Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 01 March 2010, 12:35:45
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My battery is only 6 months old..... and rated at 75 amps.....but recently it seems to lose about half it's charge every day.(about two hours to fully recharge again)......duff battery or charging problems?.
When I started the car yesterday..(with some difficulty).....the hazard flashers came on and stayed on for the drive home......could this be related?....
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Is there some sort of voltage regulator that that keeps the battery fully.....but not under or over charged...
Could this be faulty ......is it expensive?...Anyone please. :y :y :y
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Read this:
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1225724099
:)
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Hiya opto.,
The hazard flashers would perhaps be the alarm system detecting the low voltage state and 'going off'.....silently.
Check the voltage across the batt. with the engine running: generally if it`s in the 12.8V-13.8V. range then you have a charge.....much higher or much lower and that might indicate a voltage regulator issue.
Batteries can and do 'self-discharge', there was a time when maintenance-free battery types regularly exhibited this kind of failure; far more so than the refillable lead-acid types.....the sudden death syndrome and the self discharge in a battery 'on the brink' can also be greatly accelerated by ambient low-temperatures and v.cold starts followed by extended periods of use of lights, demister and fan/wipers etc.
If having checked for the obvious; boot/interior-lights/radio staying-on etc. then a failing battery would be my first thought: most good battery vendors would have a battery 'under-load' testing machine to use to check the batt. for you.
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Hiya opto.,
The hazard flashers would perhaps be the alarm system detecting the low voltage state and 'going off'.....silently.
Check the voltage across the batt. with the engine running: generally if it`s in the 12.8V-13.8V. range then you have a charge.....much higher or much lower and that might indicate a voltage regulator issue.
Batteries can and do 'self-discharge', there was a time when maintenance-free battery types regularly exhibited this kind of failure; far more so than the refillable lead-acid types.....the sudden death syndrome and the self discharge in a battery 'on the brink' can also be greatly accelerated by ambient low-temperatures and v.cold starts followed by extended periods of use of lights, demister and fan/wipers etc.
If having checked for the obvious; boot/interior-lights/radio staying-on etc. then a failing battery would be my first thought: most good battery vendors would have a battery 'under-load' testing machine to use to check the batt. for you.
Thanks Debs......I have just fished out my trusty Gunson Sparktune.
....it shows.......11.5v....engine off
just about 13.1/13.2v with the engine running.....it makes no difference if I rev the engine.... :-/ :-/....it is in the red band......alternator perhaps... :-*
......the green/O.K band is between 13.5-15v.......Hmmmm :-/
......switching everything on with the engine running drops the voltage to 12.9/13v........too low .......I think.
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Thanks Debs......I have just fished out my trusty Gunson Sparktune.
....it shows.......11.5v....engine off
just about 13.1/13.2v with the engine running.....it makes no difference if I rev the engine.... :-/ :-/....it is in the red band......alternator perhaps... :-*
......the green/O.K band is between 13.5-15v.......Hmmmm :-/
The 13.2 v. with the engine running would be acceptable. and does show a positive rate of charge.....but 11.5v. with engine off is much more concerning.
...I still think it`s the battery failing.
I`d trickle charge overnight; then in the morning, turn the headlights on for 15 seconds or so (to remove the 'surface' charge) and then check the latent voltage again. (all before any cranking/running of the engine).......if you still have less than 12-12.4v. then the battery is surely in trouble.
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I would say that it will charge the battery rather slowly at 13.2 volts. 13.8 to 14.5 is more typical, with Omegas normally delivering towards the top end IME (14v or more) when healthy. I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't hold its' own, especially in winter, at that charge rate.
Check the battery terminals for loose connections where the larger wires are crimped into the terminals (they will get hot if there is a poor connection).
Also try measuring the voltage directly at the alternator output if accessible.
Charging the battery properly on a mains charger and then checking condition is a good idea to eliminate a poor battery.
Kevin
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Thanks Debs......I have just fished out my trusty Gunson Sparktune.
....it shows.......11.5v....engine off
just about 13.1/13.2v with the engine running.....it makes no difference if I rev the engine.... :-/ :-/....it is in the red band......alternator perhaps... :-*
......the green/O.K band is between 13.5-15v.......Hmmmm :-/
The 13.2 v. with the engine running would be acceptable. and does show a positive rate of charge.....but 11.5v. with engine off is much more concerning.
...I still think it`s the battery failing.
I`d trickle charge overnight; then in the morning, turn the headlights on for 15 seconds or so (to remove the 'surface' charge) and then check the latent voltage again. (all before any cranking/running of the engine).......if you still have less than 12-12.4v. then the battery is surely in trouble.
I have very similar symptoms - about 13.5V with the engine running (which I thought was on the low side). 12.5 after a full charge. 11.95 the next day (just sitting on my drive overnight - no starts). Put headlights on and within 30s was dropping into single digits.
So unless something is draining it when the car is not running (power sounder has been removed), I reckon its the battery.
OP's sounds similar, although 6 months is too short lifetime - either faulty battery or something taking it out :-/
I agree with Deb - charge overnight and then try again.
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Thanks Debs......I have just fished out my trusty Gunson Sparktune.
....it shows.......11.5v....engine off
just about 13.1/13.2v with the engine running.....it makes no difference if I rev the engine.... :-/ :-/....it is in the red band......alternator perhaps... :-*
......the green/O.K band is between 13.5-15v.......Hmmmm :-/
The 13.2 v. with the engine running would be acceptable. and does show a positive rate of charge.....but 11.5v. with engine off is much more concerning.
...I still think it`s the battery failing.
I`d trickle charge overnight; then in the morning, turn the headlights on for 15 seconds or so (to remove the 'surface' charge) and then check the latent voltage again. (all before any cranking/running of the engine).......if you still have less than 12-12.4v. then the battery is surely in trouble.
Your help is much appreciated Debs...
Yep..... 11.5v does seem far too low......I would rather it be the battery than the alternator.
It has a four year guarantee......(only six months old).....so merely an inconvenience rather than a catastrophe........ :-*
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if you have or know some one that has a volt and amp meter fits in cig ligher can see what drain you have on the battery on a long run.
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Thanks Debs......I have just fished out my trusty Gunson Sparktune.
....it shows.......11.5v....engine off
just about 13.1/13.2v with the engine running.....it makes no difference if I rev the engine.... :-/ :-/....it is in the red band......alternator perhaps... :-*
......the green/O.K band is between 13.5-15v.......Hmmmm :-/
The 13.2 v. with the engine running would be acceptable. and does show a positive rate of charge.....but 11.5v. with engine off is much more concerning.
...I still think it`s the battery failing.
I`d trickle charge overnight; then in the morning, turn the headlights on for 15 seconds or so (to remove the 'surface' charge) and then check the latent voltage again. (all before any cranking/running of the engine).......if you still have less than 12-12.4v. then the battery is surely in trouble.
I have very similar symptoms - about 13.5V with the engine running (which I thought was on the low side). 12.5 after a full charge. 11.95 the next day (just sitting on my drive overnight - no starts). Put headlights on and within 30s was dropping into single digits.
So unless something is draining it when the car is not running (power sounder has been removed), I reckon its the battery.
OP's sounds similar, although 6 months is too short lifetime - either faulty battery or something taking it out :-/
I agree with Deb - charge overnight and then try again.
...thanks ....will do.......how much is a new alternator by the way?......and are they easy to fit. :y
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I would say that it will charge the battery rather slowly at 13.2 volts. 13.8 to 14.5 is more typical, with Omegas normally delivering towards the top end IME (14v or more) when healthy. I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't hold its' own, especially in winter, at that charge rate.
Check the battery terminals for loose connections where the larger wires are crimped into the terminals (they will get hot if there is a poor connection).
Also try measuring the voltage directly at the alternator output if accessible.
Charging the battery properly on a mains charger and then checking condition is a good idea to eliminate a poor battery.
Kevin
I concur Kevin....as already said the green band on the sparktune is 13.5-15v.......and with the cold weather etc.....etc.
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I wonder if with a dodgy battery the charging voltage would appear lower than normal?
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I wonder if with a dodgy battery the charging voltage would appear lower than normal?
Only if the battery were seriously loading the alternator. If the battery is not storing all that energy it's going somewhere so I would expect it to be venting / boiling in this case.
Most likely cause is a poor connection between alternator and battery or a failed regulator or diode pack within the alternator IMHO.
Kevin
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I wonder if with a dodgy battery the charging voltage would appear lower than normal?
I have seen this but the battery was very poorly!... IIRCC 3 cells were completely dry and the rest were very low :o :o :o