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Battery problem ...

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J

jimd

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I had to move my wife's 80 Fiat into the garage in order to do some work on it over the winter months and had to give the car a boost (it had been sitting about 1 month or so without being started). We drove it around and did some errands but (luckily) I decided not to shut it off until I got it home and in the garage. I took the battery out to charge it up and found all of the cells dry. I had this battery out last winter, filled and charged. So, for the limited amount of months and miles on the road this year, the battery dried up - probably should not have happened - although the battery is in the trunk where I guess it gets pretty hot during the summer. Is there something I should be looking into that might have cause the cells to dry up before I install a new battery? Thanks.
 
Is there something in the car that draws from the battery constantly?
 
Hi Tony. The one thing that I know of that draws power is the clock on the dash. I'm guessing that there must be a regulator (voltage?) that might be overcharging the battery while the car is running? Thanks. Jim.
 
Easy to check to see how much the alternator is putting out
 
Overcharging can dry the battery but in general, I've found it best to check maintenance type batteries often and top them off with distilled water for the best performance.
 
Dads MGB was having a similar problem last summer. The regulator went bad and was essentially "full fielding" the alternator. It was overheating and boiling the electrolite right out of the twin batteries. When it started, he kept telling me, "I smell sulfer when I drive the car" He was lucky they dident go "critical" on him.
A new regulator, and batteries solved everything.
 
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