Why do car batteries always fail at midnight?

[cardaddy]

Am I a lucky guy? Never had an issue with a battery.Last year I went to Canada to visit family and friends during Holiday Season and the temperature was -28oC king of cold let me tell you.....

Now THAT is cold brother!

 

[cardaddy]

Depends on how far its driven to work. The drain on the battery might be more than it gets recharged. Its also possible the battery is getting sulfated, which a BatteryMinder would take care of.

Is is a sealed unit or can you access the electrolyte?

I'd say her work is about 11 miles, with normal traffic it does a lot of stop-n-go on that side of our little town, takes about 25 minutes as its all 2-lane, 6 or 7 lights.

Any other time she drives a LOT. She'll go into Atlanta or north of, to shop sometimes. (Solid 35 minutes of expressway driving with no traffic)

It is a servicable unit however. I looked at the water levels last night, all were very clear, a bit low, but nowhere near the tops of the plates. Topped them all off with distilled water, about ¾oz per cell.

It's been cycling all day. Alternator tests OK. Darn thing will say it's charged and in 10 minutes it'll pull 4.1 amps then count down to 0. Weird! :dunno:

My charger will do some neat tricks like desulfate and equalize but I have to remove/disconnect the battery to do it. (And go buy some bolts that'll fit the threads in the stupid side terminals that I don't have right now)

It's saved other batteries and might save this one but the darned thing never said it was sulfated so I dunno.......

I have a good relationship with Bellamy Strickland Chevrolet, been buying cars there since 83, so it's just as easy to get them to replace/warranty the thing. (I hope!)

Figure I'll run over there in the morning and see what they say. (Swapped the last one a couple months ago and it was only 2 years old as well)

CHARGER FEATURES

• This unit has four charge rate settings, accessed by the 4/10/20/40 AMP button:
a) 4 amps: smaller batteries, as in lawn mowers, snowmobiles, motorcycles,
etc.
b) 10 amps: mid-sized batteries, as in small cars
c) 20 amps: automobiles and light trucks
d) 40 amps: large truck batteries, banks of RV batteries
• 110 amp engine start
• Automatic Temperature Compensation
• Battery type selection
• Digital diagnostics
• Alternator voltage and battery voltage check
• Digital display shows charge rate, operating mode, fault codes and FUL when
charged
• 1-minute engine start
• 3-stage high-frequency switch mode automatic rapid charging
• Spark resistant reverse polarity and short circuit protection for user
• Built-in battery reconditioning (desulfate)
• Lightweight, high-efficiency design
• Internal short circuit protection
• Cables and clamps self-stored
• Reverse polarity indication
• Microprocessor control (Digital Smart Control) high frequency power
• Compensates for low AC from extension cord use
• Equalization function​

• Battery recondition function

 

[cardaddy]

That's awesome news.

It's funny how they never stop being our little girls.

My daughter is 24 and calls me for help or with good news before she calls her husband...

You are so true there David, true indeed. Ya' know, it was some 25 years ago when I first saw the sonogram (it's a girl) that my total outlook on girls and the women they would become changed. I mean, no matter whether they are 3, 13, 23, 43 or 63 I can't help myself but when I look at them I'm thinking "Dude, you know that girl there is the apple of her Daddy's eye".

Always was, and always will be.

Mine shares a ton of stuff with me, stuff she won't tell her mother even. Always had the ability to take of that 'dad' hat and put on a 'advisor' hat.

BTW, the dude did ask her last night late afte we were at the in-laws. (and before we all got home) Did the whole thing on the rooftop of his apartment, looking at the stars, even down on one knee. (Like he should of course!)

 

[RedXray]

some 25 years ago when I first saw the sonogram

rookie...

congrast!

 

[cardaddy]

rookie...

congrast!

Yup, that's me "old rookie". :laughing:

Thanks btw....

Ya' know I told him only one thing he needed to "think about" when he asked me. "I understand when people realize that they just don't work together, and should that happen, I can live with that and we will be just fine. HOWEVER... If you EVER lay a hand on her, or hurt her heart by doing something stupid like cheating on her.... well then son.... YOUR A$$ IS MINE." :bat:

Then as he was leaving...
"OTOH You treat her like she deserves, and anything I own is yours, I'll give you a kidney, just DO NOT hurt her."


Lets just say, he totally understands.Im the MAN

Later,
Cardaddy - AKA/Tony

 

[oldmodman]

I have never had the cold, dark night battery failure problem.

Mine ALWAYS fail one week after the sale ends.