First drive of the season: Mar. 31, and first "no go"

[phaetn]

Got the car out on the road for the first real drive of the season yesterday to go on an errand with my daughter to get medicine.

Started out well, all smiles...


(Click to launch video)

Got back from the drug store, struggled to get into the new seats and do up belts, went to hit the starter... nothing. Ack!

I had put the battery on a trickle charger earlier in the week and it has started previously on a number of occasions no problem, even when cold, so I really wasn't expecting a dead battery.

A boost from a helpful stranger confirmed it likely was a dead battery issue, so then we were on our way. Once home it wouldn't start again so I knew it was time for a new battery. It was getting hard to start in the cold at the end of last season so this isn't a total surprise. I spoke to my local mech who said on a car this old it's likely not an alternator issue -- if the car would keep running once started then it was likely good and I would be probably throwing away money to perform a battery load and alternator test or to see if there's a draw. He just suggesting spending less money and getting a new battery which I would probably end up doing anyway given the old one was just over four years old.

In Canada where batteries can freeze, and especially for cars that aren't driven every day or two, batteries don't last as long as they might elsewhere. For this new one I'll make sure to put it in the basement on a trickle charger next winter.

Cheers,
phaetn

At least my daughter didn't hear me swearing (I think).

[4uall]

Great video right up until the "uh oh" lol

Having gone through a similar situation back in the day I would strongly recommend a new battery with awesome cold cranking amps. 3 yrs to the day with zero issues. Battery stays in car in garage all winter. Canadian tire has an awesome warranty. Partsource tests for free

http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php ... t=+battery

[phaetn]

Thanks. I didn't buy the cheapest one (the p.o. had a $90 Motomaster Eliminator in there) but one that was around $130 and had more amps. Hopefully that will do the trick. It also has a 4 year warranty, including free boosts from a tow truck (but who around here doesn't have jumper cables?).

Even with the better battery, the tech said not to let it sit for more than two days in the cold in winter. I guess the battery fluid freezes, then the plates get bent out of shape, and then that affects its ability to store or receive a charge. I'll take this new one out and put it on a trickle charger at the end of the season. Hopefully that's eight months away!! It was on its way out anyway...

It was an important lesson for my daughter on the generosity of others and the reliability of 40+ year old Fiats (not to mention fathers).

Cheers,
phaetn

[spiderdan]

the tech said not to let it sit for more than two days in the cold in winter

Never heard such a thing, I would find a new tech!
For the last dozen years, I have parked Angelina in an unheated garage. All I do is disconnect the battery in the fall and reconnect it in the spring. Of course it takes a few cranks (and much slapping the gas pedal to the floor) to get her started but it always does. Just using the Canadian Tire cheapo ($70-80) battery. Lasts about 4 to 5 years.

but who around here doesn't have jumper cables?

That would be me! My car is real EZ to push start (done it once when the starter died) plus I like the extra trunk space for more important things like...beers.
I do however have an auto club membership that will flat bed tow me up to 250kms to a garage (Carlsbad Springs) of my choice.

Loved the video

Still too much salt on the roads. I am getting restless, been a long winter...soon...
I do miss her...I want my 46 year old topless Italian girlfriend back

[RRoller123]

It is heat that ruins batteries, not cold.

[4uall]

your tech may need some training

[phaetn]

Thanks for the replies. Note this wasn't my local mechanic, just the tech behind-the-counter guy at Canadian Tire who sells batteries.

I, too, have the CAA membership. Thankfully I haven't had to use it yet with the Fiat, but it certainly got use with my '72 Honda motorbike.

Cheers,
phaetn

[cormac]

my father in law (almost 80) still comes out to the farm and charges his tractors batteries (not in use much) always says I don't want to have to buy a new one

you guys got me thinking so did some quick research...seems like he is right

Battery life and performance - Average battery life has become shorter as energy requirements have increased. Two phrases I hear most often are "my battery won't take a charge, and my battery won't hold a charge". Only 30% of batteries sold today reach the 48-month mark. In fact 80% of all battery failure is related to sulfation build-up. This build up occurs when the sulfur molecules in the electrolyte (battery acid) become so deeply discharged that they begin to coat the battery's lead plates. Before long the plates become so coated that the battery dies. The causes of sulfation are numerous. Let me list some for you.

Batteries sit too long between charges. As little as 24 hours in hot weather and several days in cooler weather.

Battery is stored without some type of energy input.

"Deep cycling" an engine starting battery. Remember these batteries can't stand deep discharge.

Undercharging of a battery to only 90% of capacity will allow sulfation of the battery using the 10% of battery chemistry not reactivated by the incompleted charging cycle.

Heat of 100 plus F., increases internal discharge. As temperatures increase so does internal discharge. A new fully charged battery left sitting 24 hours a day at 110 degrees F for 30 days would most likely not start an engine.

Low electrolyte level - battery plates exposed to air will immediately sulfate.

Incorrect charging levels and settings. Most cheap battery chargers can do more harm than good. See the section on battery charging.

Cold weather is also hard on the battery. The chemistry does not make the same amount of energy as a warm battery. A deeply discharged battery can freeze solid in sub zero weather.

Battery Charging - Remember you must put back the energy you use immediately. If you don't the battery sulfates and that affects performance and longevity. The alternator is a battery charger. It works well if the battery is not deeply discharged. The alternator tends to overcharge batteries that are very low and the overcharge can damage batteries. In fact an engine starting battery on average has only about 10 deep cycles available when recharged by an alternator.

Interesting stuff...almost feel like I actually learned something , though I am cautious about believing everything I read but it seems to be a consistent opinion from different "experts"

[TimpanogosSlim]

It's best to keep a battery tender / maintainer / "float charger" on a lead-acid battery if it is going to sit for a long time.

They don't have to be fancy but make sure it is specified to maintain charge during storage. "Battery Tender" is the leading brand and they make a good product but my $13 Duralast float charger from K-Mart works too.

My Land Cruiser often sits for a few weeks without use and before i found and fixed my battery drain issue i installed one of these in the engine bay:

http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SE-1-1 ... 0000AXTUY/

Great product.

[KevAndAndi]

Here's another smart float charger option:

http://www.geniuschargers.com/G750

I bought this guy in the fall and he's been keeping our Spider's battery up to snuff all winter. The few times I turned the engine over, it started right up.

[4uall]

You are my inspiration & my friend............please go easy on my 1st video

https://youtu.be/iN0yZu50OeI

[ORFORD2004]

Jay,
I think i'll hired you for my first movie.

[spiderdan]

please go easy on my 1st video

I see you switched from the "dash-cam" to your "crotch-cam", well done buddy...

[cyborg7]

When it's going it's an awesome sound though Phaetn Was that just a Gopro or did you have a separate mic placed somewhere else?

[phaetn]

Heya, cyborg7, I love the sound, too. There's a burble sometimes when backing off or with a gently neutral throttle that always puts a huge smile on my face.

Spiderdan calls the camera the NoPro. It was a cheap dash cam from Canadian Tire for $100 if memory serves. No ability to plug in a mic. I did cover the mic aperture a bit to try and prevent wind noise, but otherwise it's natural sounds. It sounds better in person, of course.

The car has a 4-2-1 exhaust manifold and downpipe, with no cat or any restrictions until the rear muffler (no mid resonator) which has a fairly fat exhaust pipe. I don't know how free flowing it is as it was already on the car when I bought it. The car also has a 32/36 DFEV carb so it breathes better than stock; I know it may sound odd, but the car actually sounds breathy at times. I don't know how to describe it, but you can actually hear it breathing or drawing air from the pipe at times. I slapped on a cheap chromed twin tip just for fun (slipped over the original pipe), which changed the note a tiny bit, but I didn't notice any change in performance.

Cheers,
phaetn