Battery Woes??

[roush2k]

On Saturday, I went to start my Mustang and it barely turned over. Second try things were just dead. Here are the details -

• The car had been parked over a week in the garage without being started
  
• The battery has been relocated, and replaced with a yellow top Optima
  
• After it wouldn't turn over anymore, I hooked jumper cables to my fuse block and ground, then to my other car. Same results - car did not have enough juice to turn over.
  
• I disconnected the fuse and connected the + cable directly to the starter cable (runs from the trunk to the engine compartment). Same results.
  
• I then checked voltage on the battery - it read 13 volts (disconnected from the system still).
  
• With the jumper cables connected to the system, I took a voltage reading at the distribution block in the engine compartment - it read 13 volts (power from my other car). Still would not turn over.
  
• I then disconnected the battery cables in my other car and tried to start it with my Optima battery - my other car would not start.
  
• I got pissed, called Eric, and had a beer.
  
• Eric brought his battery charger over. We connected it and plugged it in. The charger showed a full charge on the Optima
  
• Seeing that, we disconnected the charger and tried to start the car - fired right up. Not even a slow crank.
  

WTF? Demons in the electrical system? There were some variables tho - one big one is that my alarm may have been triggered on subsequent tries to start the car, once I removed the fuse from the block and cut power to the car. When you reconnect power, it triggers your alarm. My horn is not working these days (another ), so I may not have been aware the alarm was going off. Not sure if the car is designed to not start if the alarm is triggered.

This does not allow for the fact that 1) the car cranked slow, then nothing, 2) I could not jump my other car with my Optima, and 3) why the battery showed 13 volts and would not start the car.

My car is running, but thought I would post this to get some thoughts. Anybody??


ð kev

[knuther]

U have a ghost living in your car....


Or was it a rental for a few days before you bought it Kev???

[roush2k]

Originally posted by knuther
U have a ghost living in your car....


Or was it a rental for a few days before you bought it Kev???

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo



ð kev

[knuther]

My 96's radio was quiting on me and it kept blowing fuse's so i did what every stubborn man would... Put a bigger fuse.. cause if its blowing then its prob cause i was playing it to loud.

But after i did that i lost the power in my map lights and sunshade light's... Couldnt find a fuse anywhere that was blown.. but i didnt use them very much and my radio worked... So i guess it was a daily driver.. i didnt care... now your car not starting.. thats a fun one...

When you put your bat in the trunk that amplifyed problems you might be haveing...

I can think of a few things outside of the alarm that might have done it, I think it might have been the alarm but not sure...

What is real weird is that it sounds like MIB has the same problem you did or do... I dont think he ever got it figured out either...? and it hasnt ever cropped up again...

It might be the weather change...

BUt it might also be the starter... Machines and any type of hardware has a bell curve of lifespan.. And i always use the if it lasts for a year it will at least work for 5 year with out any or big problems.... i always held it true to tv's/ computers/ and now i am starting to think cars as well...

Did you check the power to the starter and the amps that it was reading?

[knuther]

Oh on a side note.. My Roush dose start like its a dead bat almost once every 3 months. And i wonder if it has something to do with the high torque mini starter ford started useing in the 4.6's

[SteveL]

I'm not sure what type of test the battery charger actually does but I would take the battery to Sears or someone who has a real tester. It's possible for a battery to show full voltage with no load. More sophisticated testers will simulate the load of a starter motor.