Rodney Bullock Posted January 22, 2009 Report Posted January 22, 2009 It's getting harder and harder to enjoy my Plymouth this winter. I go down to the garage and start all the cars except the 1940 plymouth) It's the brightest thing there and just like a pretty woman and as much trouble. I took the battery to my DEKE dealer and he says it's just 2 years old. It's gonna be in the 50's tomorrow, I wanted to drive the great mopar. I'll call him tomorrow as he has the battery on tricle charge. Who needs another project when this thing ain't right:confused: I might need a "for sale sign" Quote
Don Coatney Posted January 22, 2009 Report Posted January 22, 2009 I might need a "for sale sign" Rodney; Regardless of price rest assured I will not buy you:eek: Quote
Niel Hoback Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Would you sell by the foot, or by the pound? Quote
Don Coatney Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Would you sell by the foot, or by the pound? Neil; I believe Rodney has used his feet to pound a few people. Quote
oldmopar Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 You could try a disconnect switch if you have a minor short that is killing the battery. I also would suggest a optima battery a little expensive but I am happy with mine. Since I am helping you spend your money you could also buy a tickle charger its better then taking a battery to the garage to get charged Ed Quote
JIPJOBXX Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Randy just install a kill switch under the dash!!!!! only cost about 15 dollars. I also install two cables that run out to the frount inside grill and charge my battery at that point. No lifty hood to put charge cables on. And maybe you should invest in a trickle charger or check out your local thrift shops. Jon Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 There's the kill switch like I have mounted on the firewall, or there is the less expensive kind you can mount on a battery post, then connect the cable to it. This one is similar to mine...... Around $21 Then there is the second type.....about $8 I also have seen these....maybe about $15 or so. Not sure how you mount these. Quote
Frank Blackstone Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Now Coatney will say this applies to other things but I am referring to battery life. When I do not use a battery for an extended period ,like a year, the battery goes bad just from setting. Even disconnected. So allow a drain via a small lamp and add a trickle charger to keep the juices flowing. A lesson in life from Frank. Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Rodney, If you don't drive a car very much, the battery will go bad in about 2 years or so from non use. The cells get a crust built up on them, then the battery doesn't hold a charge very well. I've had the same problem over the years. Finally bought a battery tender when I bought my last battery a few weeks ago. Now, it's plugged in 24/7 when not running the car, so it is always hot, which keeps the battery from building up the crust on the cells. If you have no electricity in the garage where you keep it, remove the battery and bring it home. Then keep a tender on it to keep it fresh. Then put the battery back in the car when you go down to the garage. Quote
Normspeed Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 I'm with Norm on the battery tender. I used one on my motorcycle and noticed a big increase in operating life. Haven't seen one in 6 volt, is that what your coupe is, Rodney? PS, don't ever leave your battery tender out in the rain. Quote
RobertKB Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Rodney, I have a battery disconnect on all my cars. They look like the second one in Bob's post. However, if I can find 6V battery tenders, I think I will go that route with all my cars. Quote
jimainnj Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 I have been using Schumacher SEM-1562A 6v - 12v dual charger for a few years works fine, Go on Goggle and type in Battery Companion and you'll find a few places to get it. Jim Quote
claybill Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 walmart sells the battery type as previously shown for $4.00 bill Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Here is the battery tender I bought. Quote
Young Ed Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 I must be living right. I only disconnect my battery in the winter. I leave them in my car/truck and in the spring just hook them back up and drive away. The only time I have a dead battery is in my old truck when I try to start it without turning on the key Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 I must be living right. I only disconnect my battery in the winter. I leave them in my car/truck and in the spring just hook them back up and drive away. The only time I have a dead battery is in my old truck when I try to start it without turning on the key Ed, I would agree you are either living right, or living on borrowed time with the batteries if that's what you do. Looking at my modern cars battery life compared to the coupe's battery life is eye opening enough for me. For example: The original battery in my 95 van lasted until 2001 (about 6 years). The battery I bought in 2001 lasted until last summer (about 7 years). However, during that same period I went through about 4 batteries in my coupe, simply because it wasn't driven all the time. That's what sold me on the battery tender for the coupe. Of course, I really won't know if it does that much good either for at least a few years. But, it's supposed to extend the battery life when the car isn't driven much. Quote
Young Ed Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Well in the summer I do drive my car and truck fairly regularly. The battery in the truck is the first one I bought about 8 years ago. For comparison my 94 truck is on its 4th since 94. Just got the newest one this past summer. Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 The battery is probably no good regardless of what the battery specialist said! 2 years old and not being charged all the time= it's probably no good and won't hold a charge! To help make these modern 6 volt batteries last more than 2 years they must be kept at a full charge all the time with a battery tender or charged with a charger. More and more of them are probably made in CHINA now-a-days or at least some of the internal parts are and IMO are not as long lasting. All this assuming you have no clock or short to drain the battery. Use a disconnect. Optima batteries are also a great replacement if you have several cars and want to swap a the battery among cars so you don't have so many batteries to watch over /buy ect. Bob Bob Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 The Battery Tender, Jr for 6 volts is pretty small........found this pic in an ad. Does this look like yours, Norm??? Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 That's the one Bob. You just hook it up to the battery, then plug the box into an outlet and forget it. Because it floats when the battery is completely charged, it stops charging. If the battery goes down a little, it starts charging again. I bought mine at a Remy Battery shop, but I've also seen them online. They are a little cheaper online but then the shipping brings the price back up again. Quote
55 Fargo Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Ed' date=' I would agree you are either living right, or living on borrowed time with the batteries if that's what you do.Looking at my modern cars battery life compared to the coupe's battery life is eye opening enough for me. For example: The original battery in my 95 van lasted until 2001 (about 6 years). The battery I bought in 2001 lasted until last summer (about 7 years). However, during that same period I went through about 4 batteries in my coupe, simply because it wasn't driven all the time. That's what sold me on the battery tender for the coupe. Of course, I really won't know if it does that much good either for at least a few years. But, it's supposed to extend the battery life when the car isn't driven much.[/quote'] Norm, my 12 volt daily driver batteries seem to last a long time too. The last one I bought was for the 94 Ranger Truck, in 2002, 8 years of sevice, I bought a battery from Costco, it is still inservice. My 6 volt battery bought in 2005, for the 47, a cheap 6 v 675 cranking amp battery with a 3 year warranty, seems to still be fine. it was $67.00, my replacement will be a 100 cranking amp battery for $90.00 when I need it. I have a master cut-off switch, the battery is shut of when not in use. I start my coupe at least once per week in the off-seaon, in season I try to drive her 3 to 4 times per week. If I could not drive her much, I would not have her...............Fred Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Fred, I use to start my coupe up in the winter too to keep the battery going. Would even pull it out of the garage most of the time to let it run. I always thought that would keep the battery good too. However, I've only had one battery for the coupe that lasted about 3 or 4 years tops. All the others were gone within a year or two. Now, I don't drive my coupe as much as others drive their old cars. But.......during the summer it always got started and moved around at least about every other week or so, even if I wasn't driving it someplace. I don't have a shut off on the post, just the cables and they are always connected. That said, my brother in law pulls the batteries out of his 36 & 38 Fords every winter and puts them on the bench. He then charges them on the charger about once a month. However, he has the same problem with his 6 volt batteries only lasting about 2 or 3 years tops too. So, he said he's going to pick up a tender like I have for them to see if it helps cut down on replacement. By the way, for those Optima fans out there. One of my brother in laws batteries is an Optima and gets the same life period out if it. So, evidently the same happens to them. Quote
Merle Coggins Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 Rodney, I think I've figured out why your battery goes dead. You just have too many cars to drive, and you can't keep them all happy. I think you need to store them at other forum member's garages so that they can drive them around and keep them happy. I'll be the first to volunteer my garage space for one of them. Merle Quote
Rodney Bullock Posted January 23, 2009 Author Report Posted January 23, 2009 I'll be the first to volunteer my garage space for one of them. Merle Promises, promises. I would love to have someone keep these cars, Like the old joke goes take my car please:D I think everthing is back to normal now. I went to my battery dealer and he tested my battery, It had some internal issues. He gave me a new one this morning "No Charge" I have it in the trunk of the Stude so tomorrow morning I will put the new battery in:) I have electricity in the garge however I would not leave anything on down there:eek: A fire would make me rich and wipe me out. I think I will invest in a disconect switch makes sense. I think I drive the car enough:cool: However your right sinse that hawk came into my life I have been neglegent even the wife is jealous:rolleyes: If she had white walls and a V8 she could get ridden as well..... Quote
cwcars88 Posted January 23, 2009 Report Posted January 23, 2009 This cold weather and non useage is hard on battery's. Mine also died on my Model "A" last week. When I pulled it out I was surpised when I checked the paper work, it was 10 years an 1 month old ( 5 year-12 volt battery ) not bad, it did not owe a thing. Before a changed it over to 12 volt, the 6 volt, 5 year battery that was in it was 7 years old. I gave it to a friend that used it in his "A". Both batteries were Les Schwab. I have other cars so this one only gets used 1 or 2 times a month, but the battery gets disconnected every time. I have never used a battery tender on this car as it gets enough use to stay charged. But I do on one car that I very seldom use. Quote
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