My battery's sudden death

[billcu]

I was doing some local errands in my green Mark. On the way home, I noticed that my wipers were going slow. Then I noticed my window was going slow too.

When I was about a mile from home, it really started acting up (like I've read here many times) the ABS light started blinking, then the heater control started turning on and off.

I didn't want this to be the first time I was stranded on the side of the road in one of my Marks, so I turned off my heater and radio, put it in second gear and hurried to my driveway. I never got an alternator light or message center warning.

It made it OK but, I tried to start it in the driveway and it didn't even click the solenoid. Then I measured the battery voltage. Yep, 10 volts.

This battery came with the car when I bought it. I found the recipt and it was bought in 2001. I put a load tester on the battery and it's shot.

I bought a new battery and it's OK now. 14.6 volts when running (I replaced the alternator, with a PA Performance, 2 years ago).

The same thing happened with my red Mark about 5 years ago. It still has the original alternator though.

I've had batteries die before on other cars but they usually give you a bit of a warning first. With my Marks, it's been very sudden. No slow cranking or any other warning.

Time to put the load tester on my red Mark now..

 

[Roadboss]

RE: My battery's sudden death

Thats is very typical from my experience with my Marks. I belive what really happens is that they run until they meet that magical 10 V threshold and then the computor says "No More Starts for You". Glad you made it home, being stranded on I-75 scares the Hell out of me.

 

[driller]

RE: My battery's sudden death

With the PA Performance alternator, did you upgrade the power wire?

http://www.pa-performance.com/images/items/65.jpg

In Summary, the OEM wire from the alternator to the vehicle was not designed to carry the added load of higher amp alternators.

http://www.pa-performance.com/display.asp?sku=65

What I see happen a lot on FLM vehicles is the battery does not get the required charging due to wiring or terminal corrosion. This usually results in a dead cell which then requires the battery to be replaced. In such replacement operation, the terminals and or wiring is repaired to allow optimum charging.

Another common malady is an intermittent break in the alternator regulator harness. A wiggle test while the engine is running and the system being monitored with a DVM and/or ammeter will usually tell the tale. The cure is splicing in a new harness connector.

 

[billcu]

RE: My battery's sudden death

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
With the PA Performance alternator, did you upgrade the power wire?http://www.pa-performance.com/images/items/65.jpgIn Summary, the OEM wire from the alternator to the vehicle was not designed to carry the added load of higher amp alternators.http://www.pa-performance.com/display.asp?sku=65What I see happen a lot on FLM vehicles is the battery does not get the required charging due to wiring or terminal corrosion. This usually results in a dead cell which then requires the battery to be replaced. In such replacement operation, the terminals and or wiring is repaired to allow optimum charging.Another common malady is an intermittent break in the alternator regulator harness. A wiggle test while the engine is running and the system being monitored with a DVM and/or ammeter will usually tell the tale. The cure is splicing in a new harness connector.
[/div]

I replaced the regulator pigtail wire when I put the alternator in.

I checked the alternator wire and it looks good. The battery terminals are original and I keep them clean. I'm actually suprised at how good they still are.

It's just the 130 amp alternator so I think I'm ok with my stock wiring (stock JBL sound.).