Battery question
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Central NYS
Battery question
My '02 Navigator has been sitting for 16 days and when I went to start it today the battery didn't have enough 'stuff' in it to spin it over. This is the second time it has happened in the last 2.5 years.
As long as it doesn't sit over 12 days or so it is good to go.
Is this normal for these vehicles or do I have a battery going bad or maybe an electrical issue?
Anyone else seem to have this sort of problem?
TIA for your responses . . . . .
As long as it doesn't sit over 12 days or so it is good to go.
Is this normal for these vehicles or do I have a battery going bad or maybe an electrical issue?
Anyone else seem to have this sort of problem?
TIA for your responses . . . . .
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: 0,0,1
A good battery will still work after sitting for two weeks. The problem is that today's vehicles draw power off the battery even when they're off. When a vehicle sits a lot this has the effect of drain and charge, drain and charge on the battery. This is the worst thing you can do to a lead cell battery, as they last longest when drain and charge is kept to a minimum. If you plan to have a vehicle doing a lot of sitting around, you should invest in a solar trickle charger. These keep the battery topped off and significantly prolong the life of the battery.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
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"alloro" pretty much said everything that I was going to say. There is one more thing I wanted to add, the other option you have is to buy a battery tender, it is a smart charger that wont overcharge the battery but will keep it topped off all the time. They come with kits to wire them in or alligator clips. I like the option to wire it in so you can shut the hood if the vehicle stays outside. I have one and I use it for a bunch of different things in my garage and it works great. There are a couple different models that vary in price, I couldn't tell you the price because it depends on where you buy it but I got mine for about 40 dollars.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,740
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From: Central NYS
Thanks for the responses alloro and dirtmonkey.
I have a couple of battery tenders - guess I better hook one up to the Navi.
(My 'ol '79 Lariet can sit for a month to six weeks in the winter and it will fire right up -of course it doesn't have no stink'n computers - just lights/heater/wipers. If'n I think of it I sometimes used the battery tender on it and the battery just finally died after ELEVEN years!)
I've heard that these newer "electronic" vehicles can pull a battery down, just wasn't sure how long it took before they were drained.
Thanks again for the advice . . .
I have a couple of battery tenders - guess I better hook one up to the Navi.
(My 'ol '79 Lariet can sit for a month to six weeks in the winter and it will fire right up -of course it doesn't have no stink'n computers - just lights/heater/wipers. If'n I think of it I sometimes used the battery tender on it and the battery just finally died after ELEVEN years!)
I've heard that these newer "electronic" vehicles can pull a battery down, just wasn't sure how long it took before they were drained.
Thanks again for the advice . . .
