Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Dead Battery Q

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 11:40 AM
  #1  
qman's Avatar
qman
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,691
Likes: 6
Dead Battery Q

The kids like to leave the interior lights on in my rig (not my truck) and kill my battery. I took it in to AZ to have them test it and the guy puts it on his tester which tells him to charge it first. When he puts it on the charger the voltage is real low or something and instead of charging it he tells me that it's dead since the voltage is below 12. Isn't that what happens when you leave the lights on, the voltage drops?

I have the feeling he just wanted to sell me a battery instead of charging it and putting it back on the tester. Am I being paranoid?
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 12:05 PM
  #2  
alxsnmr's Avatar
alxsnmr
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 1
From: St Louis
For me it depends on the age of the battery, and if it will hold a charge after recharging the battery. If the electrolyte solution (acid) is still full in the battery, then I would try recharging it to 1. see if it will take a charge, and 2. if it will hold a charge.

From the websites i have looked at 12.6 is considered a fully charged battery, 12.3 is considered a half charged battery, and if you are below 12 volts then you have a discharged battery. The good sign is that you do have voltage still in the battery just not enough voltage to get the electrical systems to move current.
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 12:26 PM
  #3  
qman's Avatar
qman
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,691
Likes: 6
Thanks, and I was gonna do that. I was mainly wondering why the guy says it's bad because it's below 12 Volts.
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 12:28 PM
  #4  
quicklook2's Avatar
quicklook2
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 6
From: Lakewood, Ohio
auto zone is the pits.
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 01:13 PM
  #5  
qman's Avatar
qman
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,691
Likes: 6
It depends on which guy is working. There is always a good one or two, but the rest are usually guys that know squat about fixin cars but got some AZ training and now think they're experts. This guy is one of those IMO.

I just want to know if this guy is right and I need a new battery because the voltage dropped below 12 volts. If not I'm gonna go get myself a charger and try to charge it.
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 01:35 PM
  #6  
andym's Avatar
andym
Post Fiend
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
Is this a deep cycle or automotive battery?
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 02:30 PM
  #7  
qman's Avatar
qman
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,691
Likes: 6
automotive battery
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 02:37 PM
  #8  
andym's Avatar
andym
Post Fiend
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
Running the battery all the way down on an automotive battery more than a few times is a sure way to kill it.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-3

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 03:36 PM
  #9  
qman's Avatar
qman
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,691
Likes: 6
Anyone ever heard of this?

http://www.battery-rechargeable-char...ife-saver.html

If so does it work?
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 03:59 PM
  #10  
alxsnmr's Avatar
alxsnmr
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 1
From: St Louis
Typically, charging a battery keeps lead sulfate from forming in the battery. Your electrical charge comes from the reaction of lead with sulfuric acid to produce lead sulfate, water, and electrons for the current.

I dont see how this device will work accept to cause a continual loss of charge, but the statement of lead sulfate settling to the bottom of the battery is a good assumption as well as lead sulfate covering the lead plates to prevent further reaction of lead with sulfuric acid. Charging a battery only reverses the reaction so that lead sulfate on the "surface" of the lead plates return to lead and sulfuric acid. I would say that it only helps to keep the lead plates clean by the continual loss of lead sulfate to the solution by the continual discharge through the device. You would just end up with a junk battery sooner rather than later in its service life.
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 04:07 PM
  #11  
alxsnmr's Avatar
alxsnmr
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 1
From: St Louis
Also just read this website: http://searchwarp.com/swa472554-Unde...Life-Saver.htm

Which when you read it proves that it is bunk money waster. Crystals do not seperate readily under weak radio signals, you have to have energy and something for the crystals to become, in this case the lead metal and lead oxide plates. The battery charger and the altenator do a wonderful job of maintaining the battery already and are known to work.
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 04:31 PM
  #12  
qman's Avatar
qman
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,691
Likes: 6
That's what I figured. It reminded me of the gizmo for separating water into Hydrogen and Oxygen. That's gotta be the biggest crock of all time.
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 04:38 PM
  #13  
alxsnmr's Avatar
alxsnmr
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 1
From: St Louis
Well there is a proven electrolysis method for separation of hydrogen and oxygen from water that uses lots of power, but the one that used the can hooked up to a vehicle's electrical system and vacuum port was nothing more than introducing water vapor into the intake helping to poison the combustion process, similar to the EGR. I had a heck of a time convincing a family member that was all it was doing.
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 05:29 PM
  #14  
qman's Avatar
qman
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
20 Year Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,691
Likes: 6
My neighbor is a Chemistry professor. I asked him about the hydrogen deal. He says like you that it takes too much power to separate and there's no way your alternator could provide the power.
 
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2009 | 05:41 PM
  #15  
quicklook2's Avatar
quicklook2
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 6
From: Lakewood, Ohio
how does all this relate to dead batteries?

is your battery non functioning?
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:10 PM.

story-0
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:01:55


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-2
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-7
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE