Urgent Help needed from car people!

[Whoey]

So previously I had an issue where my battery in my 2007 Ford Focus had a slightly loose connection... this was due to the fact that I bought the car second hand from a GM (Opel) dealer, they had swapped for a GM battery. It's been about 3 years, and I suspected the battery was not new when they installed it, plus the issue of it moving around in the battery box as it's too tall to use the latching mechanism (which I partially solved by stuffing a medium sized super bouncy ball in the gap in the battery box behind it).

Today I went to start and lights work, but all I get is a machine gun like repeated clicking sound. I tried pulling off both battery terminals and giving them a good brushing with a wire brush, but still no difference.

So is it likely the battery? My limited Googling has said it's likely either the battery (or alternator not providing enough charge to the battery).

A friend of ours will likely come over to boost us later this afternoon...

[dks]

It seems like a dead/flat battery. Just enough charge for the lights but not enough to start the engine

[dks]

If you have a voltmeter, and can start the car, you can see if the alternator is working.

[Whoey]

It doesn't start. At least not on it's own.

[dks]

check the battery voltage. if it is under 12V then you have a problem with it, but you will not know if it just went flat, due to some leakage or whether it is dead..

Find someone strong to push-start the car 

There will be some mechanics here soon. 

[IcarusForde]

Sounds like it's just a flat, yeah. Lights all off, no aircon/fans left on?

Sounds like it is pretty flat right now but after a boost it should be okay. That being said, if there's somewhere around you that can do a battery health check - we have a bundle of them here - might be worth getting that done and looking at getting a new one if its still playing up after the boost?

[dks]

once you get it started, if the alternator is working you should be getting 14V+ across the poles.

you then have to charge the battery and see if it will keep any charge, or just go flat quickly.

[Whoey]

check the battery voltage. if it is under 12V then you have a problem with it, but you will not know if it just went flat, due to some leakage or whether it is dead..

Find someone strong to push-start the car 

There will be some mechanics here soon. 

Underground garage, not much space to jump start...

[Whoey]

getting lots of exercise on the stairs up and down to the garage...

11.9 v across the terminals, 11.7 after I turned the lights and Vent on full for a minute (and off before I checked the voltage), lights dimmed a lot when I put on the air, so it defo looks like a battery issue.

[wjruth]

Dead Battery - time for a new one

[Mike 56]

Sounds like the battery is bad won't hold a charge. Charge the battery and have it load tested. Also have the alternator checked and fan belt checked. It is not uncommon for a weak alternator to finish off a weak battery. Here in the states auto parts stores will test these parts for free.

[Whoey]

I have no issue changing it... what's doing my head in right now is trying to find the correct dimension battery to replace the GM/OPEL branded one that's currently in there that is too narrow, too short and too tall to properly close the enclosure.

[pfrsantos]

Sounds like the battery is bad won't hold a charge. Charge the battery and have it load tested. Also have the alternator checked and fan belt checked. It is not uncommon for a weak alternator to finish off a weak battery. Here in the states auto parts stores will test these parts for free.

This. I had some trouble some time ago and it was the alternator, not the battery.

[Whoey]

If I replace the battery and can at least start it, it gives me the chance to take it in for the maintenance I had planned to have done, and thus have the alternator checked then.

Think I finally found some dimensions, not easily I might add... 

[Mike 56]

A parts house will know what group size battery that will fit your car correctly. Remember the older the car the better the battery. Buy the best battery you can afford. Two year battery's will let you down. Three year are ok from there that get a lot better.

[Crow]

Do you travel short distance, like in city? Or go highway occationally? I have Ford Mondeo, once awhile it does just the same. Battery is year and half old. It does that because short city drives, alternator just can not charge battery on short drives. You should charge your battery once awhile with good charger.

One thing can be, that if your battery is open one, your battery water could be low, and that why it does not take full charge. Remembering that it is not tab water you put in, and there is max level to fill it.

You can go to battery manufacturers site, and give your registration number, and they point what kind of battery you need. On site you can see dimensions and is it left or right positive/handed battery.Even parts shop can look it up for you.

You can check your alternator by taking elecktrik meter to positive and negative. It should be somewhere 11,5-12,5V. Then start your car. Now meter should go up from 13V wich is lo,  up to 14,5V.

[SAKnight]

One important thing to remember for anyone, is if your car turns over slow, like the battery is kinda old/low, it's important to charge/change it, as it's easy to fry your alternator with too low of a power supply. I've seen the insides of an alternator dripping out to prove it

[ducttapetech]

Here is one way to test the alternator, get the car fired up with a new battery, once it is running, pull the positive terminal off the battery. If it is still running, the alternator is charging.
I am pretty sure most fords still use an open charging system.

Nate
That's us mobile

[Crow]

Here is one way to test the alternator, get the car fired up with a new battery, once it is running, pull the positive terminal off the battery. If it is still running, the alternator is charging.
I am pretty sure most fords still use an open charging system.

Nate
That's us mobile

But is it charging enough? That you can not know with this method. I recon 9,5V is good to keep car running, but it will not get it started, or charge battery full.

[Whoey]

New higher spec battery in place. Got a 80 Ah 12V, 740A Carrefour branded (which is apparently rebranded Varta Blue brand) which is replacing the GM 70 Ah that was in there. New battery fits perfectly... no need for rubber ball gap filler

12.79v reading off it, 14.25v while the engine is running.

After install the car started no problem as per normal, also tried lights while engine not running and turning on the ventilation fans full no change in lights as before.

I was planning to take the car in later this month (after San Fermin finishes) to have the oil changed and possibly replace the shocks before my vehicle inspection is due in the fall. Will have them check the alternator then.

Thanks for your advice guys!

[SAKnight]

Also, an alternator won't recharge a dead battery. It will some, sure, but if drained, a battery should be placed on a charger, as alternators are more for recovery than charging, plus rarely do you drive enough to actually charge your battery.

[dks]

your alternator seems fine, by the running voltage.

You should now try and charge your old battery, if you want to still keep it, by putting it back in its place and leaving the car running for a while, or going for a drive (take the spare battery with you, just in case..     )

[Mr. Whippy]

Just to toss in here, 36 months is a pretty standard lifespan for mid level car batteries.  This all has to do with how much acid solution is in the battery case.  Batteries only have so many cycles.  I would not be suspicious of the alternator (and the 14.25V reading with the car running further supports this).  The old battery may have just run its course.
 

[Whoey]

yep, that pretty much covers how I feel about. The old one is going to the recycler. I don't have another car so there's no point in keeping it around for kicks and giggles. New one is superior spec, and actually fits in the battery box.

I'm happy with the result, and kind of glad it decided to die in my underground garage than out and about somewhere...

[Crow]

yep, that pretty much covers how I feel about. The old one is going to the recycler. I don't have another car so there's no point in keeping it around for kicks and giggles. New one is superior spec, and actually fits in the battery box.

I'm happy with the result, and kind of glad it decided to die in my underground garage than out and about somewhere...

That is right thing to do. No use to keep broken things around. It keeps safety hazard around.

[gregozedobe]

Another possibility is you have a parasitic drain (something is using electricity when you aren't using the car). Most common causes are after market stereo systems, alarms or modifications to lights.  You obviously have access to a voltmeter, so the easiest way is to check the battery voltage after the car has been sitting for 1/2 hour or so, then 12 hours or more later.  If it drops significantly between the two (eg goes under ~12.25V on the new battery) then you most likely have parasitic drain.  You will need to find the cause and fix it, otherwise your new battery won't help (for long).

It is also worth remembering that lead acid batteries HATE being fully discharged - it damages them and reduces their capacity, even the so-called "deep cycle" batteries.  So your old battery is probably only really good for re-cycling.

I would NEVER run a modern car without a battery in the circuit, these days many of the ECUs are quite intolerant of over-voltage, and the battery acts as a substantial soak for any voltage spikes.

[Whoey]

I changed the stereo about a month after I got the car... if it took 3 years for the parasitic drain to do this, I've had a good run!

[ducttapetech]

Here is one way to test the alternator, get the car fired up with a new battery, once it is running, pull the positive terminal off the battery. If it is still running, the alternator is charging.
I am pretty sure most fords still use an open charging system.

Nate
That's us mobile

But is it charging enough? That you can not know with this method. I recon 9,5V is good to keep car running, but it will not get it started, or charge battery full.

True, however it works most of the time. Also a good way to check if you don't have any meters around. Most vehicles, or the ones I have fixed, if the alternator is not running at optimum, the engine will generally die or run rough.

Also, glad you got your ride fixed.
Nate
That's us mobile

[Crow]

Here is one way to test the alternator, get the car fired up with a new battery, once it is running, pull the positive terminal off the battery. If it is still running, the alternator is charging.
I am pretty sure most fords still use an open charging system.

Nate
That's us mobile

But is it charging enough? That you can not know with this method. I recon 9,5V is good to keep car running, but it will not get it started, or charge battery full.

True, however it works most of the time. Also a good way to check if you don't have any meters around. Most vehicles, or the ones I have fixed, if the alternator is not running at optimum, the engine will generally die or run rough.

Also, glad you got your ride fixed.
Nate
That's us mobile

Yes, you are correct. Ther is many ways of testing anything on your vechile. 

[ducttapetech]

Here is one way to test the alternator, get the car fired up with a new battery, once it is running, pull the positive terminal off the battery. If it is still running, the alternator is charging.
I am pretty sure most fords still use an open charging system.

Nate
That's us mobile

But is it charging enough? That you can not know with this method. I recon 9,5V is good to keep car running, but it will not get it started, or charge battery full.

True, however it works most of the time. Also a good way to check if you don't have any meters around. Most vehicles, or the ones I have fixed, if the alternator is not running at optimum, the engine will generally die or run rough.

Also, glad you got your ride fixed.
Nate
That's us mobile

Yes, you are correct. Ther is many ways of testing anything on your vechile. 

Nate
That's us mobile