Battery completely drained in 15 days - help required

Subodh Kumar · 27th August 2007, 18:38

Hi

I have a 14 month old FIAT Petra 1.6 ELX. On 12th Aug, therewas an emergency requirement and I left. ON 27th (today) when I returned, I found bettery completely dead. Called RACE, got it jump started, drove for 15 km (40 minutes as advised). In the everning, again dead; although better than earlier, power windows now operating.

I want to know the following from you guys:
Is it normal? Some one told me that with central locking system, it happens.
Do we need to get my battery fully charged at FIAT sservice center / appropriate place? How long and how to ensure that battery is fuuly charged?

There was also a problem of prolonged / multiple cranking for starting. If battery is not fully charged because of any reason, could it lead to this starting trouble. In fact, on 10th August itself, I went to Samyak motors, Delhi for solving the starting problem, he suggested to leave the vehicle overnight, which I did not because of vehicle requirement.

Kindly suggest.

Regards

Subodh

doctorkats · 28th August 2007, 02:27

you need to get the battery 'bench charged' over night.
even after that if the battery gets drained get the battery changed.its under warranty anyway.(i'm assuming here that there are no electrical faults/alternator problems in your car).
which make is it by the way?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subodh Kumar

Hi

I have a 14 month old FIAT Petra 1.6 ELX. On 12th Aug, therewas an emergency requirement and I left. ON 27th (today) when I returned, I found bettery completely dead. Called RACE, got it jump started, drove for 15 km (40 minutes as advised). In the everning, again dead; although better than earlier, power windows now operating.

I want to know the following from you guys:
Is it normal? Some one told me that with central locking system, it happens.
Do we need to get my battery fully charged at FIAT sservice center / appropriate place? How long and how to ensure that battery is fuuly charged?

There was also a problem of prolonged / multiple cranking for starting. If battery is not fully charged because of any reason, could it lead to this starting trouble. In fact, on 10th August itself, I went to Samyak motors, Delhi for solving the starting problem, he suggested to leave the vehicle overnight, which I did not because of vehicle requirement.

Kindly suggest.

Regards

Subodh

Subodh Kumar · 28th August 2007, 09:56

Dear Doctorcats

The battery is exide make; maintenance free.

Is there some kind of power requirement even if the car is not ON?

Subodh

dadu · 28th August 2007, 10:48

Get your battery recharged from a batterywala first and also get your alternator checked for the current. Then if under normal driving conditions the battery drains out, get the batery replaced under warranty.

mclaren1885 · 28th August 2007, 10:52

Even I seem to be having a similar problem. My Baleno is just 15 months old and my battery has gone down 4 times already. I got it bench charged all the times. Yet, when I had not used the car for 4 days last week it went kaput. The battery guy says battery has gone bust and I would need a replacement. What is the warranty period for batteries? I think mine is an Exide too.

Jaggu · 28th August 2007, 10:53

Get battery charged by an authorised exide dealer.

Check charging is ok while fitting it back.

Check if there is a heavy drain from the battery when car is switched off, and isolate the reason (can be a badly installed central locking system).

chanapli · 28th August 2007, 11:05

I was told all batteries comes with 18months replacement warranty. However I dont know how do they check if there is some problems with car electricals before replacement.

Again, it was discussed in this forum, if you leave the vehicle unattended for long time, advisible to disconnect negative terminal while out.

BaCkSeAtDrIVeR · 28th August 2007, 11:17

How do we know if the battery is being charged (ie, the alternator is working) when the car is running?

adman77 · 28th August 2007, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by mclaren1885

Even I seem to be having a similar problem. My Baleno is just 15 months old and my battery has gone down 4 times already. I got it bench charged all the times. Yet, when I had not used the car for 4 days last week it went kaput. The battery guy says battery has gone bust and I would need a replacement. What is the warranty period for batteries? I think mine is an Exide too.

Sirjee, with so many mods, me thinks you need to keep couple of spare batteries in the trunk.

iraghava · 28th August 2007, 11:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaCkSeAtDrIVeR

How do we know if the battery is being charged (ie, the alternator is working) when the car is running?

I think you need to use a Multi Meter for that & probably a trained guy too.

filcord · 28th August 2007, 12:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Get battery charged by an authorised exide dealer.

Check charging is ok while fitting it back.

Check if there is a heavy drain from the battery when car is switched off, and isolate the reason (can be a badly installed central locking system).

That is correct.
Charging voltage is easily checked.
Checking if something is draining the battery is a little more difficult. He will have to put an ammeter in series with the battery and see how much current is flowing.
The only things drawing current would be the alarm and the radio clock. This amount is so small, it should not make a difference. If there was a big drain on the battery it would short a fuse.
The battery is probably faulty, cells damaged and does not hold a charge.

Subodh Kumar · 28th August 2007, 13:38

just now, I got my car battreies checked by Ameron batteries guy. He checked using hygrometer and said that the battery is DEAD (one cell) and would need replacement. The voltage was 9.27 volt. He said that even with completely discharged battery, voltage is not that low.

I talked to Vivek auto Delhi from where I bought the car in June 2006. He asked me to bring the car for inspection and said that even the battery may be replaced under warantee. I checked battery manufacturing date: It is probabily 2005 make.

What should I do now? What is the chances of getting a new battery under warantee? If I get under replacement a secong hand battery, it would again be of not much use. A new Ameron battery with 4 years warantee costs me 4600. Whether the cost is right?

Experts opinion, please.

shailu · 28th August 2007, 14:23

Guys general information about battery...

A car battery has got 6 cells connected to each other. one cell has to produce 2 volts...that is 2 volts* 6 cells=12 volt battery.

If a new battery is not holding charge there can be only three reasons..

1. Faulty wiring(insulation not proper) which is touching the body of the car....since the power is getting drained from the battery when the car is ideal.

2.You car alternator is not working properly....Alternator has to produce 13.8-14.2 v which will charge the battery when the engine runs. anything below 13.8 will not charge the battery. any thing above 14.2 will over charge the battery (acid inside the battery will start comming out)

3.battery also fails when the inter connection between the cells goes off.This is a manufacturing defect and you can claim warranty for this if the battery is under warranty

kaushik_s · 28th August 2007, 14:54

Just get the Battery recharged fully(over-night). The battery guys will feel the cells with distilled water.BTW it's very important to keep the water level correct.Then run the car for few days,if there is no problem then you can keep on using it for some more time.Otherwise change the battery or check the alternator.Similar thing happened to me also and I used it for few more months but anyway had to change it at the end.
Normally when they say they'll exchange the battery,they'll actually give you discounts on the new Battery depending on the age of your battery.I think some 30% for 2-3 year old battery(exide).
And next time, if you are leaving the car idle for more then a week, better disconnect the battery.

Thad E Ginathom · 28th August 2007, 18:41

I've left a car for five weeks (parked in a West London Street while I nipped over to India and back!) and it started with no trouble whatsoever. The following year I left the same car at a friend's place for six months. We did not think to disconnect anything, and it was flat when I got back. He was able to charge it up for me the day before I went to collect it.

Letting a lead-acid battery go completely flat is bad for it, and will reduce its capacity and life, which is why I just bought a UPS with about three times the capacity I expect to need. It may save me money in the long run.

If your battery is not charging, the 'ignition' light should be on while driving. One easy and simple check is to make sure (with the engine off, of course) that the belt driving the alternator is tight enough.

Car batteries seem to have an immensely long life compared to a few decades ago.

27th August 2007, 18:38	#1
Subodh Kumar BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Noida Posts: 30 Thanked: 2 Times	Battery completely drained in 15 days - help required Hi I have a 14 month old FIAT Petra 1.6 ELX. On 12th Aug, therewas an emergency requirement and I left. ON 27th (today) when I returned, I found bettery completely dead. Called RACE, got it jump started, drove for 15 km (40 minutes as advised). In the everning, again dead; although better than earlier, power windows now operating. I want to know the following from you guys: Is it normal? Some one told me that with central locking system, it happens. Do we need to get my battery fully charged at FIAT sservice center / appropriate place? How long and how to ensure that battery is fuuly charged? There was also a problem of prolonged / multiple cranking for starting. If battery is not fully charged because of any reason, could it lead to this starting trouble. In fact, on 10th August itself, I went to Samyak motors, Delhi for solving the starting problem, he suggested to leave the vehicle overnight, which I did not because of vehicle requirement. Kindly suggest. Regards Subodh
	() Thanks

28th August 2007, 09:56	#3
Subodh Kumar BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Noida Posts: 30 Thanked: 2 Times	Dear Doctorcats The battery is exide make; maintenance free. Is there some kind of power requirement even if the car is not ON? Subodh
	() Thanks

28th August 2007, 10:48	#4
dadu Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,803 Thanked: 462 Times View My Garage	Get your battery recharged from a batterywala first and also get your alternator checked for the current. Then if under normal driving conditions the battery drains out, get the batery replaced under warranty.
	() Thanks

28th August 2007, 10:52	#5
mclaren1885 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bangalore (the city of modded cars) !! Posts: 4,820 Thanked: 45 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (10)	Even I seem to be having a similar problem. My Baleno is just 15 months old and my battery has gone down 4 times already. I got it bench charged all the times. Yet, when I had not used the car for 4 days last week it went kaput. The battery guy says battery has gone bust and I would need a replacement. What is the warranty period for batteries? I think mine is an Exide too.
	() Thanks

28th August 2007, 10:53	#6
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,907 Times	Get battery charged by an authorised exide dealer. Check charging is ok while fitting it back. Check if there is a heavy drain from the battery when car is switched off, and isolate the reason (can be a badly installed central locking system).
	() Thanks

28th August 2007, 11:05	#7
chanapli BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Banglaore Posts: 270 Thanked: Once	I was told all batteries comes with 18months replacement warranty. However I dont know how do they check if there is some problems with car electricals before replacement. Again, it was discussed in this forum, if you leave the vehicle unattended for long time, advisible to disconnect negative terminal while out.
	() Thanks

28th August 2007, 11:17	#8
BaCkSeAtDrIVeR BANNED Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kochi Posts: 2,522 Thanked: 752 Times	How do we know if the battery is being charged (ie, the alternator is working) when the car is running?
	() Thanks

28th August 2007, 13:38	#12
Subodh Kumar BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Noida Posts: 30 Thanked: 2 Times	just now, I got my car battreies checked by Ameron batteries guy. He checked using hygrometer and said that the battery is DEAD (one cell) and would need replacement. The voltage was 9.27 volt. He said that even with completely discharged battery, voltage is not that low. I talked to Vivek auto Delhi from where I bought the car in June 2006. He asked me to bring the car for inspection and said that even the battery may be replaced under warantee. I checked battery manufacturing date: It is probabily 2005 make. What should I do now? What is the chances of getting a new battery under warantee? If I get under replacement a secong hand battery, it would again be of not much use. A new Ameron battery with 4 years warantee costs me 4600. Whether the cost is right? Experts opinion, please.
	() Thanks

28th August 2007, 14:23	#13
shailu BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: coimbatore Posts: 123 Thanked: 21 Times	Guys general information about battery... A car battery has got 6 cells connected to each other. one cell has to produce 2 volts...that is 2 volts* 6 cells=12 volt battery. If a new battery is not holding charge there can be only three reasons.. 1. Faulty wiring(insulation not proper) which is touching the body of the car....since the power is getting drained from the battery when the car is ideal. 2.You car alternator is not working properly....Alternator has to produce 13.8-14.2 v which will charge the battery when the engine runs. anything below 13.8 will not charge the battery. any thing above 14.2 will over charge the battery (acid inside the battery will start comming out) 3.battery also fails when the inter connection between the cells goes off.This is a manufacturing defect and you can claim warranty for this if the battery is under warranty
	() Thanks

28th August 2007, 14:54	#14
kaushik_s Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,088 Thanked: 164 Times View My Garage	Just get the Battery recharged fully(over-night). The battery guys will feel the cells with distilled water.BTW it's very important to keep the water level correct.Then run the car for few days,if there is no problem then you can keep on using it for some more time.Otherwise change the battery or check the alternator.Similar thing happened to me also and I used it for few more months but anyway had to change it at the end. Normally when they say they'll exchange the battery,they'll actually give you discounts on the new Battery depending on the age of your battery.I think some 30% for 2-3 year old battery(exide). And next time, if you are leaving the car idle for more then a week, better disconnect the battery.
	() Thanks

28th August 2007, 18:41	#15
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,005 Thanked: 26,443 Times	I've left a car for five weeks (parked in a West London Street while I nipped over to India and back!) and it started with no trouble whatsoever. The following year I left the same car at a friend's place for six months. We did not think to disconnect anything, and it was flat when I got back. He was able to charge it up for me the day before I went to collect it. Letting a lead-acid battery go completely flat is bad for it, and will reduce its capacity and life, which is why I just bought a UPS with about three times the capacity I expect to need. It may save me money in the long run. If your battery is not charging, the 'ignition' light should be on while driving. One easy and simple check is to make sure (with the engine off, of course) that the belt driving the alternator is tight enough. Car batteries seem to have an immensely long life compared to a few decades ago.
	() Thanks