Battery problem

Well I now have a battery problem that I'm hoping someone can offer advice on. Car sat for just over a week and with the colder weather it died. That I kind of expected but then when I put the trickle charger on something strange happened. With the charger on it makes a clicking sound if I turn the key on the ignition the clicking stops and the lights on the dash do light up lower than normal of course. I didn't want to leave the charger on with the clicking noise. So any advice or guidance is greatly appreciated.

 

what is clicking? the charger or the car?

 

Clicking is likely a relay opening and closing due to your battery being so dead. Trickle charger gives it enough juice to close, then it dies again.

Disconnect the battery terminals and charge the batter that way. Then hook it back up.

 

I've had a similar situation - turned out to be that a cell in the battery toasted. I replaced the battery. it can be tested, usually free of charge, at your local auto center.
They have a life of about 5 years in the cold, IMHO.

 

Thanks guys, I'll try getting to the battery directly. Yes the clicking was from the car not the charger. Worst case scenario I'll try to locate a battery, I just don't want to let it sit for too long without running.

 

I would suggest you read the instructions that came with your trickle charger. Regardless of what other problems may be present, trickle charges generally should not be used to charge a dead battery. They can not supply the required current. Not good for the charger and other electronic components. Also, a dead battery should be disconnected from the car before attempting to charge.

 

John, I did not put a meter on it, but my battery was pretty dead, or close to it and my tender charged it just fine.

 

But, on a dead-dead battery, the trickle charger will draw high current, trip the current limiter and shut off, and turn back on and go through that cycle many times until there is enough juice in the battery to stop the over current stage.

 

I suspect mine was not totally dead....

I'm now very dilligent about using the tender...

 

Is it an Optima battery? A fully drained Optima requires a "unique" process to revive it.

 

Not sure yet, I still need to get to it. Am I reading the manual correctly and you have to remove the front passenger tire to get the panel off and accedes the battery?

 

That's right buddy. Another great Ferrari innovation. You have to remove the tire and then the retaining bolts (6 as I recall) to get to the battery. It's not difficult, but checking a battery should not require jacking up the car and removing a wheel. OK, I'm done ranting now. Good luck and I hope your original issue gets solved. I suspect that a new battery will do the trick.

Henry

 

Can it be checked via the jump points or does it need to be fully disconnected?

 

You can check the battery voltage at the engine compartment posts. That is the same voltage. If the engine is running, and there is only 11.5 volts across the posts then the charging circuit is dead.

Across the same posts, you can splice in a pigtail for your trickle charger.

The reason they hide the battery down low is to create a low center of gravity which increases stability and performance. Remember that you are driving a sports car that is barely inches from the ground.

 

Thanks again, I don't need to check voltage I know it's dead. Just wanted to verify the location before I remove the wheel and panel to connect the charger directly to it. I'll try that first see if it goes green after about 12hrs if not then I'll replace it. It is very nice having a place to come and get first hand confirmation and advice regarding these things.

 

As mentioned, the battery is located low and on the right side for balance and performance reasons.

Can it be checked via "jump points"? ..not sure what those are..but hey...

If this an AGM battery like an Optima, and it is fully depleted, it needs to be reset..and then recharged. PM if you want the process.

In any event, yes, you need to go get the thing out of the wheel well. Aint all that bad really....

 

Inside the engine compartment, passenger side, there are posts to connect to jump start the car.

What I find funny is that the cover plate must be removed to access them.

So, it's a good idea to carry allen wrenches in the car...

 

I knew about the points in the engine compartment that's where I tried charging from that made the clicking noise. I removed the wheel found the battery behind the panel, hooked up the connections for the battery tender and ran them up through to the compartment under the hood. So now I have my quick disconnects and after a day and a half battery was charged and the car started right up. Having the pigtail easily accessible will prevent this from happening again. I still may buy a new battery come spring but we'll see it fired right up.

 

You mentioned in a previous post that you don't like to let the car sit too long without running. I don't pretend to know exactly or imply what that means, but based on your location (chicago) are you starting/running the car periodically during winter storage?

Just asking, cuz many as well as myself believe that periodic starting/running during storage without getting everything (including trans oil) up to full operating temp does more harm than good.

just asking

 

Yes I'm in the Chicago area and it is letting it run during storage. I start it then let both engine temp and oil temp get fully up to where they should be before shutting it back off. Leaving them sit for months without circulating the oil is bad for them. I never start the car and immediately shut it off. It's going to be a long winter, I purchased the car in October so I knew I'd only get to drive it a little bit before winter but spring seems really far away with this sitting in the garage.

 

The reason they hide the battery down low is to create a low center of gravity which increases stability and performance. Remember that you are driving a sports car that is barely inches from the ground.[/QUOTE]

I can certainly appreciate the battery placement for performance/balance issues Mitch. But it seems to me that positioning it in the front boot, or at least providing easier access from that point would provide the same benefits. Maybe not...

Henry

 

I think I have read that you are not supposed to put your top up or down with a low battery so just be carefull.

 

I have no need to raise/lower the top in the garage but thanks for the advice. I also wouldn't bother to raise/lower the top if the car doesn't have enough power to crank over.