View Full Version : Drained battery advice please
steve(IL)
07-12-2002, 07:43 AM
I accidently left the ignition key in the on position for 7-10 days which drained my battery all the way down. I put a charger on it which is giving me the dreaded red "chack battery" light meaning it's not taking a charge. This battery is fairly new. What should I do to bring it back? Can it be brought back? Thanks in advance for the help.
If you have an engine start feature on your charger you can set it in the engine start position for 5 - 10 seconds, wait 1-2 minutes and repeat the process until it will take a charge. This should bring the battery up to a point where it will take a charge. As it is now it is below the point where the automatic charger will detect an adequate voltage level to start the charge cycle. If the charger does not have the start feature you can pull the battery and take it to a shop and see what they think. I have done this on a couple occasions and it worked. Watch it close because the start position is dumping 50 amps into the battery and you don't want to over heat the battery.
Chris
07-12-2002, 08:46 AM
When a battery is stone dead (particularly starting batteries)some automatic chargers will not begin charging because it cannot detect any voltage (Plates have sulfated too much). If you can get a good automotive charger that has an "Activation" or "manual override" setting and follow the charger manual's instructions you may be able to bring the battery back. The activation setting over-rides the auto charge mode and forces current into the battery, breaking down the sulfate barrier. After about 15-30 minutes of this the auto mode can be switched on to complete the charging safely. I have had this same situation happen to me twice on the same battery and this did bring it back. Keep in mind that sometimes when a starting battery is drained stone dead it may not be recoverable. It's worth a try though.
Good luck
steve(IL)
07-12-2002, 09:32 AM
Thanks Chris & PRD1. I did what you recommended and it appears to be working.
Steve: I have had the same problem before and I just use a set of Jumper Cables to put it in parallel to the car battery, then run the car for a few minutes. This give the battery a slight charge and the regular charger will complete the charging. Otherwise the charger will break and reset over and over without doing anything. Keep THEM BATTERYS CHARGED......Kaz
Airwave(OH)
07-14-2002, 07:41 AM
Since no one else suggested this I will. Where do you want to be when you find out it didn't work ? (Assuming it doesn't) I would buy a new one and use the old one for something else where failure wouldn't be so critical. A new one cost much less than a TOW. Don't take chances on the water. Atleast carry a jumppack if you have one.