2005 matrix
I got a new DieHard battery 6 months ago. About 2 weeks ago my car stopped starting. Advance tested it said the battery was dead and so was the alternator. I spent the money and installed the new alternator. The battery is still dying when the car sits for a couple days. I took the car back to Firestone where I got the battery and they put a new battery in it. They said if this battery starts to get her wasn't on the top where the holder is then they'll need to do a parasitic draw test on it. My question is what can I do to try and diagnose any kind of electrical problem with the car?
This is after cleaning the posts. I still need to know why this battery is getting super corroded after just 3 months because if I have to pay for or do a parasitic draw test I need to know. Or if it was truly a bad battery then I need to know that
As @mmj has mentioned, the primary culprit would be overcharging. Now once cables, connections and brackets get corrosion on them it's quite hard to clean them completely. Firestone is a poor choice for any repair work and I doubt they made much of an effort to clean or protect your posts and terminals, I'll sure they did as little as possible.
None of this matters if you have a parasitic drain. Even with a new alternator and battery, a parasitic drain can ruin the battery as it forces the alternator to overwork. Corrosion will occur faster than it normally would because the battery's gases literally feed it. You have to eliminate a parasitic as a problem now or you're wasting your time.
I'm sorry but I need more clarification please.
1. Forget Firestone and find a good independent mechanic. (In other words not Pep Boys, Midas, etc. either and not a dealership.)
2. Load test the battery and alternator. Also test amperage drawn by the starter.
3. Make sure your alternator voltage is not too high and boiling the battery, which looks like it's a decade old instead of 6 months. (Should be in the range of 13.5-14.5 volts at the battery terminals with the engine running.)
4. Test drain on the battery while the engine and everything in the car is turned off. Typically you would want to see maybe 25 milliamps or less, certainly no more than 50 milliamps. Check after car has been off for a while so all modules go to sleep.
5. If there is excessive battery drain with the car at rest trace the source and fix it.
That's about as clear as I can make it, perhaps someone else can do better.
But is the battery defective?
{blackemo}:laughtertotears:
Can anybody tell me about the corrosion on the top of the battery underneath the pole down bracket and why it's there when the battery is so new?
post a photo please. (see the forum guide on our front page if you need to learn how)
Trying to figure out how to do that!
Trying to figure out how to do that!
It's not a secret. As @imperator pointed out, the instructions for photos and videos can be found in a topic with the title "READ THIS FIRST - Forum Guide" near the top of the main page.
Please use direct photo links as below. That battery looks more like six years old (at least) than six months. I'd certainly clean the top of the thing and clean up the terminals as well.
Thanks. You should use the "Your Answer" box though.
I thought you had photos of the battery installed. Like this I can't see what the issue is. The battery itself looks like a normal battery. Posts look fine. Clean them up once in a while. If the cables/terminals look bad then you need to post a photo of those.
If the battery is working too hard because you have a power leaks, then it'll expel more gases leading to more corrosion under the hood, so fix that problem first.
You'd never see the corrosion if the battery was installed. The corrosion was under the holder bracket
I don't think they're supposed to be this much corrosion on a new battery
so the bracket is corroding not the battery
There was corrosion under the bracket and also corrosion on the posts and it only took about 3 months for that to happen! {black}:fighting:
bracket won't keep you car from starting. Anyway clean your posts and cables, apply some dielectric grease, and fix your drain problem.
This is after cleaning the posts. I still need to know why this battery is getting super corroded after just 3 months because if I have to pay for or do a parasitic draw test I need to know. Or if it was truly a bad battery then I need to know that
I thought I answered about corrosion. And one way or another, you have to fix the draw. Ideally before you put any more batteries in it.
Ok so it's not a defective battery?
That's why a parasitic drain test is required. I don't have a crystal ball.
But you said "The battery is still dying". Does that not mean you had this problem with a different battery ?
You can have the battery tested for free too if you want.
Ok so it's not a defective battery?
Have the stupid thing tested and find out. For that matter measure voltage at the battery while the engine is running, that 6-month-old battery looks pretty abused. Too high a voltage will increase outgassing and corrosion.
I don't know how else to help you. You just ignore everything we tell you. Good luck.
{black}:idontknow:
Ok so it's not a defective battery?
Firestone gave me a new battery without a warranty this time and I need to know for sure that I need to take it in for the parasite test! If that last battery was defective I have to know that too but maybe you guys are saying that the only way to find out is to do the parasitic draw test? It's really difficult reading the thread to determine what you're saying!
{black}:nerd:
I'm sorry but I need more clarification please.
We all think and determine truth differently, please be patient
Got new battery, left car sit 2 weeks, and it still starts fine. It SEEMS to be that the battery was defective.....
- Got new battery, left car sit 2 weeks, and it still starts fine. It SEEMS to be that the battery was defective.....