Another dead battery

Why would you say that ???

 

The reason they want it for the day is to properly charge the battery and then test it. If you test a battery that isn’t fully charged it can give you a false reading. To properly charge the battery, you need to do it with low current over a longer period of time

 

If you fully charge a battery when testing it... it will give you a false reading.
A failing battery will not always maintain a charge... hence why its failing
Charging it before testing is just a way to avoid giving away a new bettery under warranty.

The Subaru dealer played this dumb fucking game with my mom. Said the battery just isn’t fully charged. So they charged it sent her on her way.
She lives in a rural house with only one car and she ended up having the car battery die on her in -20F (actual temperatures) in her driveway two days later.
Needless to say I had words for the fucking tech who convinced her not to get a new battery when she needed it.


A healthy battery will fully charge with normal daily driving. If its not... battery is going bad.

 

After it charges it needs to sit. They use machines that charge the battery then do a test and it prints the result

 

Testing batteries yourself is pretty easy.


Measure with a volt meter. I believe (can’t remember) that it should measure 12-13v with the engine off....If the battery measures less than you need to put a meter on it with the truck running. You should get +- 14.4v with the truck running (this is how you measure the alternator output) if you are not getting that then it’s most likely the alternator.


All my vehicles have always came down to the battery or alternator. Clean post and tight connections are a given as everyone should keep an eye on this.


Lastly check the water level at least twice a year. Before spring and in the fall. There is a correct way and an incorrect way to do this. The water level (truck should be on level ground) should be kissing the bottom of the plastic in the filler hole when it is topped off or when you are topping it off. If you go above this in any way by over filling that you will have a completely dead battery in less than a month. Use distilled water only. Ask me how I know.


I checked my levels just before winter.....First I ran a battery maintainer and it said it was topped off in about 5 minutes....then I topped off the water levels because a few cells were low. The battery maintainer ran for a few hours after that and then said it was topped off. Truck turns over pretty fast just after that top off.

 

what address did you send in receipt to

 

Will this fit in the existing tray? BTW, thank you for the link and info.

 

It’ll fit, but the battery is 3/4” shorter than stock. So, you’ll need a bracket (a few companies make them) or make your own like I did with a 3/4” thick piece of oak, I know it looks a little ghetto but it was free and doesn’t rust.

The last option is a 3/4” riser tray that Odyssey sells which you can get on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Odyssey-Group-34-Battery-Spacer-2220-1251-/322837858779

 

After being in the automotive battery business for years, I have been schooled in battery maintenance. I believe you said or someone did, that there is an Optima involved and an an Optima is an AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) type battery that requires a particular voltage "on maintain" that differs from what a conventional wet cell battery does. Please research that as I am retired now and don't have the need nor the time to. Way too busy being retired. ;-) Furthermore, in all my years, I have seen a very few commercially popular charger/maintainers that don't do some sort of damage to batteries as they sit over long periods of time. I personally own a CTEK brand that is a pulse type charger versus a typical trickle type charger and has served my wet cell boat batteries very, very well over the 8 or so years I have stored and maintained them during winter. 8 years beating them for months like a rented mule, I may add.
Trust me, there is a HUGE difference in battery maintainers.
As an aside, most people don't realize that if you drain your battery to dead and "jump it off", the charging system in your vehicle will never bring it back 100%. It must be charged off of the system with a capable charger, not a maintainer.

 

Great information..... Thank you again.

 

I'm using this and was recommended by the mfg for maintaining my Optima Red Top

I've got a trunk mount battery in my Camaro with a Moroso hvy duty battery disconnect . Whenever the Camaro sits the disconnect is shut off so no drain on it !!!

 

I got around 9 years out of my 06 original. It was made by Panasonic. The ones they put in now are crap. I go with Costco Interstates. They are priced reasonably and have a no hassle 3 year replacement warranty. They finally started carrying the group 27 a while back.

 

Is a special tray needed?

 

Yes the Odyssey 34 is 3/4” shorter than the stock battery. They sell a riser for $8.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Odyssey-Group-34-Battery-Spacer-2220-1251-/322837858779

 

I recently found out that AGMs require a higher charge voltage, about 14.5v. Regular lead acid is happy at the mid- to high- 13v that our ECU controlled regulator puts out:

 

I’m wondering if this applies?

Deep Cycle AGM:- AGM batteries should be charged using a charger with a mode switch for AGM type batteries. It is recommended to use a charger, current limited to 20% or 0.2C of the batteries capacity at a charging voltage of between 14.6 – 14.8V following deep cycle use, or 13.6V – 13.8V for standby use.

 

That is for maintainers, like a Battery Tender. They hit that high voltage charge, then float at the lower charge once near the set point, and then repeat the cycle every 48hrs or so? But, the R/R for AGMs will hover in the 14.2v region.



The other secret that I found is to only charge for about 4hr per night. I just use a light timer to manage the tender. That seems to really extend the life of the battery instead of constantly cooking it.

 

I wouldnt worry about it, my Odyssey just crapped out but was almost 11 years old, never put it on any trickle charger during storage or did anything special. I did however run it totally dead a few times for which I used an Odyssey charger to recharge.

 

Good to know, I’m reading this

 

I was changing a broken door glass in the car and had to keep cycling the power window motor up and down and ended up running the battery down to around 6 volts. I purchased an Odyssey charger to make sure it would recharge properly.