Don't read if your offended by a car question...

[UrbanCowboy]

I need help with my girlfriend's contour. The truck has break problems and the car has electrical problems. I need to fix one in this 0 degree weather before driving 300 miles tomorrow. The truck looks to have some serious break issues, so I'm hoping to fix the car. Hope ya'll don't mind the post, I'm desperate.

Alright, so here is the deal. One morning I wake up and the battery is dead. I jump start the car and go about my business. I go christmas shopping and make a number of stops with no problems. The next morning, however, the battery is dead again.

That is kinda where I stand now. The car starts fine if it sits for a short period, but the moment you let it sit for a couple hours or more the battery dies. To the best of my knowledge, everything is turned off in the car.

Furthermore, it no seems that I am having additional electrical problems. The radio doesn't respond, neither do the dome lights or heater. The only thing that works is the power windows and locks. (not sure about the headlights).

[Tray]

Sounds like you need either a new battery or possibly an alternator.

Before jumping into anything however, take it by AutoZone, or Checkers, or Advance Auto, or somewhere that will check your electrical system for free. They can identify a bad battery, and/or a bad alt.

If neither of these seem to be the problem, you may have a short somewhere that is draining your system. Have you added any accessories to the car?

[mattadams]

How old is the vehicle? I know years ago Fords used to be notorious for having bad battery cables that would get corroded very easily, not only where they connect to the battery but also where they connect to the frame. Might want to check for that. If they look corroded, you can try to remove the corroded section and just shorten the cable, or just replace them (though that'd be a pain int eh cold!)
Could also just be a bad battery, how old is that? Is it one of the batteries that needs water to be maintained?

[cory]

sounds like you have a dead cell in the battery, and the ghetto way to check you alt is to start the car and disconnect the battery if it dies buy a new alt thats it nice and easy but not cheap.

[Walker2970]

get it running and get it to Autozone have them check the altinator could be discharging the battery even while it is off also the altinator could be
" spiking" causing problems with the electrical so check the fuses if all else fails give me a call an i will see if i can come over and help get it figured out



Jake 720-982-9468

[UrbanCowboy]

Thanks guys. I got similar advice from a guy on a contour forum. I was going to head to Checker after work but I might try to squeeze it in over lunch. Hmmmm, there is a Napa across the street from where I work, I'm an idiot! I trust them more than Checker anyway. I must admit, I'm kinda confused as to why the radio and stuff doesnt work when the car is running. I've never experienced that b4 with a running car but what do I know. I'll keep ya'll informed.

BTW, my truck seems to have a problem with the parking break sticking. someone suggested it might be rusted in several places including in the roter. I don't think I'll be driving the truck for a while. Not sure when I can address a problem like that.

[cory]

i have front spares you can get at if that helps , the bronco should be the same

[cory]

oopps the back just might have a little crusted mudd mine doesnt work either dont feel like cleaning it

[UrbanCowboy]

I went over the Napa. The dude wasn't very happy what I was trying to get him out in the cold to look at my car. He perked up when his meter indicated a failing battery. He perked up more when the new battery rang up at $115 because it's "special." I'll put it in at lunch and see what happens. The old batter has been working since I jump started it this morning so it can hold a charge for 1.5 hours at least. Still no radio though. hehe

[Tray]

$115 for a battery? Better be an Optima or something.

Hopefully that solves the problem, and all will be good.

[cory]

$115 DOLLER'S did he let you kick him in the ass too that's bs go optima for that price.

[UrbanCowboy]

Now you're all making me feel bad. I just want the car to run again. I don't have time to consider alternative batteries and such. :( I know it's probably a high price but it's got to be an exception to the rule for some reason

[cory]

your right about that gotta do what ya gotta do i think we all been there

[Tray]

Yeah, not trying to make you feel bad, but next time don't let anyone talk you into any $115 dollar battery unless it is an optima.

You did what you had to do to get it running again, which we've all done at some point or another.

[mattadams]

yup, I wouldn't feel bad, crisises are not the best time to make decisions because you need something, right now, to make things work again. It does seem a little high though, hopefully it has a good warranty and all, you typically get what you pay for.

[smoothengagement]

deff. a bad batt.. my moms van did the same exact thing.. and the 2 weeks later my wifes car did the same exact thing.... the reason u loose stereo and such is because the alt. is trying too hard to charge ur batt. and it wont keep the charge. find out what kind of batt. he sold you? i want to know what costs $112..... and optima's arent the greatest. especially on a contour. wouldnt do much. the alt. would be really limiting,.

[UrbanCowboy]

It's a Napa Legend 75.

Attributes:
Attributes: Battery - NAPA Legend 75 Month
# of Volts: 12 Volts
Wet or Dry: Wet
Application: Automotive
BCI Group #: 24F
Post Type: Top Mount
C.C.A. at 0 Degrees F.: 675 CCA
C.A.at 32 Degrees F.: 835 CA
Load Test Amps: 338 Amps
Reserve Capacity: 115 Minutes
Length: 10 5/8''
Width: 6 3/4''
Height: 8 7/8''
Weight: 39 lbs

[rino351]

I don't know much about batteries, but that does seem like an awful lot of dough to pay.
I don't see what is so great about an optima. anyone want to share why they are so great?

[UrbanCowboy]

I've never heard of one in a stock car but...

Sealed maintenance free technology - No leaking even if case is broken!
Shock and vibration resistant
Light weight
Corrosion free terminals
Resealable pressure release valve
Can be mounted anyway you want, even upside down

[Walker2970]

and you can shoot it with a .30-06 and still start your truck try that with a interstate


Jake

[Tray]

#1 is that they provide many more cold cranking amps than a typical stock battery. This allows for extra juice to those added accessories (lights, amplifiers, etc...)

#2 is the life. They will drain/charge, drain/charge, for as long as you own your car, and will continue to provide you with juice any time you need it. Even if a car sits for years without being used.

There are many other benefits like those listed by U.C.

[Tray]

24F is a pretty common size, and 675 CCA isn't anything great, so I don't know what is special, but at least it's taken care of.

[UrbanCowboy]

Well I got the battery in. It is running in the car out front of work. It still needs to charge. When I put it in and started it the first time, all was well until I tried to turn on the headlights and then it died. So I'm doing a better charge now. Still no interior lights, radio etc but hopefully that will come back. I want to check the fuse box but I couldn't find it and I had left the manual at work when I went to lunch.

[mattadams]

yeah not sure if the contour is teh same, but on my F-150, if the battery is nearly dead, it seems the radio is one of the first things to go out. not sure if its got a modujle or something to shut itself off if the battery is going out or what. If thats not it, fuses would be my next guess.

[Glass]

Might want to also check for any fusable links that the car could have...dont know if it has any or not, but it could explain the numerous electrical problems and the constant draining of the battery...

--John

[UrbanCowboy]

fusable links? Makes me wonder about the thick metal wire I found on the ground where I park. Looks like a 6" long piece of a metal coat hanger with electrical tape on the end.

[Glass]

Fuseable link is just wire with a built in kind of fuse into it...the wire...might be some kind of body to block, block to frame ground wire? Whenever theres an electrical problem, its good to locate all the grounds for the electrical system, pull them one at a time, clean the surface they connect to, and the connectors. Checking grounds has taken care of a ton of my lil pesty friggin electrical problems. Ill usually make sure ALL the bulbs in and on my truck are working too, that none are burnt out...i doubt that could lead to whats going on with you, but hell..im paranoid. If youre able to, check the wires going down to the starter too, and the wires going to and from the alternator. Hope i didnt confuse you at all. Good luck trackin this down.

--John

[UrbanCowboy]

So, the golden battery seems to be working so far. As for the radio etc, they're working too. I checked the fuses and the radio fuse was good but the courtesy light fuse was blown. Replacing the courtset light fuse fixed all the problems. Well almost, the heater works but only if you have the fan set to the highest setting. It blows on high but not any of the lower, less noisy levels.

[smoothengagement]

major draw back of an optima... u will allways be charging inless u upgrade ur alt. as well. pointless in a regular car... and yeah alot police cars have optimas for the getting shot reason, but also have higher amperage alt.s and like a friend at school pointed out.. the engine cant withstand a large cal. bullet and nither can the rad.. hey if u want i can check ur contour out.. ull have to come here or meet me somewhere half way.. but if ur still having trouble let me know. we can figure something out.... also i dont know whats specail about the batt. u bought?!?!! call anouther nappy and ask them about what batt. u would need for ur contour, and if they quote u the same ask they what it is that is special about it!?!?

[clavos]

My dad had an Optima in his diesel Mercedes for 14 years with no problems or charging neccesary. When he finally swapped it for a new one, the battery wasn't the problem, he needed a new starter.

[Walking Eagle]

I had an Optima and was not impressed. It crapped out after about 10 months. When the Optima started to fail, I first started having troubles with my stereo and amps. Replaced it with a normal battery from Autozone and it's been in there a couple of years.

[smoothengagement]

alot of guys on RPS. say in the cold weather optimas go pretty quick.. they usally die in about a 12 mounths.. something with the gel..

[mattadams]

I've got two optmas rght now in mine, and have had no problems. I know when my transmssion was dead and it sat for months at a time without being started, I would use the second battery to jump start the other, and they'd start rght up and charge just fine. I dont recall how long they've been in there...

[smoothengagement]

but u have a higher amp alt. dont you??

[mattadams]

yeah but its not much higher then stock. Stock on a F-150 is 130 amp alternator, mine is a 150. Mine was more just a replacement for stock to a slightly upgraded format

[smoothengagement]

yeah mine is 50 or 60.. if i had an optima my alt would work all the damn time, if i was draining the batt. my truck also only has a 40 amp draw with everything on

[UrbanCowboy]

Well I made it to and from Grand Junction with no problems. I was even able to listen to the stereo and catch the Bronco's game on the way home. Got some more grief on the battery from my woman's dad. According to the title, it's his car.

[smoothengagement]

WTF.. what did he say?

[UrbanCowboy]

Nothing more than you guys... "You paid how much for a battery?" :)

[dannan_w]

i don't want to rain on your day but the raido and some lights run straight off the alt. so that migh be your problem as well. that is one expencive batt. hope it lasts a long time for that price. napa is the must expencive of all places but they only cary exelent quality.

[smoothengagement]

i don't want to rain on your day but the raido and some lights run straight off the alt.
thats not really true... if that were true they wouldnt work when to engine wasnt running!

[Tray]

If his name is on the title, you should have asked for a reimbursement check.

[UrbanCowboy]

Okay, two comments now. I better reply. The radio etc was a fuse problem not an alternator. As far as the woman's Pop, it is her car and he bought it for her. He just felt the need to keep it in his name. It just so happens I drive it and she doesn't.