Battery question & input

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Dec 8, 2008 | 06:43 PM

ExpySport

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From: Media, PA

Battery question & input

The vehicle in question isn't a Ford, but I figured the same issue may apply.

My girlfriend has a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country minivan. It has the original battery. Recently, I have had to jump start her van after she has had the radio on, but engine not running. Typically, her battery goes dead after 10-15 minutes. I was thinking her battery was shot because it doesn't last long. On the weekends, we drive my Expedition around, and her van sits all weekend. We had very cold temps this past weekend. Her van sat from Friday night until this morning, and it started fine this morning.

Is it possible the reserve capacity part of the battery is gone? I don't know if such a scenario can exist or not. It just boggles my mind that with the key in the accessory and only the radio on, her battery dies in 10 minutes, but the battery has plenty of juice to start the engine after sitting an entire weekend. Input? Thanks!

Dec 8, 2008 | 07:28 PM

ReAX

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From: Central Florida

Like you said, it has no reserve. It is holding a charge for now with a minimal discharge. However it only has enough stored to discharge for 10 minutes. It sounds dead to me.

Dec 8, 2008 | 07:38 PM

ExpySport

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From: Media, PA

Thanks for the reply. I figured it was time to replace her battery. Knock on wood, I still have the original battery in my Expedition from 2002 and I'm having no issues at all with it. Maybe Motorcraft makes a battery to fit in her van? LOL. We get Interstate batteries at work, so I'll probably go that route. Thanks again for the quick reply, ReAX.

Dec 8, 2008 | 07:40 PM

rsylvstr

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From: Central NY

Can't go wrong with Interstate.

Dec 9, 2008 | 01:51 PM

BPofMD

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From: Millersville, MD

Auto Zone will test it for free....no requirement to buy anything there. No sense to buy a new battery if you don't need one.

Dec 12, 2008 | 11:50 AM

ExpySport

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From: Media, PA

Well, I put the new Interstate battery in her van and what a difference. Before I put it in, however, I did some voltage tests with the old one still in the van. With the engine running, voltage was where it should be, hovering between 13.9 and 14.0 volts. I ruled out an alternator issue. As soon as I turned the engine off, the voltage started dropping immediately, falling to almost 12.1 before leveling out. I put the new battery in and redid all the tests. Same voltage with engine running, but a huge improvement when I shut her down. Voltage dropped to 12.9 and stayed there.

I brought the old battery into work and had one of our mechanics put our big battery tester on it, which does about 10 tests at once. Turns out it did have a bad cell and the reserve side was almost non-existent. He said it probably would have lasted another month before biting the dust. So, her van's good to go now. I'd hate for her to be stranded somewhere this winter, unable to start the engine, especially if she had her 2 kids with her. Thanks again for everyone's help & replies.