I have a Napa battery that is three years old. It has seen little use. I'd say equivalent to a few months of normal driving. That said, if I'm not driving the car then it is on a float (not a trickle) charger. The electrolyte is checked often and never has it gotten remotely low.
A few months ago I noticed that after a few days of sitting (still on the float charger) the car would not crank over. I'd put my 6 amp charger on it for 30-60 minutes and it would crank fine. The voltage was in the 12.85 range. A Hydrometer test showed that five of the cells read exceptional and one cell read good. A test by Napa (I got to watch it) stated the battery was perfectly fine. They refused to prorate and exchange. Thinking there might be a drain somewhere I disconnected the battery, made sure it was charged then put it on the float charger. Same problem. After a few days there wasn't enough to crank the car even though the voltage was in the 12.85 range.
The other day I put the 6 amp charger on intending to get the car started and move it. I should note too that the charger never goes below 1.5 amps even if it was on for 24 hours. Anyway, I got occupied and it sat on that charger for about 3 days. Today the solenoid wouldn't even click. The battery read 8.5 volts, was very warm and was pulling 4 amps. Still wanting to move the car I "jumper-ed" it with another car. It cranked for about 5 seconds then wound down. I disconnected the bad battery and tried again. Eventually I got the car started and reconnected the bad (now 8.5 volt) battery.
I don't think I had the car running 3 minutes. I shut it off. Then, just our of curiosity I turned the key and it started right up. I shut it off immediately and checked the voltage. It was 12.85 volts. So, how does a 8.5 volt battery (that had been charging) somehow become a 12.85 volt battery simply by running in the car for 3 minutes??? And why, even with a second battery assisting it struggled to start 3 minutes prior?
So, does this sound like an internal short in the battery? And if so, is there anything I might do? I'm thinking like shorting the battery out and "hopefully" burning out the short??? Even though I'm only 3 years into a 7 year prorate Napa wants $85 to exchange the battery. Pretty much what a new battery cost elsewhere.
A few months ago I noticed that after a few days of sitting (still on the float charger) the car would not crank over. I'd put my 6 amp charger on it for 30-60 minutes and it would crank fine. The voltage was in the 12.85 range. A Hydrometer test showed that five of the cells read exceptional and one cell read good. A test by Napa (I got to watch it) stated the battery was perfectly fine. They refused to prorate and exchange. Thinking there might be a drain somewhere I disconnected the battery, made sure it was charged then put it on the float charger. Same problem. After a few days there wasn't enough to crank the car even though the voltage was in the 12.85 range.
The other day I put the 6 amp charger on intending to get the car started and move it. I should note too that the charger never goes below 1.5 amps even if it was on for 24 hours. Anyway, I got occupied and it sat on that charger for about 3 days. Today the solenoid wouldn't even click. The battery read 8.5 volts, was very warm and was pulling 4 amps. Still wanting to move the car I "jumper-ed" it with another car. It cranked for about 5 seconds then wound down. I disconnected the bad battery and tried again. Eventually I got the car started and reconnected the bad (now 8.5 volt) battery.
I don't think I had the car running 3 minutes. I shut it off. Then, just our of curiosity I turned the key and it started right up. I shut it off immediately and checked the voltage. It was 12.85 volts. So, how does a 8.5 volt battery (that had been charging) somehow become a 12.85 volt battery simply by running in the car for 3 minutes??? And why, even with a second battery assisting it struggled to start 3 minutes prior?
So, does this sound like an internal short in the battery? And if so, is there anything I might do? I'm thinking like shorting the battery out and "hopefully" burning out the short??? Even though I'm only 3 years into a 7 year prorate Napa wants $85 to exchange the battery. Pretty much what a new battery cost elsewhere.
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