Hey guys.

My car has the Nisei short route UICP with their small battery tray. I have a Braille 11.5 lbs battery that I've been using since the summer of 2008 without any issues at all. The car is daily driven so it sees use every day.

My car was recently in the body shop for about ~2 weeks and I've been having problems with it ever since.

The car was in the shop for about ~2 weeks in December. When I picked up the car from the shop and tried to start it, the car would not turn over at all, which turned out to be the battery. We quick charged it and it started no problem. Well since I've had the car back it has been giving me problems starting up after it sat for a while. It would always start but was definitely getting weak.

This past Saturday it would not start at all, but the accessory lights all work, including the headlights and the radio but the car would not start. On Sunday I got a jump start and I also borrowed a trickle charger. After I got the jump start, I drove the car for about 20 minutes and went over to my buddies place. Parked it and it sat for about 3 hours. We got into my car and it started right up and headed to the movies. We parked walk in only to find out that the movie sold out so we decided to go rent one. We get back into the car, and it won't turn over but all the accessory lights still worked as before. We sat there pissed, and a minute or so later, I tried again and it started up. Drove back to his place and I parked the car. Used his car to go get the movie, watched it, and 3 hours later I come out to the car expecting to need a jump but the car starts up no problem.

I get home and put the battery on the trickle charger which says that it's 80% or more full but I leave it on the charger all night. Yesterday, I hook it up to the car, and it starts strong, no issues. During lunch I let the car idle for 20 mins and it's fine. When I leave work it started up with no issue really, but I could feel it was a little weak. I get home, pull it out and put it back on the charger. Still shows that it's 80% full, but leave it on there all night. Drop it in this morning and drive to work. During lunch today I go to turn the car on, and it kinda half way goes to start but doesn't. Try again, but just ticks and doesn't turn on. 30 seconds later, I try again and it starts. I let it idle for about 5-10 mins as I head down to the cafeteria. On my way back I turn it off and try to start it back up, but it's dead again. Won't start. Good thing I brought the trickle charger with me. So i'll be putting the battery on it around 3pm.

WTF is going on here?

Do you guys think the battery just won't hold charge anymore? And if that's the issue, then why does the charger say that it has more than 80% juice in it?

Sorry if this is hard to read.
HELP!

-Jalal

CLIFF NOTES
-Braille 11.5 lbs battery working great for 1.5 years.
-Car was in body shop for ~2 weeks and wouldn't start when I picked it up.
-Since it's been picked up it has slowly been struggling to turn the car on after sitting long periods of time.
-Will sometimes after on the 2nd or 3rd attempt after the first few attempts were completely dead.
-Trickle charger shows battery is 80% full when it's first connected.
-Will start and let it idle for 10 mins, but will not start if I turn it off and try again.

What gives?

 

Easy read Jalal...Best of luck! Hope you get it fixed soon! Dayum!

 

Sounds like to me that one of your terminal clamps are bad and need to be replaced. Take a look at the terminals, clean them up good with a wire brush and re-bolt them down. If that dont work your battery might be going to crap

 

The terminals on both the battery and the wires seem alright. The battery has brass terminals on it. I'll scuff them both with some brillo just to be sure.

I think the battery might be fudged since it was at the body shop for 2 weeks and they may have just drained it down so much.

-Jalal

 

Anyone?

-Jalal

 

When I was running a mini battery I sometimes let the car sit 2-3 days at a time. If I started the car in the winter after that 2-3 day period and turned the headlights on immediately after the car would nearly die and all the dash lights would dim. Then they'd get bright again and the rpm would go back to normal. It bothered me enough to install a full size battery in my trunk. It never once didn't start but it was certainly not working like it should.

It's safe to say your battery isn't holding a charge and needs to be replaced.

 

+1
I've got one shipping tomorrow. 15 lbs Braille to hold me over until I can afford a Taylor relocation kit and an Optima Red Top.

-Jalal

 

you need a new battery.... plain and simple

get an odyssey pc680 or the better version stinger sp680 and when the car is sitting for a period of time it needs to be on a trickle charger or this will happen again

the problem is when the small batterys lose their charge you cant charge it and bring it back to life like nromal batterys.. once its gone its gone.. you can charge it and it will work for 2-3 days then be dead again... happened to me

 

It's just weird how inconsistent is it. Within minutes it won't start but then if you wait it will.

Oh well. I have one being shipped to me tomorrow.

-Jalal

 

you never know... it could be a loose ground.

 

Turned out to be my starter. Battery was perfect. All connections were perfect.

Thanks!

-Jalal

 

MJ23FE was your starter draining your battery after it had been sitting. Im experiencing similar issues with a brand new full size batter.

 

What was wrong with the starter? Did you need to get a new one?

 

My guess is that it wasn't engaging all the way since it sounded like it wasn't hooking up with the flywheel.

I bought a used one off a friend and it's been good as new since.

-Jalal