Re: 5ktq...batt keeps dying!

[Aleksander Mierzwa <alex@matrix.pl>]

At 13:54 28.10.98 EST, Daniel Hussey wrote:

>   A friend of mine (not on the list) just bought an '86 5KCSTQ and everytime
>he parks, he comes back and his battery is completely dead.  I mean, even if
>it only sits for like 10 minutes.  He doesn't know what keeps killing it and
>he's very upset because he said that if it doesn't get fixed soon and out of
>the driveways his dad is going to wholesale it.
>   Anyone have any ideas on what could be killing the battery this fast!  Or
>any ideas of how to find out.  This is NOT a slow leak, so I'd think it would
>be easier to detect.

Dan,
there's no way you can discharge a fully charged battery in 10 minutes
without starting a fire. Let's calculate, the battery in 5KTQ is usually
65Ah, so to drain it in 10min you would need 65*6=390amps. This sort of
current would melt the wiring and possibly cause the battery to explode,
not to mention the car wouldn't run, as the alternator can supply only
90amps. There are two major causes of this sort of problems:
a) Bad battery. A really old battery simply won't hold the charge.
b) No charging. This might be caused by bad connections at battery or
alternator, problem with infamous wire splice in passenger's footwell or
faulty alternator.
My advice is to check the voltage at the positive post in the engine
compartment and at the battery, engine running. Both should differ by no
more than 0.1V and shold read no less than 13V. If this checks out OK, then
replace the battery and problem should be solved.

Aleksander Mierzwa
Warsaw, Poland
mailto:alex@matrix.pl
87 Audi 5000CS turbo (mine)
88 Renault Medallion wagon (mom's)
91 mountain bike (just in case both cars broke at the same time :-)