Sudden Battery Failure With No Warning.
Thread Starter
|
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Sudden Battery Failure With No Warning.
I just spent the last hour replacing a battery, my second this month, two different vehicles tho. Both a sudden complete failure with absolutely no warning signs. My 93 Ranger battery failed less than a month ago and the starter failed last week with no warning. My 91 Explorer failed to start this evening. Both vehicles were in the driveway at the time of battery failure:-) With the starter I was not quite so lucky, it failed in the High School parking lot. The battery failures were interesting, there was just enough power to run a dome light, but turning on the lights or engaging the starter solenoid killed the batteries completely. Putting a battery load tester on the batteries showed 12.5 or 13V but when a load was applied the voltage went to zero. I had one battery fail suddenly long ago but all the others have shown signs of diminishing capacity for a while b4 failure. Why did these two fail suddenly and both in the same manner?
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Sudden Battery Failure With No Warning.
Probably just a coincidental occurance, assuming no over head alien drive bys.
Batteries these days don't last, every 8 to 14 months, I have a cell go dead, with the same no advanced warning.
I just always buy a long term Sears Die-Hard and get credit for the unused term ofthe battery applied to the cost of a new one.
If I was doing an expense budget projection, I would automatically include a $36 to $40 expense every 8 to 14 months.
Thats how reliable the battery failures are.
Batteries these days don't last, every 8 to 14 months, I have a cell go dead, with the same no advanced warning.
I just always buy a long term Sears Die-Hard and get credit for the unused term ofthe battery applied to the cost of a new one.
If I was doing an expense budget projection, I would automatically include a $36 to $40 expense every 8 to 14 months.
Thats how reliable the battery failures are.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,157
Likes: 1
From: Central Kali
Sudden Battery Failure With No Warning.
I only had one total failure without any warning. It was an Optima, started fine. 5 min later, would not start. Even the radio would not work. Never saw anything like that before. 
Thread Starter
|
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Sudden Battery Failure With No Warning.
These two batteries both went like your Optima. Both batteries would barely run the door buzzer. Even the dome light would kill the battery on the Explorer sometimes. I have been driving and running batteries for over 35 years. Neither battery was the same brand. Of course nowadays they could have been built on the same assy line. I bought the replacements at Oreiley's about 4 blocks away because it was close and open.
Almost all of my other batteries have lasted 4 years or more and I replaced them the first time they didn't give me a peppy starter spin, or slowed down on an extended start. They have all been various brands, but most were from Western Auto or Advance Auto parts. I have bought a few "rebuilt" or recycled batteries and they have all lasted just like the new ones. The two that failed were not the "rebuilt" type. I would have replaced them with the rebuilt units if the shop that sold them had been open.
Almost all of my other batteries have lasted 4 years or more and I replaced them the first time they didn't give me a peppy starter spin, or slowed down on an extended start. They have all been various brands, but most were from Western Auto or Advance Auto parts. I have bought a few "rebuilt" or recycled batteries and they have all lasted just like the new ones. The two that failed were not the "rebuilt" type. I would have replaced them with the rebuilt units if the shop that sold them had been open.
Elder User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 778
Likes: 1
Sudden Battery Failure With No Warning.
Hey Eric. Batterys can do some strange things. Just wait till the first cold snap. I have seen batterys blow up when the key was turned. I just changed a battery that went bad, and killed the alternator.
Dave Powell
Dave Powell
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,157
Likes: 1
From: Central Kali
Sudden Battery Failure With No Warning.
Hi Eric, I think you mentioned before about the new alternators not being able to handle a discharged battery. This is really strange. Have you seen this yourself? What is your opnion of the duty cycle of a typical alternator? I put four on a 8hp engine, almost ready to fire up.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Sudden Battery Failure With No Warning.
Several of the new style alternators I have used have had warnings about failure if installed with a dead or low battery. The warnings stated that the battery must be fully charged before the alternator is installed. I have not seen this mishap but a mechanic friend has.
Have you ever read any of the warning labels on parts before you installed them? Some of them are comical like DUH! Others are "educational"...:-)
I don't have any figures but I have used similar components and equipment for industrial continuous duty applications. You could figure about 1/4 to 1/3 of the rated output continuously from some of the new alternators and maybe 1/3 to 1/2 from old large frame alternators depending on the environment the alternator is operating in (temperature and air flow).
Have you ever read any of the warning labels on parts before you installed them? Some of them are comical like DUH! Others are "educational"...:-)
I don't have any figures but I have used similar components and equipment for industrial continuous duty applications. You could figure about 1/4 to 1/3 of the rated output continuously from some of the new alternators and maybe 1/3 to 1/2 from old large frame alternators depending on the environment the alternator is operating in (temperature and air flow).
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Michael Littman
Electrical Systems/Wiring
5
Dec 10, 2005 04:49 PM
