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FYI battery life on newer cars

posted by  KlausC on  Fri Mar 14 10:25 CST 2014
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last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
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It has come to my attention that newer cars require a fully charged battery to run all of the computers - especially during engine start procedures!

While batteries are bigger and have more CCAs than ever before, any battery that is below 12V prior to engine start can cause a multitude of errors that appear to be unrelated. Climate control not working properly? ABS and traction control messages? Cruise control problems? Emmission problems?

I have 2 newer cars in my garage that are not Volvos, the 2008 started to give me strange driveability problems when it was cold started. After a brief 'warm up', an engine restart made the problems go away. A couple of months of this without any good resolution, the battery started to get too weak to start the car. I put the battery on a trickle charger because I only drive it a few times a month, and all was well until the battery ran down again. A new battery solved all of the nit picking problems!!

With the number of 'computers' on board these new cars, the ability of each computer to 'boot up' normally is compromised by a weak battery. These computers may not finish the boot up process due to lack of good steady voltage. Remember, the electricity from the alternator goes to the battery before it gets to the cars systems, and getting the battery back up to 12V may take some time.

So, moral of the story: Batteries no longer last 6-8 years or more. Some of the systems use battery voltage when the engine is off and the battery gets 'abused' by discharging and recharging a lot.

Don't wait when your battery gets 4-5 years old, just get a new battery when the resting voltage gets down to 11.9V or less.

--
My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat








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    FYI battery life on newer cars

    posted by  Tapsa on  Sun Mar 16 14:03 CST 2014
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    last visit: Sun Oct 19 13:29 CST 2014
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    Hi,
    I have a V70D5AWD MY06 but taken into use late -05. This diesel has a fuel based heater woking together with car's air conditioning and is using a lot of power.
    Last year I renewed the battery for realiability ie. 6to7 years of service but definitely not dead for 'regular' use.Battery change with key in position II when reconnecting was fully OK for this car but connected first pos. lead and then neg.
    br Tapsa








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    Battery terminal cleanliness

    uid 4751's pic
    posted by  MittenHed on  Fri Mar 14 12:09 CST 2014
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    last visit: Thu Oct 23 02:03 CST 2014
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    I have mentioned here before that keeping the terminals clean makes a huge difference too. Not so much on my Volvo, at least so far, but on the Mini. Either German or British...Audi like or Nortonish...I had ABS, flat tire, O2 sensor and misfire codes. Cleaned the battery terminals ans they all went away and stayed away.
    I say not so far on the 09 V70 because I haven't dared to disconnect the battery to clean the terminals. Haven't even filled the back three cells because you have to disconnect the battery to do that too. Nice design, Mr. Fjiord.
    --
    09 V70, 06 Camry, 03 Mini








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      Battery terminal cleanliness

      uid 51415's pic
      posted by  andybbrown on  Sat Mar 15 09:13 CST 2014
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      last visit: Fri Oct 24 06:08 CST 2014
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      What is the best way to keep the terminals clean? I keep getting that oxide build up (quite chunky) within a week after pouring boiling water on.
      (EDIT: I watched a petroleum jelly/baking soda mix which I may try)








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        Battery terminal cleanliness

        posted by  packard8 on  Sat Mar 15 11:52 CST 2014
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        last visit: Thu Oct 16 15:16 CST 2014
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        A healthy battery does not get the sulfate chunks on the terminals. This is a sign the battery is on its way out. I use regular wheel bearing grease to coat the terminals after cleaning them.








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      Battery terminal cleanliness

      posted by  KlausC on  Fri Mar 14 12:26 CST 2014
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      last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
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      On my 2008 MB, the 60 lb battery is under the front passenger seat. The carpet needs to be cut to gain access. Try lifting 60 lbs while bent over and on your knees!!!

      It is good of the engineers to keep 60lbs as low as possible, but on a 6,000lb vehicle, it probably doesn't matter much.

      Oh, the negative terminal did have corrosion which is a contributing factor. The battery is a gel battery, so distilled water would do no good.
      --
      My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat








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        Battery terminal cleanliness

        uid 4751's pic
        posted by  MittenHed on  Fri Mar 14 14:39 CST 2014
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        last visit: Thu Oct 23 02:03 CST 2014
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        It would seem that Mercedes does not expect or even want the owner to do any maintenance. Hardly uncommon these days. The oil filter on my V70 is a Mensa test...
        My back might feel good in my Volvo, but my head feels waaaay better in the Mini.
        --
        09 V70, 06 Camry, 03 Mini








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    FYI battery life on newer cars

    posted by  riverbend on  Fri Mar 14 11:59 CST 2014
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    last visit: Wed Oct 22 15:29 CST 2014
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    Another sign of the auto industry going the wrong direction.

    Old Norton motorcycles benefit from electronic ignition, but the electrical system is weedy at best. The ignition system manufacturers redesigned their units to work reliably at lower voltage.

    I told you Audis were nothing but trouble...

    Greg







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      FYI battery life on newer cars

      posted by  KlausC on  Fri Mar 14 12:31 CST 2014
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      last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
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      My biggest gripe with Audi/VW is the removal of the front clip to do any maintenance. I no longer have an Audi, graduating to a MB road hog.

      There is a BMW 630CSI for sale at under $5K that looks like a good substitute for my 850???

      --
      My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat







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