1996 850 GLT Wagon - Time for a battery replacement?

s2zeller · Post by **s2zeller** » 25 Oct 2015, 12:47

This has probably been asked a million times (though I did search the forum)...

I tried to start my car this morning (after it sat for about a month, and putting in a new fuel pump yesterday) and got nothing. Fuel pressure is now good.

Measuring the voltage across the battery (4.5 year old Diehard Gold), I had 10V. So, I jumped it and the voltage climbed to 12V+. With the car still connected to our idling S60, I tried to start it. After the third time, it almost started. I then tried a couple of more times since it seemed so close, but no dice.

I measured the voltage again while still connected, and it had dropped to ~10V. I was going to retry starting the car about half an hour later, but the jump wouldn't push the voltage past ~10.5V so I decided to not even bother.

I'm assuming I lost a cell and this battery needs to be replaced.

Just find it odd to have the battery die just after the fuel pump did (tho' that happened before on a '91 Jetta I had); I was getting 12V+ and zero fuel pressure when I diagnosed the pump.

Post by **abscate** » 25 Oct 2015, 14:02

Put the battery on a slow charge overnight, let rest for 30 minutes, then check voltage.

If you have a drain, the battery will discharge but may still have some life left. Worth a shot.

Post by **FLXC90** » 25 Oct 2015, 14:18

+1 on what the mod said
Keep in mind, all the time you were troubleshooting the dead pump, you were cranking the battery, but not charging it, then it sat, and got cold.. give it some love and see what happens

Post by **tryingbe** » 25 Oct 2015, 15:11

4.5 years, if it is not dead now, it will be soon. Change it.

Post by **erikv11** » 25 Oct 2015, 15:57

If by soon you mean in about 2.5 years, then agreed.

4.5 years is not so old for a quality, non-abused car battery.

Post by **RussB** » 25 Oct 2015, 16:31

With the car idling you should see 13+ volts across a charged battery.

Clean the terminals, and fully charge the battery. Try again and get a voltage measurement across the battery terminals

Post by **abscate** » 25 Oct 2015, 19:15

If it sat discharged for one month, that killed it. That will kill a new battery too, btw.

Post by **cn90** » 25 Oct 2015, 20:59

My experience with recent battery (Autozone) has been poor, three (3) years and they are no good. Went through quite a few Duralast batteries for my Volvo, BMW, Honda.

Once the battery is discharged, its life is shortened.

Best bang for the buck is Exide L3 (Home Depot, Menards has it), about $95.
In contrast the junk Autozone Duralast battery is now $140.

Post by **erikv11** » 25 Oct 2015, 22:17

Wow that is a bummer, good to know to avoid those. In the last ~15 years I have only bought car batteries from Costco or Sam's club, those have been living up to the 8 year or whatever warranties. I did end up exchanging one at like year 5 but in retrospect I think I killed it with a bad alternator.