Car battery. I am confused

[Mtsoxfan]

Ahhh, where is the excitment in replacing a battery that isn't stone cold dead? Have some fun, excitment, think the Seinfeld episode when Krammer was test driving a car and wanted to see how far he and the salesman could go with the tank past "E".

 

[Popgadget]

An old school load tester is definitely viable, I have two of them.

But the impedance tester that I linked to is far better for testing a battery, isn’t as dependent on state of charge and is much cheaper. So for someone without any way to test a battery, it definitely would be my suggestion.

 

[ovrszd]

I always enjoy looking at pictures shot in a shop. You see the darnedest things...... Popgadget, how many used mower blades do you have there?

 

[Mtsoxfan]

An old school load tester is definitely viable, I have two of them.

View attachment 783840

View attachment 783841

But the impedance tester that I linked to is far better for testing a battery, isn’t as dependent on state of charge and is much cheaper. So for someone without any way to test a battery, it definitely would be my suggestion.

That Sun is one old piece. I remember using the old Sun that rolled from a steel beam in the shop, timing, points, rpm, emmisions, coils, plugs etc. Boy, things have changed.

 

[Popgadget]

There’s a couple of sets for the Progressive TD65 at 9 per set as well as a few sets for the Lazer Z. So about 24.

 

[Popgadget]

That Sun is one old piece. I remember using the old Sun that rolled from a steel beam in the shop, timing, points, rpm, emmisions, coils, plugs etc. Boy, things have changed.

Yes, I have had it for probably close to 50 years, but as it’s a carbon pile load, it works as good as the day I got it, just doesn’t get used as often!

 

[WoodChuckDad]

As I typed out the initial post, I knew I needed to replace. sometimes forming the thought into a question tells you what the answer is. But I wanted to get some information on how to test, etc. Guess I need to get a load testor for the future shop.
New battery is procured. Napa. I usually get their legend premium but they didn't have one so I got the AAA battery . never seen those before but the guy said it is 3 year warranty and made by Delco. I'll put it in this week. While all the arguments for getting a new one were good, Roustabout had the best point. "no way I'd let a girl run around with a bad battery". not that my boys were any less valuable, but they were less vulnerable. Same reason I bought her a new car ( it was when I got it for her).

 

[2manyrocks]

Also good idea to replace belts and hoses on your own schedule to avoid unexpected breakdowns.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

It sounds like the plates have shed enough sulfate to touch the bottom and short them. If you want to tinker a bit, you could always try the epsom salts trick to dissolve the crud.

 

[jyoutz]

An old school load tester is definitely viable, I have two of them.

View attachment 783840

View attachment 783841

But the impedance tester that I linked to is far better for testing a battery, isn’t as dependent on state of charge and is much cheaper. So for someone without any way to test a battery, it definitely would be my suggestion.

I have an old school Sears auto analyzer that checks point dwell, timing, RPMs, and battery. The only thing I use it for now is testing batteries. It would be useful for someone who works on classic cars. On the battery issue, I have found that the dual batteries in my Dodge/Cummins truck last many more years than a single battery in my gas fueled vehicles.

 

[ljjhouser]

I am with REPLACE it. Even 12.7 is not really very good for a good battery that is fully charged. Should read more like 13.2 or maybe more. If the battery was reading in the 11 volt range, I would consider it not fully chargeable. I am also guessing that there is one or more problem cells.

 

[MossRoad]

As I typed out the initial post, I knew I needed to replace. sometimes forming the thought into a question tells you what the answer is. But I wanted to get some information on how to test, etc. Guess I need to get a load testor for the future shop.
New battery is procured. Napa. I usually get their legend premium but they didn't have one so I got the AAA battery . never seen those before but the guy said it is 3 year warranty and made by Delco. I'll put it in this week. While all the arguments for getting a new one were good, Roustabout had the best point. "no way I'd let a girl run around with a bad battery". not that my boys were any less valuable, but they were less vulnerable. Same reason I bought her a new car ( it was when I got it for her).

For as in-often we have battery issues, I just take the battery to Autozone and they load test it for free.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

You test voltage but you aren't testing load. It may have voltage but hit it with a load tester and it will be near zero.

 

[NoTrespassing]

For as in-often we have battery issues, I just take the battery to Autozone and they load test it for free.

Quote from post #1 "Auto parts store told her it was good".

I've had auto parts stores tell me things were bad, turns out they were wrong. Went back and got my good alternator and gave them theirs back. If I remember correctly from 40 years ago it was a bad voltage regulator not the alternator.

 

[MossRoad]

Quote from post #1 "Auto parts store told her it was good".

I've had auto parts stores tell me things were bad, turns out they were wrong. Went back and got my good alternator and gave them theirs back. If I remember correctly from 40 years ago it was a bad voltage regulator not the alternator.

Yes. They told her that in early summer of 2022. This is 8 months later.

 

[MossRoad]

We're fortunate that our oldest daughter can change her own tires and battery. She drives the 80/90 toll road fairly often and has had about 4 flats. She pulls into the first available rest area or exit and changes to the spare. Then she orders a new tire on the internet, has it delivered to her house, takes the flat and the new tire to a garage and has them change it and balance it. Then brings it home and changes it back. Her battery croaked in her garage. I talked her through how to take it out and she had a friend take her and the battery in for testing. It was bad, she got a new one, and put it in herself.

You can't be there all the time for the kids and, girl or boy, they need to know some basic skills for auto repair, as well as survival. A cell phone and internet service is also a great tool. You can call the state police in any state, and they can give you the number of a nearby highway repair/towing company if you're out on the highway. In town, you can call someone you trust. But sometimes, you're on your own and need to be self-sufficient.