Battery not re-charging

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: Battery not re-charging
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Benson - Boston MA on Sunday, August 25, 2013 - 08:41 pm:

The battery in my roadster will not re-charge properly after the car has been running, more so after I use the headlights.

On a full charged battery the car starts very well, then subsequent starts, the battery doesn't seem as powerful. The Amp meter reads 10 while driving with no lights on, then it reads 0 with the lights on ? any and all suggestions welcome.

Thank you JB


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Sunday, August 25, 2013 - 09:07 pm:

How old is the battery?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Sunday, August 25, 2013 - 09:09 pm:

Check to make sure the battery cells are full. If not, add distilled water. Check the ground strap where it bolts to the frame. This connection must be bare metal to metal and clean. If you're using the battery bracket bolt for ground, the area behind the bracket to frame must be clean also or at least the bolt head to frame area.

What kind of bulbs do you have in the lights?
6v or 12v?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By keith g barrier on Sunday, August 25, 2013 - 09:45 pm:

Remember, it takes a lot of running to keep a battery charged to full capacity with a generator, most don't drive that much but will do a lot of starting in a short time. KB


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Daryl W. Becker on Monday, August 26, 2013 - 01:05 am:

Definitely fully charge battery with a charger , then LOAD test and see how it holds up, if good , sounds like lack of charge keeping up


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Scott Conger on Monday, August 26, 2013 - 06:18 am:

I'd say that your battery has had it. Our '19 hasn't seen much use in the past 6 months...sits 4 weeks at a time and then driven a few miles. Always starts. Battery is about 3 years old and it doesn't take too much to bring it up to snuff.

FWIW, In general it takes about 20-25 times as long to replenish a battery from starting, as the time it takes to start it...5 seconds on starter switch...more or less than 2 minutes with generator to recover, depending on the 3rd brush setting.

On the other hand, if a battery is allowed to nearly or fully discharge, it is likely damaged, and may appear to recharge, but will not last due to deposition on plates.

Ken's advice is a good place to start though, before shelling out $$


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Daryl W. Becker on Monday, August 26, 2013 - 08:18 am:

We Called it the Grandmother effect, Its proven that especially in a modern vehicle , Just by starting your vehicle, It takes 8-12 miles of driving at a decent rpm, Just to return the charge used for the initial start up, SO sitting in the parking lot listening to radio and then starting vehicle every once in a while for a couple minutes , is NOT beneficial.


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