Charging Battery In Car

[James k]

Hi,
My car was rather sluggish turning over today and even on restarting after a good drive, it turned over slowly. I need to drive the car up to Gatwick very early on Wednesday so I'm dreading it not starting. I've decided that I'm going to have to change over to an alternator since it's my only car, I do mainly town driving and mainly when it's dark but I can't do that before Wednesday. My question is, can I hook a battery charger up to the battery while it's still in the car? I really don't want to have to put the battery in or even refit the terminals at 4am.

Thanks,
James

[The vast minority]

Buy a new battery, simple as that.

Of course you can charge the battery in situ but if it's still struggling after a drive when it's charged up and the oil is thin then it is simply time for a new one.

An Alternator isn't any better at charging than a dynamo so don't get caught in that trap of crap aftermarket parts.

Summary, new battery is all you need.

Al

[James k]

It refused to turn over this morning. I replaced the battery earlier in the year so I don't think that's the problem. It never has a problem starting usually but after a couple of days of stop-start driving in the dark and the rain, the battery has gone flat. I can't see how that can't be the dynamo's fault. I've got hold of a charger so I'm going to leave that connected overnight.

[kennatt]

If you take it to any good motor factor(I would avoid some large multi outlets without naming) They will easily check the state of the battery and charging system.Its not unknown for some batteries only lasting a year or so.And an alternator will cope better with stop start short runs and winter motoring with lights heater and wipers going .

[bmcecosse]

Meantime -check the fan belt is tight enough - but not too tight. And don't have the headlights on when in town traffic!

[The vast minority]

It refused to turn over this morning. I replaced the battery earlier in the year so I don't think that's the problem. It never has a problem starting usually but after a couple of days of stop-start driving in the dark and the rain, the battery has gone flat. I can't see how that can't be the dynamo's fault. I've got hold of a charger so I'm going to leave that connected overnight.

It could indeed be the Dynamo, but that's easily fixed too. It still isn't worth swapping for a crappy alternator kit of dubious quality. They worked in the 70's, they will work now. It used to get dark and rained a lot then so nothing has changed.

When you get it going, put a tester across the battery and measure charging volts and let us know.

As said above, batteries can fail in no time, is it a cheapie?

One last point, when you get home and switch it off, try starting it again straight away, does it burst into life? If so, it's not the charging system, the battery is loosing it's charge overnight.

Simples

Al

[Trickydicky]

To help the charging system in the colder weather when the oil is thick I start mine with the crank handle. With electronic ignition and a healthy 12v feed it starts very easily.
The starter first thing on a morning after 2 or 3 attempts can easily drain the battery and without a good run to recharge it can soon ruin it.

[aupickup]

I put alternater on my every day car and had no problems in starting in the winter
lights on heater on and still good
I would say one of the most sensible upgrades to an every day car

[James k]

I've got the battery on charge now. I tried to crank start it this evening but it didn't work. Hopefully it'll turn over tomorrow morning! I've also got hold of a jump starter pack just in case so it should be all right. I did manage to put a big scratch in my perfect bonnet though by closing the garage door with it open I will get the battery checked next week but I really suspect that the problem is that it isn't charging properly. I started it straight away when it was warmed up yesterday and it did start but it struggled to turn over.

I know that these cars were driven in the same conditions in the 70s but as far as I know, it was much more common for them not to start and to get flat batteries than it is now. Hence why I'd like to upgrade.

[alanworland]

In my 'just married' days and no money I went through a complete winter with a battery that would just about operate the headlights.
Used to start the engine using the starting handle, worked a treat and very easy.

Alan

[aupickup]

and who wants to use the starting handle every day in the coldest winters

[bmcecosse]

And did you check the fan belt is tight enough? I agree an alternator is the way forward - just that you don't have time to fit it for tomorrow morning. Meantime - park at the top of a hill for a free 'push' start! A dynamo is fine for a 'summer week-ends' Minor - but if being used in heavy traffic - stop start - heater/wipers/lights on (but do minimise the use of headlights) it will struggle to keep the battery up unless used on the open road quite a bit. An ammeter is a really useful meter to have -almost as important as an oil pressure gauge!

[greendefender123]

Iv fitted this to my land rover http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Battery-Isola ... SwpDdVC-2P

You just unscrew the nob abit when you put it on charge. You can also remove if completely for an extra theft device. I find in the landy in winter that short journeys of a mile or 2 with lights wipers and heater on that it could do with an extra boost every month or so. This device just means less faffing around with the terminals.

Steve

[James k]

I'm back from Germany now and I'm pleased to say that the car started fine in the morning after charging the battery and also started at the airport today it also gave a very impressive performance on the motorway! The fan belt was a little bit loose so that might have contributed to the problem. I imagine it's had a good charge today though after the drive home in the light.

[bmcecosse]

Be aware - if the belt has been slipping, even though you didn't hear it squealing - it could now be liable to break. Make sure you have a spare... in the car.