Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ttidcb.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!ttidca!ttidcb!svirsky From: svirsky@ttidcb.UUCP (William Svirsky) Newsgroups: net.auto.tech Subject: Re: Car Battery Problem? Message-ID: <599@ttidcb.UUCP> Date: Mon, 30-Dec-85 11:58:17 EST Article-I.D.: ttidcb.599 Posted: Mon Dec 30 11:58:17 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 31-Dec-85 01:05:27 EST References: <411@mhuxl.UUCP> Reply-To: svirsky@ttidcb.UUCP (William Svirsky) Organization: Transaction Technology, Inc. (CitiCorp), Santa Monica Lines: 30 Summary: In article <411@mhuxl.UUCP> david1@mhuxl.UUCP (Rick Nelson) writes: >My 1983 Datsun MAXIMA's battery (30 months old, 26400 miles) has gone dead >twice within the past 3 weeks.... I would first check that the fan belt on the alternator was tight enough. It could be that it is slipping somewhat so that the battery is charging adequately most, but not all, of the time. Then clean both the battery terminals and the inside of the battery clamps. Scrape them clean with a knife or some other type of scraper. Wire brushing doesn't always get all of the corrosion off. Make sure that you can't, in fact, check the electrolyte level of the battery. Many of the maintenance-free batteries I've seen state on the battery that although the battery is designed to be maintenance-free, in unusual conditions some of the electrolyte may be lost and will have to be replaced. I've seen 3 maintenance-free batteries that needed to have water added to them. You can also have the battery load tested at almost any auto service facility. They test the battery to see how it takes a charge and how well it responds to a "starter" load. This should be cheap. They should also be able to cheaply test your charging system. -- Bill Svirsky Citicorp/TTI 3100 Ocean Park Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 Work phone: 213-450-9111 x2597 {philabs,randvax,trwrb,vortex}!ttidca!ttidcb!svirsky "I love it when a plan comes together." Hannibal Smith