why? (I do, and I use a hydrometer on occasion.) Most retail and trade operations do not need to know why the battery won't deliver its rated power as they just replace it.
