240 sx battery problem
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JIMMCCARTHY
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2015 9:19 am
- Car: My 240sx battery is 10 years old. AutoZone re-charged it yesterday, started right up. Today only weak cranking sound, but wouldn't start. Is it too old to hold a charge and should be it replaced?
240 sx battery problem
I have a 1990 240 SX which I only use 6 months a year when I'm in Fla. The rest of the time it's on a battery tender. Although the battery is 10 years old, when I found it to be dead yesterday, AutoZone drained it and re-charged it. After that the car started right up. This morning it would only make a weak cranking sound as if it was trying to turn the starter but didn't have enough juice. I'm guessing the battery is too old to hold a charge, but I wanted to get some expert advice from you guys and gals before replacing it. Also any advice on the best place to buy a new battery? Thanks.
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RickBlaine
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2013 5:08 pm
- Car: 1991 Nissan 240sx SE
- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: 240 sx battery problem
Yes, your battery is dead. Ten years is way past its life expectancy.
A cheap multimeter can confirm if you are getting at least 12.6 volts or not. Most likely, due to age and repeated charge cycles, one or more of the 6 cells (2.2 volts each) is (are) fried out.
98% of all batteries sold in the USA are made by one of three manufacturers- Johnson Controls, East Penn, and Exide. Sellers slap their name on them and offer 1 year, 18 month, 2 year, 3 year, or in some cases longer FULL replacement warranty. (The pro-rated portion of the warranty is not worth it).
Lately, Advance Auto offers group 24 size batteries with a 3 year full replacement warranty for about $75 if you order online and use one of their 30% off online coupons. You can pay $200+ for a battery from a specialty manufacturer, but unless you have all kinds of electronics and stereo equipment added in, you are wasting your money.
When you pick up a battery, make sure it is "fresh". A month/year sticker should confirm it is no older than 3 months. Regardless if you buy a battery from Interstate, Sears, Costco, Sam's Club, Pep Boys, WalMart, Advance Auto, Autozone, etc get it registered, and save the receipt (make a copy and email it to your smart phone).
Did you notice that the battery is actually NOT 12 volts? A new battery should put out 13.2 volts, not 12. Even if the battery puts out enough volts- it may no longer be able to hold a charge- as yours no longer is able to do.
Know that heat kills a battery faster than cold. Cold will prolong the life, but reduce the cranking amp output.
One more thing- weight. A Group 24 battery may weigh more than 10 pounds more than the minimum battery recommended for your car. If you race, you may want to think about those 10 pounds.....
A cheap multimeter can confirm if you are getting at least 12.6 volts or not. Most likely, due to age and repeated charge cycles, one or more of the 6 cells (2.2 volts each) is (are) fried out.
98% of all batteries sold in the USA are made by one of three manufacturers- Johnson Controls, East Penn, and Exide. Sellers slap their name on them and offer 1 year, 18 month, 2 year, 3 year, or in some cases longer FULL replacement warranty. (The pro-rated portion of the warranty is not worth it).
Lately, Advance Auto offers group 24 size batteries with a 3 year full replacement warranty for about $75 if you order online and use one of their 30% off online coupons. You can pay $200+ for a battery from a specialty manufacturer, but unless you have all kinds of electronics and stereo equipment added in, you are wasting your money.
When you pick up a battery, make sure it is "fresh". A month/year sticker should confirm it is no older than 3 months. Regardless if you buy a battery from Interstate, Sears, Costco, Sam's Club, Pep Boys, WalMart, Advance Auto, Autozone, etc get it registered, and save the receipt (make a copy and email it to your smart phone).
Did you notice that the battery is actually NOT 12 volts? A new battery should put out 13.2 volts, not 12. Even if the battery puts out enough volts- it may no longer be able to hold a charge- as yours no longer is able to do.
Know that heat kills a battery faster than cold. Cold will prolong the life, but reduce the cranking amp output.
One more thing- weight. A Group 24 battery may weigh more than 10 pounds more than the minimum battery recommended for your car. If you race, you may want to think about those 10 pounds.....
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JIMMCCARTHY
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2015 9:19 am
- Car: My 240sx battery is 10 years old. AutoZone re-charged it yesterday, started right up. Today only weak cranking sound, but wouldn't start. Is it too old to hold a charge and should be it replaced?
Re: 240 sx battery problem
Thanks Rick. Your information is very useful. Funny thing is, I just applied for the online discount at Advance for a 3 year replacement warranty battery (although it's 20% now). My 240sx is all original and has less than 50,000 miles on it. It was my mother-in-laws and she passed away and left it to us. Great car, but I'll save the racing for my Porsche. Thanks again.
Jim
Jim
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PapaSmurf2k3
- Site Admin
- Posts: 18997
- Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2002 3:20 pm
- Car: 2017 Corvette, 2018 Focus ST, 1993 240sx truck KA Turbo.
- Location: Merrimack, NH
Re: 240 sx battery problem
Holy crap, you got 10 years out of a battery?!
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Hijacker
- Posts: 14373
- Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2003 4:57 am
- Car: '92 240sx Convertible
'94 F-150 - Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Re: 240 sx battery problem
My dad got 15 years out of his original Motorcraft battery in his F-150 (1994-2009). Mom made him change it because she was afraid it was going to strand him sooner than later. So he pulled a still functional battery from service after 15 years. Literally won the battery lottery.PapaSmurf2k3 wrote:Holy crap, you got 10 years out of a battery?!
Listen to Rick, OP. He definitely knows his stuff. There are multiple factors that can lead to a battery kicking the bucket. I get the feeling with the age of the current battery you have, it's the specific gravity. But you definitely got your money's worth for the one you have and should have no shame in picking up a replacement for it.
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ricebike
- Posts: 3381
- Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2003 7:03 pm
- Car: 1989 240sx se 5spd (donated to my brother in law)
2002 Quest
2005 Altima - Location: CNJ
Re: 240 sx battery problem
I got 8 years out of my walmart Maxx series battery, their top of the line made by Johnson controls.
It carried a 3 year free replacement warranty and then an additional 2 year pro-rated warranty.
If you lose the receipt, theyll go by the date code on a round sticker.... month is usually a letter then the number of the year. Ex: J5 is October 2015
In this jc battery, i found that the 34 series is shorter, but packs more CCA & they usually have a spacer with it. Its 800cca vs 725cca of the size24
The only con is the caps are sealed & i cant check the liquid levels and add distilled water especially if you're in the southern region.
It carried a 3 year free replacement warranty and then an additional 2 year pro-rated warranty.
If you lose the receipt, theyll go by the date code on a round sticker.... month is usually a letter then the number of the year. Ex: J5 is October 2015
In this jc battery, i found that the 34 series is shorter, but packs more CCA & they usually have a spacer with it. Its 800cca vs 725cca of the size24
The only con is the caps are sealed & i cant check the liquid levels and add distilled water especially if you're in the southern region.