Posted on 12/21/2009 10:21:36 AM PST by La Lydia
Okay, I need some advice from you guys who know about cars. I always have had Sears Die-Hard batteries, but this time last year, my battery (which was a couple of years past its warranty) died and I called AAA to come rescue me. They sold me a new battery, I think it cost about $100, and installed it on the spot. Today when I tried to start my car, after the DC blizzard of 2009, the battery would turn over, very slowly, but the car wouldn't start. So I had to call AAA again, and now I am sitting here waiting for their 3-hour time frame and for someone to show up. They are supposed to be bringing me another battery, because the one that wouldn't start my car is under warranty. But I don't want one of their crappy batteries, I want to go back to Sears, or somewhere, and get a good one. I don't think it ever got below 20 degrees here, so I don't understand why that should be such an issue. I think the batteries AAA sells are inferior products. Shall I risk getting a jump-start and trying to get to Sears (about 10 miles, still snowy roads), or shall I let them replace this one when they get here? Please advise.
If you plan to visit Sears, you might want to call first and make sure they have your battery in stock.
take the free battery but plan to get a new one in autumn. also, depending on the age of your vehicle, a new starter may be in order rather than a new battery...
I’d go to Sears, but I’d get a reimbursement from AAA if anything came out-of-pocket for you. I’d also keep an eye out for when your car insurance bill comes in, just to make sure you haven’t been charged any extras.
AAA is probably ‘recycling’ inferior quality batteries, given the high demand for them.
Type of Car?
Parked outside in the cold?
without knowing anything about the vehicle, sounds like you might have some parasite in the electrical system draining the batt.
Then, if you need a battery, go get one of your choice.
AAA battery?
I put at least a D cell in my car. :)
It might not be the battery. It could just the battery cables are old and/or corroded or it could be your starter or it could be your alternator could be going and not charging the battery properly.
I'd recommend having AAA tow you to Sears and then get a Die Hard which comes with a warranty. That or you could get a friend to take you to Sears and bring you back.
Call ahead to make sure they've got what you need in stock, have them charge it up for you, then bring it home and install it yourself.
While you're at Sears, pick up a trickle charger that has a 50 amp boost setting. Then you'll be able to jump yourself in the future.
Do you have a fuzz buster or some other plug in device that takes power out of the battery while the car is turned off ? Unplug these when they’re not in use...
Battery may be good. Any number of other things will cause that problem. Alternator belt may be loose so battery will not re charge. Alternator may be bad. There could be a short in the wiring so the battery will discharge while it is sitting. Happy Hunting!.
sometimes having a marginaly working alternator will dod this.
Has it occurred to you that it might not be the battery?
Could you have a bad alternator?
Could you be making short trips that don’t allow charging of the battery?
Could you have something draining the battery? IPOD, cell phone?
Could you have something that is puncturing a hole in the bottom of your batteries?
I would suggest investing in a jump starter. Particularity if you could be caught in an unsafe area.
Or since you already have AAA have them jump start you.
A cheap volt meter will tell if once running the alternator is charging the battery.
Sears or Auto Zone will tell you if the battery you have is any good.
Must be one of them new fangled cars that the gubmnt is churning out.
Had to get a new battery recently after a cold snap, because I drained it last summer with the lights...
then last week the starter packed it in, but I thought it was the battery at first. Symptoms can be confusing, but if the lights work, and don’t dim while cranking, it could be a bum starter. I made my mechanic very happy this Christmas.
Check the water level in the battery if it is a serviceable type. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen batteries with little to no water having hard starts.
In my car it was the starter ... I was told a bad winding. It acted like a dead battery - sometimes it would turn over real slow like a weak battery - starter replaced, problem solved ... you might want to check that out ....
Just made a mechanic happy with an electrical problem in my truck so I feel your pain.
No new battery will work if you have a problem such as this. This sounds like an alternator problem, where the alternator is not producing full voltage due to a weak armacher or brushes.
Have these checked before you get another battery replacement. The new battery is likely o.k. and just needs to be fully charged. If a battery does not freeze due to a weakened charge, it is fully recoverable.
It may not be a battery problem. If your terminals are corroded, the charge generated by your car can’t get to the battery and it runs down. It may be as simple as giving your terminals and connectors a good cleaning. Many batteries are sold due to dirty terminals when it is not the battery at all. Regardless once they are cleaned, you will still need a jump to get it going again. Good luck.
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