924Board.org

1st car · Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Posts: 57 Location: VA

I have a 1979 924 sebering that drains battery power in the winter but is fine during the summer.

numbbers · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:48 am Post subject:

Well, if you haven't replaced the battery, start there. A sulfated battery will crank an engine when it is warm, but in the winter, when the oil is thick, it won't handle it.
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1980 924 Turbo

1st car · Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Posts: 57 Location: VA

I Have tryed replacing the battery and it still drans in the winter. I tried pulling some fuses and that dint work ether.
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1979 924 sebring project car (first car)
and a 1996 saab 900 turbo SE

dpw928 · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 1860 Location: owasso, ok 74055

Any lead acid battery will lose part of its charge when stored for long periods. If you have a clock and programmed stations on the radio you could be drawing it down by up to 300 ma per hour. Recommend you get a battery maintainer or occasionally slow charge the stored battery to keep it from completely discharging.

Dennis
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81 931 5 sp
78 928 5 sp Silver
78 928 AT Euro Black

Ozzie · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 11:51 am Post subject:

The battery electrolyte also varies its effectiveness with temperature.
A cold battery has to have a higher hydrometer reading to have the same value as warm.
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Porsche 924 1984 (UK import) NA
Its AUTO and its BLACK
Montego Black on black/red
Engineer of Electro/Mechanical Systems Maintenance

D Hook · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 3158 Location: Omaha, NE

How long does it take it to drain down? Are we talking overnight or over the span of a week/month?

A battery trickle charger will keep it at a steady charge and keep it (the battery) from freezing if the car is only started occasionally during the winter months.
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'80 924 n/a SOLD

dpw928 · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 1860 Location: owasso, ok 74055

A few weeks at 300 ma draw will be enough drain to keep it from starting. My 931 will only go about two weeks before I have to give it a jump or recharge.

Dennis
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81 931 5 sp
78 928 5 sp Silver
78 928 AT Euro Black

Lizard · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 2:09 pm Post subject:

I would strongly recommend that you purchase (if you dont have already) an ohm meter, and then you disconnect the - battery lead and put the black cord onto the - term of the battery, and the red on the ground cable and read EXACTLY how many ohms are being drawn.
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3 928s,

Ozzie · Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 6:57 pm Post subject:

And blow up the ohm meter in the process.
You want an AMP meter which goes down to milliamps.
_________________
Porsche 924 1984 (UK import) NA
Its AUTO and its BLACK
Montego Black on black/red
Engineer of Electro/Mechanical Systems Maintenance

1st car · Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Posts: 57 Location: VA

I pulled my clock and radeo and the fuses to them. The battery drans over nite but i hadent been driving it alot so that may have been the problem too.
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1979 924 sebring project car (first car)
and a 1996 saab 900 turbo SE

IXLOR8 · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Posts: 49

I have a Ford Crown Vic Police Interceptor that I use for work. I have a lot of current draw with the use of the lightbar, strobes and sirens. I have found that when a battery is discharge, that the cars charging system will not have the ability to bring it back to full charge. This can only be done with a battery charger. To charge a 12 volt battery, it will take 6 to 12 hours at 10 AMP's depending on the state of charge.

I would say it would be a good idea to charge the battery with a automatic charger at 10 AMP's. Many of the auto parts stores have in house battery checks. You might have a bad cell in the battery too.

Check the date code on the battery. If it is over 36 months old, I would buy a new battery.

I use a battery maintainer on my Camaro and Porsche. The cars always start.
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Wisconsin

Lizard · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 9:05 am Post subject:

uh oh the cops have arrived, flush the drugs, bury the guns, hide the radar detectors/jammers.

no officer none of us speed that would be illegal wouldnt it,

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3 928s,

1st car · Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Posts: 57 Location: VA

I replaced the batery recently and i have in the past carged at 10 AMP's. Could it be a problem if i have a wire that is parcily striped tuching the hood.
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1979 924 sebring project car (first car)
and a 1996 saab 900 turbo SE

Paul · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 2:35 pm Post subject:

If it's connected to the + side of the battery....FIRE!

1st car · Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Posts: 57 Location: VA

I taped up the wire tucking the hood and it wasent conected to the batery (was just to the right if your looking in from the front). This dosn't solve the problem it just keeps draning during the winter months. I don't have pics of it yet but if any one thinks it will help tell me and i will post some.
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1979 924 sebring project car (first car)
and a 1996 saab 900 turbo SE