Hi folks

 

My battery died at work tonight. Whilst waiting for my sister to come and rescue me my boss, about to head off home, had jump leads and managed to get my car going.

 

Unfortunately, I had to wait for my sister to arrive and when she got there the car stalled. Which was nice.

 

We had to push the car out of the way for others to enter and leave the car park. Christ, it's seriously heavy. It took four people to push it, mind you it was up a slight hill.

 

We tried a few places to purchase a battery but ended up empty handed. Suprisingly enough, Halfords didn't have one in stock, hmmmm. They would have charged £60. Is this a good price compared to Nissan?

 

Ended up buying a set of jump leads and managed to get the Z home, phewwwwww. My sis' was suppose to follow me home just in case it died but holy sh*t she's slowwww. Got home 10 minutes ahead of her and we only live 3 miles from my work place. I would have been stuffed had the Z died again though.

 

I'll try a few places for a new battery tomorrow but would be grateful for any advice on which to go for.

 

Anyhow, I'm charging the battery at the mo' but I think that either the battery is completely dead or the charger is stuffed. No bubbles were evident during charging and the needle on the charger only moved by 1mm when switched on. Is this an indication that the battery isn't charging or the charger is dead as a dodo?

 

Laterz

Van

Hi, I had to replace my battery a few weeks ago. Search the thread if you are interested in the details.

 

Basically I got a 570 amp FIAMM and it has been fine.

Zimon

Where did you get it from. I assume most car parts retailers???? Did you have to order it or is it quite common and they'll most likely have it in stock?

 

Cheerz

Van

Hi,

 

Follow this previous thread for more info

 

http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16519&highlight=battery

 

I got my battery from the local car shop - I had to modify the battery cover and also rest it on a small block of wood as it was about 10 mm shorter that the old battery - this took 30 mins max to fix.

Cheers Zimon

Hi Van

 

Platinum battery range four year warranty, calcium plates and 650 amps Cranking power, fit perfect and in stock. (£65:00 Fitted)

 

Jeff TT

 

click here

Hi Jeff

How're you doing??

Sounds great m8. How much is it?

 

Laterz

Van

i was having trouble with my battery, losing charge after a couple of days unused.

 

 

when i took it out, it was dry.....

fortunately refilling it has sorted it out....

 

water is cheaper than a new one :D

But why was it dry?

 

Check out the voltage across the terminals with the engine running, if its over 15V then there is a problem.

 

This has happened twice to me in the last year. The first time it was a dead alternator the second time it was a dead battery.

They dry out because of the heat and also while charging they give off Hydrogen. Apply that CFT LOL.

 

One major thing to look out for is that the terminal posts are the correct way round - most cases I've seen the positive and negative posts have been the wrong way round and the battery leads on the zed are a tight fit as is so forget trying to bodge it in. It is also important to make sure that it is secure. If not, under accident conditions the battery could become a lethal missile - at least lifting up and shorting on the underside of the bonnet probably causing a fire.

 

HTH

 

CheerZ,

 

Andy

£65 Ouch!

 

I have a Halfords battery, bought only a month ago:

 

HB005

420CCA

85min capacity

 

cost £45

 

Works absolutely fine.

 

Tim

Hydrogen is given off due to overcharging.

 

During charging Lead Sulphate is converted to Lead Dioxide and metalic Lead, sometimes a very small amout of hydrogen is given off, at small locallised spots, where the plates are fully charged. But typically not enough to empty the battery.

 

Evaporation should not be a problem if it is a "sealed" battery.

 

So craig check your battery out and check the voltage across the battery with the engine running. When my battery died I was fortunate, JeffTT got me home on a wing and a prayer.

I've got a big heavy duty Bosch one for about £35 from my local trade place.

Speak to Macca as he has got a few of these for people and they are a top battery.

I've found a place. My local Motormania. £40 3 years warrantee. I' settle for that I think. Cheers anyway Jeff. I can't drive to yours otherwise I would have bought it.

 

Van

Originally posted by Zimon

Hydrogen is given off due to overcharging.

 

During charging Lead Sulphate is converted to Lead Dioxide and metalic Lead, sometimes a very small amout of hydrogen is given off, at small locallised spots, where the plates are fully charged. But typically not enough to empty the battery.

 

Evaporation should not be a problem if it is a "sealed" battery.

 

So craig check your battery out and check the voltage across the battery with the engine running. When my battery died I was fortunate, JeffTT got me home on a wing and a prayer.

 

Its not small at all if you are pushing high current through it! Here's an idea - take a look inside. Also, what is your understanding of a sealed battery???

Agreed if you are pushing high current through a battery you will get gassing, the gas is in fact a mixture of two parts Hydrogen and one part Oxygen.

 

In order to push a lot of current through a battery you need a higher voltage. By higher I mean over 15 volts. The two times I had this problem, within the last year, the voltage across the terminals was 16.8v and 18.5v respectively.

 

The first time it happened the voltage regulator in the alternator was dead. The second time the battery had failed by having an internal short, this drew a lot of current resulting in a comcomitant rise in voltage.

 

I have actually taken a look inside a battery - I used to work for Eveready in their laboratories in Tottenham and they had some which were completelt see-through.

 

A sealed battery is designed to minimise evaporation loss. There have been attempts to completely seal rechargable batteries by converting the excess energy into heat rather than into gas - all failed and some explosively! So a sealed battery does allow gas to escape, but minimises loss or water.

 

BTW I am after Mike Duffy's pedant crown.

I tried to pick up the battery this afternoon and almost bought it until I noticed that the terminals are on the wrong way round-positive on the upper right and negative on the upper left. Just my bloody luck.

Had to take the bus this morning into work-arse, never again if I can help it. This bloody meandering route and stopping to pickup people just isn't for me. Besides I didn't feel the turbos, hehe.

They will have the correct handed battery terminal one in first thing tomorrow so will be picking it up tomorrow. I miss driving her already. How do some of you fellas put up with it?

 

Laterz

Van

Originally posted by Zimon

BTW I am after Mike Duffy's pedant crown.

 

In which case, you need to spell "completely" with a y at the end. ;)

 

 

Also, should it not be "minimises loss OF water"?

 

:D ;)

:) :) :o :o

 

Ajay - Thanks for that

Van

 

Why didn't you call me. If you need help with getting one, I will be in derby tomorrow so I can take you to where ever you need to get one and help you fit it if you like.

 

Call me. I've mailed you my number.

Originally posted by Zimon

Agreed if you are pushing high current through a battery you will get gassing, the gas is in fact a mixture of two parts Hydrogen and one part Oxygen.

 

so therefore, 2 parts hydrogen = h2 plus one part oxygen =o then the "gas" given off is water????!!???

 

if not, then how can h2o be a gas and not water.

 

when does 2 gasses become a water? what makes it wet? and yes i know thats a dodgy statement(what makes it wet) before all you oohh-eerrrs pardon missus, nudge nudge wink wink brigade get started

Water is a molecule, that is a chemical union of Hydrogen and Oxygen, as you rightly say h2o.

 

The electricity breaks the water down into Hydrogen gas, H2, and Oxygen gas, O2. This gas is a mixture, the gasses are physically mixed but not chemically bonded. This mixture is very dangerous which if lit will explode to produce water.

 

Now the answer to the question how come when two gasses react together they produce a liguid was one of the biggest puzzels in chemistry. Eventually a new kind of chemical bond was discovered called the hydrogen bond - but to explain this would take a lot more words and its time for me to get some sleep - Goodnight