Problem

C1DoG · Post by **C1DoG** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 9:29 am

It started lastnight. I had my leds and the one neon on showing them off. So I went to start it and it wouldn't. Yeah I know I killed the battery, or so we thought. Was able to jump the car and drive it home. Got home, turned the car off. Battery should have had enough charge to restart after driving it a little over 30 minutes.... But nope, it just clicks. Would that be the alternator or a crappy battery? And with all the stuff I have, I would like to get a higher output alternator. Any suggestions on one?

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:06 am

My guess would be the battery, or the terminals/connections/grounds. If the alternator was dead, it would not have ran to make it home.

C1DoG · Post by **C1DoG** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:08 am

occasional demons wrote:My guess would be the battery, or the terminals/connections/grounds. If the alternator was dead, it would not have ran to make it home.

Yeah we figure it is the battery. I am looking at getting an Optima redtop battery. Any remarks on them, good or bad? I am also thinking on getting a higher amp alternator.

nineball · Post by **nineball** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:21 am

years ago i swore by optimas but not any longer. their build quality has steadily declined over the past 5-10 years. i'm running a stinger spv44 which is almost exactly the same size as the stock battery. i've been very happy with it's performance for the past 2 years.

http://www.hifisoundconnection.com/Shop ... leBaseFeed

Adam G · Post by **Adam G** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:37 am

takes forever to recharge a dead battery while driving the car

C1DoG · Post by **C1DoG** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:44 am

Would a higher output alternator recharge the battery quicker?

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:08 am

An alternator is the worst way to recharge a battery. Slower is better.

Alternators are primarily designed to recoup the drain from starting, and running the electrical needs of the car.

The best, tho prolly seldom used method of recharging a dead/severely discharged battery, is a good battery charger. AGM batteries should be charged with a charger dedicated/compatible to AGM batteries.

But then we don't live in a perfect world.

C1DoG · Post by **C1DoG** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:12 am

Cool thanks. I will go next door and borrow the neighbors charger.

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:40 am

Yeah, give it a good 8 hour trickle charge. If it is still dead after that, it is new battery time. If you have a meter, check the battery voltage to verify it is the battery, and not the connections.

C1DoG · Post by **C1DoG** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 6:15 pm

I will charge it overnight and then see tomorrow morning whether or not it is the battery.

C1DoG · Post by **C1DoG** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 4:34 am

Well.... I charged it for 8 hours and went to start it this morning and it did the same thing. All it did was click and that was it. No turning over at all.

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:53 am

Did you check the voltage? Since you didn't mention other things not working when the key is turned, turn the lights on when attempting to crank it. If they go out when the key is turned, it is prolly the battery, assuming the connections are all good. If they stay bright, it could be the starter. Jumping it may have been enough to make it go, or a coincidence. Just trying to cover all the bases before you spend $ on a battery you might not need.

C1DoG · Post by **C1DoG** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:06 am

The lights inside flicker when I try to start it.

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:17 am

Do they stay out as long as the starter is held in?

C1DoG · Post by **C1DoG** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:21 am

When I turn the key it clicks and the lights flicker. I am not that knowledable about these things as you can tell. lol As long as I have the key turned and trying to start it, it clicks and flickers with each click.

Edit: I just used the voltage tester and after charging the batter again. It went down to 50% power after charging. So more than likely it is the battery.

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 9:32 am

theColonel · Post by **theColonel** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 9:42 am

If there's an Auto Zone near you, take the battery there. The one near my house will charge the battery and test it for free. I've had great luck with all the batteries I bought from them
(lasted as long as I owned the cars), but some of my neighbors have been very satisfied on how they "pro rated" batteries that crapped-out during the warranty period. Not every battery
they tested had to be replaced ... in some cases I had other problems that had to be fixed by the Dodge dealer.

C1DoG · Post by **C1DoG** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 10:13 am

Took out the battery and got it tested. And lo and behold, it needed replacing. We know that battery has been in the car since we got it 2 and a half years ago. So it was time for it to be replaced. So now I have a working neon again.

theColonel · Post by **theColonel** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 10:25 am

C1DoG wrote:Took out the battery and got it tested. And lo and behold, it needed replacing. We know that battery has been in the car since we got it 2 and a half years ago. So it was time for it to be replaced.
So now I have a working neon again.

Aren't you glad you don't own a Priu$ ?

C1DoG · Post by **C1DoG** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:39 am

theColonel wrote:
C1DoG wrote:Took out the battery and got it tested. And lo and behold, it needed replacing. We know that battery has been in the car since we got it 2 and a half years ago. So it was time for it to be replaced.
So now I have a working neon again.
Aren't you glad you don't own a Priu$ ?

OH YEAH!!!

C1DoG · Post by **C1DoG** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 2:56 pm

And now I have another problem... is there a fuse to the tach? It starts fine, but now it doesn't show rpm's like it did. Help please.

Edit: problem fixed, I found out how to reset the tach.

Public Disturbance · Post by **Public Disturbance** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 3:52 pm

C1DoG wrote:Yeah we figure it is the battery. I am looking at getting an Optima redtop battery. Any remarks on them, good or bad? I am also thinking on getting a higher amp alternator.

I had a Optima and hated the thing I ordered one of these and its sleek and offers good power its for the SRT4 but I have had no problems on my SE

http://www.modernperformance.com/lightw ... -2069.html

just a idea

C1DoG · Post by **C1DoG** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 4:07 pm

If I had that much to spend at the moment. Most of my car fund comes from savings whenever I have enough saved in it.

theColonel · Post by **theColonel** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 4:45 pm

Public Disturbance wrote: I had a Optima and hated the thing I ordered one of these and its sleek and offers good power its for the SRT4 but I have had no problems on my SE

http://www.modernperformance.com/lightw ... -2069.html

just a idea

I put one in my SRT-4 because I needed more room after changing to the Hahn CoolRam intake ... no problems, even though the battery looks like it belongs in a riding lawnmower

nineball · Post by **nineball** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 5:33 pm

Public Disturbance wrote:I had a Optima and hated the thing I ordered one of these and its sleek and offers good power its for the SRT4 but I have had no problems on my SE

http://www.modernperformance.com/lightw ... -2069.html

just a idea

damn. that's a straight ripoff. that is essentially the same thing as a kinetik kc600 (which can be had for $65 shipped) and a tiedown kit (under $15 at any auto parts store).

Public Disturbance · Post by **Public Disturbance** » Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:49 pm

nineball wrote:
Public Disturbance wrote:I had a Optima and hated the thing I ordered one of these and its sleek and offers good power its for the SRT4 but I have had no problems on my SE

http://www.modernperformance.com/lightw ... -2069.html

just a idea

damn. that's a straight ripoff. that is essentially the same thing as a kinetik kc600 (which can be had for $65 shipped) and a tiedown kit (under $15 at any auto parts store).

But the tray looks pretty so it makes it ok