battery issue

charlandk · #1 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010, 06:44 AM

I have a new BDR # 866. The battery in the newer models have been relocated to inside the drivers side rear fender well. After going for a ride (more so on hot days) the car will have a very difficult time turning over and I have had to ask for a jump start a couple times. The voltage meter shows that the battery is at full charge and when I put my charger on the battery it shows that it is fully charged. I remove my battery shut off as soon as I turn off the car to save the juice but I still am experiencing this problem. Is anyone else having the same issue?

I took the ground off the frame, cleaned it to bare metal, added dielectric grease and reconnected the negative ground but no help.

Rwillia4 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010, 08:54 AM

What is your engine advance set at?

charlandk · #3 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010, 09:21 AM

i believe it is set at about 34 degrees but Jay could answer that better

Clois Harlan · #4 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010, 11:55 AM

How heavy of a wire do you have for a ground from your engine to your frame?

vector1 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010, 12:40 PM

i was fighting a similiar problem. take the battery out and have it checked.

mln385 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010, 05:33 PM

I have a spare battery in the garage if you want to hook up.

Cashburn · #7 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010, 05:45 PM

Well if the battery we gave you now does not cut it, you may need to practice starting a car with a carb

charlandk · #8 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010, 05:53 PM

I find it difficult to start any car, carb or FI with a dead battery.

Please thank Brian for coming out to replace my slave cylinder, fix my door pocket and replace my battery with the new one. I truely appreciate all of his help. He is a great guy!

I will let you know how the new battery works out. Since the problem seems to be isolated to my car, I am guessing that it was a some what defective battery. Possibly a dead cell.

Thanks again for the great customer service.

vector1 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010, 06:43 PM

if it's only when hot it would point to a heat related issue, maybe the starter.

my bad battery would show about 12.4+ volts when charged but would slowly lose voltage, even though the volt meter in the car would show 14 volts (alternator charging) and it would start marginally when hot.

Cashburn · #10 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010, 07:04 PM

You know I'm kidding. Glad we can help. I am guessing a bad cell on the battery. See how this new sucker works. It was only $300 or so

Starter is next, but hope not...

BDR879 · #11 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010, 10:21 PM

I have BDR 879 and had the same issue. When we first tried to turn the car over the battery was dead. We charged it overnight and it was good for a month or 2 (20-30 starts) then crapped out again. I didn't wan't to screw with it anymore so I replaced it with an Odyssey 1200T....so far, so good.

So maybe it was a bad batch of batteries since our cars came off the production line about the same time????

Cashburn · #12 (**permalink**) 07-10-2010, 09:51 AM

Just a friendly reminder for BDR owners over build #800 or so:

If you leave your fan switch on (manual override), even with the car off, the fan will continue to run until you either drain the battery or realize you left it on.

As long as the manual switch is off the fan will only run on until temp. switch shuts off with temperature. Factory change around car 800, not mine. Enjoy.

BDR879 · #13 (**permalink**) 07-10-2010, 10:13 AM

Thanks Jay and so noted.

My fan was not in the manual override position at any time.

Another Q for you though....If the battery cutoff switch is turned off and the key removed, doesn't that isolate the battery from any other power draws?

charlandk · #14 (**permalink**) 07-10-2010, 10:58 AM

My fan switch was in the off position also and I always take the battery cut off out to avoid any further battery run down. My volt meter would read at about 14 showing a full charge, but it would either crank over very slow or a couple times not at all.
I am thinking that it was a bad batch of batteries if it is happening to others with similar car #'s.

I have a new battery now but it is raining too much today. I will be going for a long ride tomorrow so after, I should know if the new battery is a fix for the problem.

Cashburn · #15 (**permalink**) 07-10-2010, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDR879

Thanks Jay and so noted.

My fan was not in the manual override position at any time.

Another Q for you though....If the battery cutoff switch is turned off and the key removed, doesn't that isolate the battery from any other power draws?

If you remove red flag key it is all off. Since you have installed a big old hot and bothered FE you may have some more heat to deal with. What starter are you using?

BDR879 · #16 (**permalink**) 07-10-2010, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlandk

My fan switch was in the off position also and I always take the battery cut off out to avoid any further battery run down. My volt meter would read at about 14 showing a full charge, but it would either crank over very slow or a couple times not at all.
I am thinking that it was a bad batch of batteries if it is happening to others with similar car #'s.

I have a new battery now but it is raining too much today. I will be going for a long ride tomorrow so after, I should know if the new battery is a fix for the problem.

Took mine out today for a 45 minute sort out run it a bit yesterday also....Fired right up each and every time. I am with you....probably a bad batch of batteries.

Jay, mine was dead from the time we recieved it and had to put an overnight charge on it to get it to go. Not a starter issue according to my engine builder as the new 1200 cranking amp Odyssey looks to be doing the trick.

Cashburn · #17 (**permalink**) 07-10-2010, 08:39 PM

Still a valid question... what starter are you using?

cbreez · #18 (**permalink**) 07-10-2010, 09:15 PM

If you show a full charge on the battery and can't crank...another problem. Have you checked for a dead short on the system?

I dont know much about the new location of the batteries, mines in the trunk, but the cheap battery that mine came with has lasted 4 years. These cars come with very little charging system drain, no ac, radio, etc.

How thick is your cable?

BDR879 · #19 (**permalink**) 07-11-2010, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cashburn

Since you have installed a big old hot and bothered FE

I prefer "booming and bodacious" myself

I'm sure the starter is fine, but I'll get the details for you and post it soon.

BDR879 · #20 (**permalink**) 07-13-2010, 07:00 PM

Jay,

Its a Powermaster Mastertorque starter.