"Agrajag" (Agrajag)
03/01/2014 at 21:46 • Filed to: Conundrum
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15|
"Agrajag" (Agrajag)
03/01/2014 at 21:46 • Filed to: Conundrum | 0
| 15 |
A picture for your efforts.
This morning(2°F) I went to start my Caprice and all I get is a click. I have power, and the battery reads 12.5v. I attempted the tapping of the starter with a hammer trick too no avail. Also tried a jump pack.
My first thoughts were a failed starter solenoid, but when I tried again in the afternoon, now a sweltering 25°F, it fired right up. A co-worker suggested the cold affected it somehow, but I've never heard of that happening. Hopefully a fluke event, but any input is appreciated. Thanks.
Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
> Agrajag
03/01/2014 at 21:52 |
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it's probably the battery having issues with colder weather. this is similar to what I have experienced.
Slave2anMG
> Agrajag
03/01/2014 at 21:58 |
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Weak battery.
desertdog5051
> Agrajag
03/01/2014 at 22:05 |
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Battery should have 13.5 + volts.
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desertdog5051
> Agrajag
03/01/2014 at 22:10 |
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Take the car to an AutoZone or similar and have them check the battery. Probably dying. Voltage test is not the best way to tell. Amperage tells a lot more about the battery condition.
RotaryLover
> Agrajag
03/01/2014 at 22:11 |
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Remember that you may have 12.5 V but have low Cold Crank Amperage. This is as important as the voltage, a higher CCA is always better! I would charge the battery overnight and do a battery test at the local pepboys/autozone/canadian tire.
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Agrajag
> Slave2anMG
03/01/2014 at 22:11 |
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I forgot to mention I tried a jump pack just in case it was the battery. No difference.
/willedit
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Agrajag
> Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
03/01/2014 at 22:15 |
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I've had cold affected issues before, which usually resulted in dim interior lights and the likes. When I first turned the key, I still had the heat on full blast, the radio playing and the door opened so the dome lights were on. The blower didn't slow and the lights didn't dim. I certainly turned off all those things for the second attempt.
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Agrajag
> desertdog5051
03/01/2014 at 22:19 |
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I guess I'll do a load test of the battery just in case, but see my replies to Zipppy and Slave2anMG. The battery isn't even a year old yet. Baffling.
Thisnewformatisrubbish
> Agrajag
03/01/2014 at 22:32 |
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Batteries can freeze. They don't like that. Motors seize, not freeze.
Corroded cables plus low amps = no joy.
samssun
> desertdog5051
03/01/2014 at 22:44 |
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Battery should have 12.6v if completely charged. It's 6x 2.1v cells in series. You'll see 13.5-14.5 when the engine is running, because the alternator runs higher voltage in order to charge the battery.
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samssun
> Agrajag
03/01/2014 at 22:48 |
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Everybody is mentioning the current test under load — it's possibly to have a "surface charge" where you measure voltage but aren't able to sustain it when a load (like cranking) is applied. You could try leaving a charger on it overnight to ensure it really is charged.
If you get a single "click", rather than a series of them or whirring, try turning the key to crank and holding it there for a full second or two. Sometimes when it's very cold my starter seems to stick so if I just crank it won't turn over but if I hold the key there a second or two it'll start up like normal.
PS9
> Agrajag
03/01/2014 at 22:53 |
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Yes, It can. The question is, do you want it unfrozen or not?
Non of the standard methods will work, And you don't have the funds for a new car. I know it was you who delivered pizza to Batman that one time. No one else drives that make/model/color Caprice. And of course, no one else's Caprice comes with a frozen starter. Just give me the information I want, and I can return you to normalcy. Fail to and...well...starters aren't the only thing I can freeze.
offroadkarter
> desertdog5051
03/01/2014 at 23:01 |
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Thats only when a car is running, a battery alone is normally around 12.8V
Hence it being a "12V" circuit and a "12V" battery
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offroadkarter
> Agrajag
03/01/2014 at 23:02 |
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The clicking you heard probably was the starter solenoid.
I've started my bronco up in -6F with no block heater or anything, very weird that yours would just freeze up.
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Agrajag
> PS9
03/01/2014 at 23:13 |
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Chill man, it's cool. Batman likes his pizza topped with.....
Man, I was just about to spill on Batman when Chris O'Donnell showed up and helped. I guess he's got to be good for something.
