Flat battery after freezing nights

modi · Post by **modi** » 17 Feb 2005, 14:29

Flat battery after freezing nights ... but works fine in non-freezing weather, is it a faulty battery indication??? thanks

oilyspanner · Post by **oilyspanner** » 17 Feb 2005, 14:41

The cold kills em when theyre old, all of the chemical reactions slow down with the low temperatures.
Stewart

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 17 Feb 2005, 14:53

The battery on my '97 Xantia looks fairly old, possibly its the original.
When its very cold, the battery will barely turn the engine over if I don't wait for the glowplug light to go out. If I do wait for the glow plug light to go out it turns the engine over happilly. Turning the glowplugs on must warm up the battery... in warmer weather the battery is fine.

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 17 Feb 2005, 15:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Kowalski

The battery on my '97 Xantia looks fairly old, possibly its the original.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
So it doesn´t owe you anything. The battery on my 1998 Xantia failed just on three years old. Although my 1998 Saxo is still on original.

modi · Post by **modi** » 17 Feb 2005, 19:38

guess what.. my battery is the original too, i am not going to replace it i think i will buy a jumping lead, the summer is coming [:D]

ItDontGo · Post by **ItDontGo** » 17 Feb 2005, 19:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Kowalski

The battery on my '97 Xantia looks fairly old, possibly its the original.
When its very cold, the battery will barely turn the engine over if I don't wait for the glowplug light to go out. If I do wait for the glow plug light to go out it turns the engine over happilly. Turning the glowplugs on must warm up the battery... in warmer weather the battery is fine.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Sounds more like the battery is struggling to power both the glow plugs and the starter at the same time. Or am I mistaken?

G4EIY · Post by **G4EIY** » 17 Feb 2005, 20:11

Hi Modi,
On one of mt BX's, I made an insulation cover for the battery out of polysyrene sheet, held in place with nylon strapping.
This will help to conserve the heat in the battery on those cold nights...
Don't forget to depress thew clutch pedal while cranking...
But in your case, it sounds like the poor old battery is on it's last legs...
Cheers
Brian

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 17 Feb 2005, 20:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ItDontGo

Sounds more like the battery is struggling to power both the glow plugs and the starter at the same time. Or am I mistaken?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
No, the battery can power both at the same time, the glow plugs stay on long after the light goes out (havent you heard of afterglow)?
I think my battery will need replacing soon, but not just yet. This winter didn't kill it but perhaps the next one will. The car gets used 6 days a week, generally on long enough journeys so keeping it charged must be the secret to a long and healthy life (at least as far as a car battery is concerned).

oilyspanner · Post by **oilyspanner** » 17 Feb 2005, 20:28

An old remedy is a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in each cell, then a good charge, it is best done before the battery is totally gone, I have had an "extra" 18 months like this.
Stewart

druist · Post by **druist** » 17 Feb 2005, 20:37

Mine was dying on me all the time a few weeks ago and i got a quote from Halfords for 68quid for a new one. Instead i bought a battery charger and its worked fine since.

paranoid · Post by **paranoid** » 17 Feb 2005, 23:44

https://secure.gsfcarparts.com/shop/results.asp
Extremely decent batterys as well!!!!!