T
TyroFX
Guest
Alright so I went to start up my FX this morning and it had absolutely no power. Lights, alarm, horn, nothing. I haven't started it for about 2 weeks and left it in the garage. Help?
FXchosen1
Member
- Location
- Boston, MA
if theres no power try to get a jump ^
Just curious, when u jump start do u always have to put the black plug to the ground on the dead car?
Ive usually have done it that way to many older cars but one guy didnt put the black to the ground he just connected it to his dead battery. He had a beamer and there wasnt alot of visible metal to connect to and he wasnt sure so he just connected it to the battery.
Ive usually have done it that way to many older cars but one guy didnt put the black to the ground he just connected it to his dead battery. He had a beamer and there wasnt alot of visible metal to connect to and he wasnt sure so he just connected it to the battery.
T
TyroFX
Guest
Yes I did and it was successful. The problem is a couple days later it will die again with absolutely no power. Is it a weak battery issue or..? I'm thinking about switching to an optima.
Is it the original battery? If so, you might need a new one. I just put in a new red optima last month as my car gave me trouble starting up once in awhile and now that is gone...my car doesn't just start up...it jumps up. Looks like the alternator is probably charging it when running but then it's not holding the charge...get the optima or the bosch is good also and way cheaper.
- Location
- Portland, OR
Electrically speaking, the ideal connection for jump starting is battery to battery. Doing it this way will not cause any kind of electrical problems.
The reasoning behind connecting the negative lead to the chassis of the vehicle being "jumped" (and the part most people fail to realize) is to move what should be the final connection in your temporary circuit away from the "dead" battery. This is because spent batteries have a tendency to emit explosive fumes, and the final connection almost always results in a fairly large spark.
To answer your question directly; No, but it's a good idea and much safer. .
Sent from my BlackBerry 9800
T
TyroFX
Guest
It's not the original battery. It was actually replaced about a month and a half ago. I probably will end up buying the optima yellow top.
Well If you replaced the battery recently then it might be the alternator...it shouldnt be dying out if it's new. I would have your alternator checked out also.
T
TyroFX
Guest
Alright. Sounds good. Thanks for your help.
- Location
- Portland, OR
When you jumped it, how long did it run?
Sent from my BlackBerry 9800
Sent from my BlackBerry 9800
I used to check altenator operation by starting car and then pulling negative terminal off battery and if car died then altenator was bad. I don't know if this method is advisable with our FX's because of all the electronics involved now. You could check your battery voltage with a volt meter before you start the car and then after starting it. While it's running you should see something higher than before it was running. Probably around the 13 volt range.
T
TyroFX
Guest
I don't know what you mean. It ran fine after the jump. After leaving it off for about 2 days straight the power is drained. I think it might be the alternator but, I think I had that replaced along with the battery before but I can't remember.
- Location
- Portland, OR
If the alt was dead then the engine would stall immediately after the jumper cables were removed. That's not to say there isn't an issue with the alternator, but the fact that the engine ran for more than 30 seconds post jump means the alt is still working in some capacity.
I'd get the Yellow Optima (D35) and see how it goes. Its a worthwhile upgrade even if it isn't the root cause of your problem.
Sent from my BlackBerry 9800
I'd get the Yellow Optima (D35) and see how it goes. Its a worthwhile upgrade even if it isn't the root cause of your problem.
Sent from my BlackBerry 9800
- Location
- Portland, OR
The optima will also handle (easily) several full discharge cycles if you in fact have some other charging system issue.
Sent from my BlackBerry 9800
Sent from my BlackBerry 9800
ThE Fx 45 BeAsT
Member
- Location
- Seattle
the problem is not the alternator because the car ran after the jump. if you completely depleted the battery then u might to either get it fully charged tben a battery tender to keep it charged. it just dounds like u let get deeted n you didnt drive it enough to fully charge it.
Either it's a bad battery or your leaving something on (lights?) during the standby period. I say take the battery back where u bought it and tell them there must be something wrong with it. It should not go bad after only a month and a half.