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car won't start (battery completley dead thru winter)
Posted: March 23rd, 2005, 3:36 am
by darkness
Hrmmmmm,
Yesterday, trying to start my mx3 up after being put away for the winter (3 months), decided not to start.
The battery is completely dead (is this normal)? Battery is brand new too, just got it like 1/2 year ago.
anyways, thought of jump cablling it and drive it arond to give it a
full recharge of the battery.
Right now, I'm afraid the battery would not even charge, alternator problem.
Any good suggestions to determine if a alternator is dead?
Thanks in advance,
Vincent.
Posted: March 23rd, 2005, 5:22 am
by jrors
When you let a car sit up for that long, there's always the chance of the battery losing power,......... sometimes to the point where, even if you tried to charge it up, the battery cells could be so low in power that it is impossible for it to ever charge again. IMO, take the battery out and go to a auto parts store so they can test it for you. I'm sure that either you're battery is just in need of a good charge, or, you just need a new battery.
As far as the alternator is concerned, you can either take it out and have it tested at the auto parts store, or you could drive it to them......... if possible.
Posted: March 23rd, 2005, 8:25 am
by 92rsmx-3
if you can get it to an auto parts store they can test it for you
Posted: March 23rd, 2005, 12:09 pm
by jschrauwen
Did it sit outside for the entire winter/3 months. I know Toronto doesn't stay really cold all winter but perhaps during some of those real cold snaps we had, that a cell or 2 may have froze up to the point that it may have pooched a few of the plates inside. That said, it may still take a charge, albeit a small one, but just enough to give the impression that everything is OK, when in fact it's not. Bringing the battery inside and place on a slow trickle charge for a day should reveal something. Followed by normal charging. It would be a good idea to check the battery fluid level and top up with demineralized water prior to charging. OR, like the rest of the posts suggest, take it down to an Auto Centre and have them check it out. They'll be able to tell you if there are pooched cells, whether it will take the necessary charge, and will do a load test as well. Hope this helps.
And if it wasn't outside all winter, then you can disregard just about everything I said....LOL
Posted: March 23rd, 2005, 1:03 pm
by Typhoonk
when you let a car sit for that long u should take out the battery. Too make sure you don't put extra load on your alternator I would just pick up another battery ( unless you have time, to let the battery warm up to room temperature then slow charge it).
I am out in Oshawa, but I got a battery you can have if you want to pick it up - The asking price is a 20 pack of McNuggests ...... hmmmm nuggets
Posted: March 23rd, 2005, 1:12 pm
by TekPmp
[quote=" The asking price is a 20 pack of McNuggests ...... hmmmm nuggets"[/quote]
rofl gotta love the mx-3 community
Posted: March 25th, 2005, 1:36 pm
by jschrauwen
Typhoonk wrote:The asking price is a 20 pack of McNuggests ...... hmmmm nuggets
Can you SUPERSIZE that... 
Posted: March 25th, 2005, 4:48 pm
by darkness
Thanks for the advice guys,
It turned out all it needed was a recharge....
Now I can put my blitz sides on and thinking of buying some clear turn signals.....anyone in Toronto selling em?!?!
PM ME...
Vince.
Posted: March 26th, 2005, 3:09 pm
by neutral
darkness wrote:Thanks for the advice guys, It turned out all it needed was a recharge....
Cool. FWIW, lead acid batteries can't sit too long or they'll lose it. My Mx-3 stays in the driveway for periods during winter but has to be started & run for a while every 10 days-2wks or so. Hafta go with a gel type (like Optima) if you want CCA starting power after long periods of sitting.
http://www.dcbattery.com/gel.html