10-22-2020, 06:09 PM | #1 |
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Battery Discharge
Soooo a couple of weeks ago I had my car in the shop for an urelated issue. (It was in the body shop) and when I got the car back I see a message in the windshield, "battery discharged while (?)". Okay cool so I let it idle for a while, make a couple stops and headed to work. When I left work and started the car I noticed it turned over rather slowly. Couple days go by and one morning it was more chilly outside than usual and the car wouldn't start at all......
Eventually after pressing the start button it went ahead and started I then received another message in the windshield. "Higher or more battery discharge". Again I let the vehicle idle for a while and drove around for a period of time to let the car charge. I believe it may be time for a battery for my horse. With it being a '14 year model it was sold in 2013 and 7 years is a while to go without a battery. Keep in mind I do have sub and amp installed, probably 1000 rms. Any suggestions? All advice is appreciated. |
10-22-2020, 08:54 PM | #2 |
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Put the battery on a charger overnight. If it has a problem the next morning it's time to get a new battery. Do not take it to a dealer, they be thieves. The battery will have to be registered, so search around for a retailer that will do that for you. Dealers will charge you up to $150 to register a battery, a process that requires a very basic OBD tool and a whopping five minutes, but like I said, they be thieves.
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10-23-2020, 10:28 AM | #3 |
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Drives: 2014 328Xi GT, 2020 X3 MC
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Minnesota
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Get your self a CTEC battery charger and every couple months put it on overnight. It will keep your battery topped off and I bet it will last a few more years.
Just letting the car idle will not charge it enough. |
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10-23-2020, 10:57 AM | #4 |
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I plug in a battery maintainer every night when the temperature drops well below freezing, but considering the OP is in Mississippi he doesn't have to deal with that. He'd benefit from using a maintainer if his driving habits are in town only for short trips, and if that's the case using the maintainer should be done weekly.
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10-24-2020, 04:35 PM | #6 |
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A charger is usually rated at six amperes or more, being intended to take batteries from fully discharged to a full charge in a day or less. A maintainer is one to two amperes, being intended to top off a battery that's partially discharged, and to power a car when the car isn't running, so the battery won't be discharged. That's because modern cars with their electronics are never totally 'off'. I have one of these, which runs as a maintainer at two amps or as a charger at eight amps, on sale at a very good price today: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1
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10-25-2020, 11:38 AM | #8 |
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Bill fits it happened again last night. Only this time, it damn near didn't want to crank at all..... started throwing all kinds of warnings; rear spoiler; drivetrain malfunction; it was really bad. Eventually got her to turn over and she was whistling..... made it home turned her off and cranked her again with not problem. Help me out my brother
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10-25-2020, 11:48 AM | #9 | ||
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Quote:
https://billfitzmaurice.info/images/...gative lug.jpg https://billfitzmaurice.info/images/...sitive lug.jpg Run the wire to the lower grille, put a quick connector there, zip tie the connector to the grille. Plug the connector from the charger in there. Use split loom plastic tubing to wrap the wire (first photo), incorporating as much of the existing wiring as well to protect it. Quote:
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10-27-2020, 10:00 AM | #10 |
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Billfitz I'm curious about why you don't use the cigarette/DC accessory plug with your unit. Is it just to avoid constantly shutting the door on the cord since you're using it all the time? Or were you concerned about the 8 amps flowing back on that circuit?
f34guy It's very possible you're still on the original battery. My car was a 14 model originally sold in Dec 2013, and the original battery is still hanging in there, but with a short commute I do have to top it off periodically, esp when it's cold. |
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10-27-2020, 11:22 AM | #11 | |
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Quote:
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11-06-2020, 11:56 PM | #12 |
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Okay so I've purchased a charger, can I connect it under the hood or do I have to charge it through the trunk? And what mode should I charge it in under the hood? AGM or Standard? If I need to charge it from the trunk what mode AGM or Standard?
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11-07-2020, 04:34 AM | #13 | |
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As for the mode, I'd guess AGM mode, but not 100% sure. |
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11-07-2020, 07:39 AM | #14 |
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11-13-2020, 10:49 AM | #15 |
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It's an AGM battery, so you would choose that regardless of where you hooked it up. Hood is easiest, even on a one-off charge without running the quick connect, I hook the alligator clip up to the positive post under the red cap, and if you don't want to pull that cover to find the negative lug, just clip the black one onto a nearby bolt (such as one of the three suspension bolts). Turns out the cig adapter is only active for a short time until the car goes to sleep.
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11-13-2020, 11:17 AM | #16 |
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The negative lug under the hood is in plain sight.
https://billfitzmaurice.info/images/...tive%20lug.jpg |
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11-16-2020, 01:19 AM | #17 |
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Indeed, the one you referenced is exposed a few feet up the frame. However depending on the charger, those of us using alligator clips may find the leads are not long enough to reach that post.
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