Is it new battery time ?

Hi,

Just wanted to get an opinion. My car has been parked for two days, when I parked it I checked the battery voltage and it was 12.67 after standing for 2 days its is at 12.13. Is this drop too much for two days or is it normal.

Note: It is quite possible that this is the original car battery from 2006 lol

Originally Posted by aleks001

Hi,

Just wanted to get an opinion. My car has been parked for two days, when I parked it I checked the battery voltage and it was 12.67 after standing for 2 days its is at 12.13. Is this drop too much for two days or is it normal.

Note: It is quite possible that this is the original car battery from 2006 lol

Have you received the "High Battery Discharge" warning? If not I wouldn't be concerned about it until such time as you begin to receive it. Once you do it's likely time to replace it Just went through this over the past couple of weeks. Replaced mine on Friday.

A battery with that reading is over 50% discharged. What you need to find out is whether it is due to being a bad battery, or due to an excessive parasitic draw.
Did you check voltage at the battery itself? That's important.

Over 12 v is still ok

Originally Posted by SilverX3

Over 12 v is still ok

Sorry to disagree, but you are incorrect. Each cell is 2.1 volts in good battery which results in a reading of 12.6 V
A reading of 12v indicates a battery dangerously close to boat anchor status.

Originally Posted by DSXMachina

Sorry to disagree, but you are incorrect. Each cell is 2.1 volts in good battery which results in a reading of 12.6 V
A reading of 12v indicates a battery dangerously close to boat anchor status.

I think we're all getting pretty sick and tired of your disagreeing with us, DSXMachina!

If you're at 12.13 volts after two days of sitting, you either have a battery that's on its last legs or a parasitic draw that needs to be corrected. That's a drop of 1/2 volt in 48 hours, which is too much. Most cars will not start if the battery is under 12V.

Unless you have been modifying the car's electrical system (which might result in a parasitic draw) my vote is to replace the battery. If you want, since the battery is $$, you might have a test run on the battery.

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

I think we're all getting pretty sick and tired of your disagreeing with us, DSXMachina!

I'm sure you're correct!

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

If you're at 12.13 volts after two days of sitting, you either have a battery that's on its last legs or a parasitic draw that needs to be corrected. That's a drop of 1/2 volt in 48 hours, which is too much. Most cars will not start if the battery is under 12V.

Unless you have been modifying the car's electrical system (which might result in a parasitic draw) my vote is to replace the battery. If you want, since the battery is $$, you might have a test run on the battery.

I doubt I have something drawing it, I just think the battery is old and I'm trying to catch it before it goes out.

Originally Posted by aleks001

I doubt I have something drawing it, I just think the battery is old and I'm trying to catch it before it goes out.

IMO you're asking the right question. Most likely, it's battery time.

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

IMO you're asking the right question. Most likely, it's battery time.

I agree the car is going to be stationary for a couple more days so I will be able to see just how far it will drop, but I'm also thinking its new battery time.

06 325 the battery 6 years old time for replacement if original.
You got as much as most people get out of it unless you keep it
hooked up to a battery tender at all times. If you did that from the beginning it might
go a couple more years .

Yeah, you're probably close to a dead battery. My light has been coming on if I leave the car in ACC for a few minutes. I measured the volts from under the hood: 14.71 running, 12.05 off, and 11.77 when the battery light came on.

Report:

Day 3 - 12.12 Interesting, looks like it just cant keep that upper charge part when the car isn't being driven.

Originally Posted by aleks001

Report:

Day 3 - 12.12 Interesting, looks like it just cant keep that upper charge part when the car isn't being driven.

Aside from the lower voltage reading are you experiencing any issues with the car? Has it failed to start? Has the clock reset to zero?

Originally Posted by aleks001

Report:

Day 3 - 12.12 Interesting, looks like it just cant keep that upper charge part when the car isn't being driven.

Are you getting a reading at the battery, or from a dashboard gauge or from optional data on a radar detector or other device?

Originally Posted by unrealii

Yeah, you're probably close to a dead battery. My light has been coming on if I leave the car in ACC for a few minutes. I measured the volts from under the hood: 14.71 running, 12.05 off, and 11.77 when the battery light came on.

Sounds like time for a new battery.

Originally Posted by DSXMachina

Sounds like time for a new battery.

I have a ctek 7002 on the way. I am going to yank the battery out, recondition it and see if it will hold charge.

Originally Posted by unrealii

I have a ctek 7002 on the way. I am going to yank the battery out, recondition it and see if it will hold charge.

Could work. You'll never get back to 100% but you might get close enough. Be sure to give it a few days at least. It takes time.
There's a possibility that you've cooked off too much of your electrolyte. If so, you're out of luck, there's no way to replace it. "Sealed" batteries really aren't sealed, you still have a release valve which will vent vapor.

Originally Posted by DSXMachina

Are you getting a reading at the battery, or from a dashboard gauge or from optional data on a radar detector or other device?

I'm using a multimeter on the terminals in the engine bay.

Are you reading the voltage right after unlocking the car? For the first few minutes, the voltage drops because (I'm assuming) some systems are powering up? If I unlock my car and measure, its around 12.13. If I leave the hood open and come back in 15 mins, the voltage is in the high 12s.

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

IMO you're asking the right question. Most likely, it's battery time.

Off topic.... but...

Go Cougs!

Originally Posted by aleks001

I'm using a multimeter on the terminals in the engine bay.

is it a digital, good quality multi meter

as they have their accuracy level too.... esp. cheap ones can be dodgy

Originally Posted by SilverX3

is it a digital, good quality multi meter

as they have their accuracy level too.... esp. cheap ones can be dodgy

It is digital and I think it's pretty accurate lol

Originally Posted by aleks001

It is digital and I think it's pretty accurate lol

Is there some problem you're trying to solve? Or are you just concerned about the voltage of the battery? As far as I can tell you haven't experienced any problem but rather decided to read the battery voltage for some unknown reason.