Question about my Lancer Battery...

Neonfish · 16th December 2009, 09:35

Hi All…

Seem to have run into a small problem with my Lancer that I purchased earlier this year. The battery (Exide) is quite old and was bought back in 2005. Over the last month I noticed the battery died down when I left the car unused for about a week and a half.

I took the battery to the nearest Battery dealer and got it re-charged. When he was placing the battery back in the car, he told me there is a certain kind of a leakage which needs to be fixed or the situation might occur again. Sure enough a couple of weeks down the lane the battery died down again even though I had left the car unused only for 2-3 days.

So when I went in for my half yearly service to the Mitsubishi service centers (Southern Motors), I asked them to specifically check the wiring and the electricals to figure out if there is indeed a leak. However they came back to me and said there was no fault with the wiring and the battery dying out is probably because it’s almost 4 ½ years old.

Post service after using the car again for a week or so, the battery is dead again. Just wanted to take your opinion before I shell out 5-6 k for a new battery. Can there be something wrong with the wiring and the electricals causing the leak or has my battery run out its life?

PS: I use the car quite sparingly, 2-3 times a week and it doesn’t run more than 50 kms in a week.

Cheers

harsha.cs1 · 16th December 2009, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neonfish

Hi All…

Seem to have run into a small problem with my Lancer that I purchased earlier this year. The battery (Exide) is quite old and was bought back in 2005. Over the last month I noticed the battery died down when I left the car unused for about a week and a half.

I took the battery to the nearest Battery dealer and got it re-charged. When he was placing the battery back in the car, he told me there is a certain kind of a leakage which needs to be fixed or the situation might occur again. Sure enough a couple of weeks down the lane the battery died down again even though I had left the car unused only for 2-3 days.

So when I went in for my half yearly service to the Mitsubishi service centers (Southern Motors), I asked them to specifically check the wiring and the electricals to figure out if there is indeed a leak. However they came back to me and said there was no fault with the wiring and the battery dying out is probably because it’s almost 4 ½ years old.

Post service after using the car again for a week or so, the battery is dead again. Just wanted to take your opinion before I shell out 5-6 k for a new battery. Can there be something wrong with the wiring and the electricals causing the leak or has my battery run out its life?

PS: I use the car quite sparingly, 2-3 times a week and it doesn’t run more than 50 kms in a week.

Cheers

i once experienced my battery draining out when i didnt use it for around 2 weeks at a stretch. i was told that the issue was with "excess grounding" or something like that. you could get the wiring checked. having said that, a 4.5 year old battery draining out in 10 days of lying idle seems normal to me. i guess going in for a new battery is the best way out coz you have to go in for one very soon anyway (unless you are selling the car soon). and if you still have the problem, get the wiring checked.
cheers,
Harsha

pramodkumar · 16th December 2009, 12:02

There is some thing called the load test. The battery ideally should be 12V, the battery is put on load when the car starts, it takes the value down to 10V, this is absolutly normal however if it goes to 9 volts the battery needs attention as its week(not replacement), In such a scenario you should stop suing heavy elictricals in the car untl a replacemant is made.

Things to avoid at this time are.
Amplifiers
Foglamps
Using the power window with the car not started.
Using the wipers with the car not started.

When the battery goes below 7.5 volts during a load test, its deemed unusable and needs immediate replacement.

You can get the load test performed at a excide service center.

Also to let you know excide has only one model which suits a lancer power and size wise(to fit in the battery case), this one is not readily available so please do not pick any thing up. As this may end in failure in future. Try getting a deep cycle battery from a different brand(excide has a max life of 3 years, as accepted by their company) in case you have a lot of electricals running.

PS: 50 kms of weekly run is fine if the car whcih even has an Amp and a fog lamp even if the battery is little week(second category).

Pramod

lancer&shogun · 16th December 2009, 12:18

+1 to pramod's post.

@neonfish: Changing the battery will solve all your problems since its a 4 yrs old one.

1. What battery we need to use when the vehicle is used occassionally?
2. What are all the precautions we need to take to avoid draining?

Cheers,
L&S

Vid6639 · 16th December 2009, 12:24

Hi neonfish,

I'm pasting my reply to the PM you had sent here for benefit of others.

First thing you need to do is get the battery checked. By checked I mean tell the exide guys to use a gauge and measure the density in each of the cells. I'm sure HM guys can also do this. This will give you an idea is one of the 4 cells in the battery is weak. Just topping up and recharging will not tell you if the battery is good. If any of the 4 cells is weak i.e. lower density then the battery cannot whole charge and will discharge very quickly. Which means the battery needs changing.

If all cells are good then you need to look into the car electricals more closely. Check the battery voltage when ignition is turned on. Is it close to 14V? After turning off does it go to 12V or lower?

Also if you do need to replace go for Amaron preferably.

adrian · 16th December 2009, 12:37

Hi Neonfish...I had a similar situation with my Amby's old battery. The problem was with the started motor which had some sort of internal arching in the commutator which was squeezing the juice out of the old battery and the dynamo was not capable of charging the battery when the vehicle traveled for short distances. I had to replace the battery, replace the armature of the starter and I also replaced the dynamo with an alternator. My opinion is that you check your alternator, your starter motor and your battery itself for cell damage.

16th December 2009, 09:35	#1
Neonfish BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 27 Thanked: 39 Times	Question about my Lancer Battery... Hi All… Seem to have run into a small problem with my Lancer that I purchased earlier this year. The battery (Exide) is quite old and was bought back in 2005. Over the last month I noticed the battery died down when I left the car unused for about a week and a half. I took the battery to the nearest Battery dealer and got it re-charged. When he was placing the battery back in the car, he told me there is a certain kind of a leakage which needs to be fixed or the situation might occur again. Sure enough a couple of weeks down the lane the battery died down again even though I had left the car unused only for 2-3 days. So when I went in for my half yearly service to the Mitsubishi service centers (Southern Motors), I asked them to specifically check the wiring and the electricals to figure out if there is indeed a leak. However they came back to me and said there was no fault with the wiring and the battery dying out is probably because it’s almost 4 ½ years old. Post service after using the car again for a week or so, the battery is dead again. Just wanted to take your opinion before I shell out 5-6 k for a new battery. Can there be something wrong with the wiring and the electricals causing the leak or has my battery run out its life? PS: I use the car quite sparingly, 2-3 times a week and it doesn’t run more than 50 kms in a week. Cheers
	() Thanks

16th December 2009, 12:02	#3
pramodkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gods own country Posts: 2,307 Thanked: 2,268 Times View My Garage	There is some thing called the load test. The battery ideally should be 12V, the battery is put on load when the car starts, it takes the value down to 10V, this is absolutly normal however if it goes to 9 volts the battery needs attention as its week(not replacement), In such a scenario you should stop suing heavy elictricals in the car untl a replacemant is made. Things to avoid at this time are. Amplifiers Foglamps Using the power window with the car not started. Using the wipers with the car not started. When the battery goes below 7.5 volts during a load test, its deemed unusable and needs immediate replacement. You can get the load test performed at a excide service center. Also to let you know excide has only one model which suits a lancer power and size wise(to fit in the battery case), this one is not readily available so please do not pick any thing up. As this may end in failure in future. Try getting a deep cycle battery from a different brand(excide has a max life of 3 years, as accepted by their company) in case you have a lot of electricals running. PS: 50 kms of weekly run is fine if the car whcih even has an Amp and a fog lamp even if the battery is little week(second category). Pramod
	() Thanks

16th December 2009, 12:18	#4
lancer&shogun BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Back in Chennai Posts: 148 Thanked: 2 Times	+1 to pramod's post. @neonfish: Changing the battery will solve all your problems since its a 4 yrs old one. 1. What battery we need to use when the vehicle is used occassionally? 2. What are all the precautions we need to take to avoid draining? Cheers, L&S
	() Thanks

16th December 2009, 12:24	#5
Vid6639 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,711 Thanked: 44,148 Times View My Garage	Hi neonfish, I'm pasting my reply to the PM you had sent here for benefit of others. First thing you need to do is get the battery checked. By checked I mean tell the exide guys to use a gauge and measure the density in each of the cells. I'm sure HM guys can also do this. This will give you an idea is one of the 4 cells in the battery is weak. Just topping up and recharging will not tell you if the battery is good. If any of the 4 cells is weak i.e. lower density then the battery cannot whole charge and will discharge very quickly. Which means the battery needs changing. If all cells are good then you need to look into the car electricals more closely. Check the battery voltage when ignition is turned on. Is it close to 14V? After turning off does it go to 12V or lower? Also if you do need to replace go for Amaron preferably.
	() Thanks

16th December 2009, 12:37	#6
adrian BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 942 Thanked: 1,273 Times	Hi Neonfish...I had a similar situation with my Amby's old battery. The problem was with the started motor which had some sort of internal arching in the commutator which was squeezing the juice out of the old battery and the dynamo was not capable of charging the battery when the vehicle traveled for short distances. I had to replace the battery, replace the armature of the starter and I also replaced the dynamo with an alternator. My opinion is that you check your alternator, your starter motor and your battery itself for cell damage.
	() Thanks