Originally Posted by
onehundred80
I tend to disagree with the point number one, if the car starts a few times OK then I think the battery is probably fine. There is no better test of a battery than the power the starter requires. If the battery cannot start the car a few times consequetivly then it is a duffer. By start I mean a real fast spin of the engine, not some half asssed slow agonizing spin.
Yes, and that's why I don't even ask anymore if it "spins over real good", so many people you ask respond with "How can I tell?"
But Dave, even I don't listen to me. I have preached and preached that the battery should be replaced at four year intervals. My car was starting fine this summer on a five year old battery. Then, one day, I start the car and go to put the top up - the cycle starts, the window and lid raise up, then the pump stops and I have 6 or 7 warning lights on the dash.
I had to put the top up manually. Next morning, I can put top up and down, all is fine, all but one light is out - I now have an airbag warning light.
Sure, the battery starts the car, but what it apparently is NOT doing so well, is filtering out the spikes caused by motors turning on and off and those caused by the regulator taking control of the armature winding as the alternator spins up.
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As I read thru his post, I see the references to the spoiler and now even wonder more about the battery or about rodent damage to wiring. Its hard to tell from several states away with so little to go on . And with the owner having no knowledge of the history of the car...........