|
|
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,143
Addicted CEG\'er
|
OP
Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,143 |
My battery looks fairly old... For a while now I have noticed that when I have my lights on, or the more eletrical things I run in my car tends to drop the idle a little more... For example, I start my car in the morning, when the idle drops to normal, It usualy hovers around 800-900 RPM's... but when I turn my lights on... it drops 100 rpm's... then if I turn on the rear defroster.. it drops another 100 rpm's... Putting the idle around 600 RPM's... So a really shakey idle... I have found that when I charge the battery for a couple of hours on a trickle charge it doesnt do it... but only for a day... Do I need to get a new battery sometime soon? Or is this something else?
98 Corolla LE 1.8L DOHC 1ZZFE
TEIN H.Tech Springs
Tokico HP series Struts
Short ram air intake
Tsudo Axel Back Exhaust
... if a jelly fish stung me.. would you pee on the wound?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 21,197
I have no life
|
|
I have no life
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 21,197 |
-'96 SE MTX 3L
-'98 SVT 1,173 of 6,535
-'05 Mazda 6s, loaded, g/f's ride
-Need a 96-00 manual on CD? PM or email me
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 392
CEG\'er
|
|
CEG\'er
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 392 |
You shoul have the hole charging system check before changing parts. Check for bad connections at the battery and alternator. It's normal that the RPM lowers when you apply load at idle, but it depend how low it goes.
Nic.
Contour 99 MTX V6 fully loaded, stock with 110000km. Illuminated sunroof switch. About to do the mystique rear dome light conversion with eyeball dome light.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 735
Veteran CEG\'er
|
|
Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 735 |
You can check alternator output by measuring the voltage across the battery with the engine running. You should be getting 13.8-14.4 volts, preferably 14.something. Get your battery tested at Autozone or somewhere.....they can test it under load and tell you if you need to replace it.
'99 Sport TropicGreen,Duratec, SVT exhaust, Brembo rotors, Ceramic pads, K&N filters(oil & air), Alpine CDM7874, Polk DB570 speakers front and rear. Fog light mod. 50% Formula One tint.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,395
Hard-core CEG\'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,395 |
Make sure the battery contacts are clean, a dirty connection = more resistance, more resistance under load = less power.
Former owner of a 1995 Ford Contour GL w/ 2.0L ATX
Proud owner of a 2005 Ford Taurus SE 3.0L V6 Vulcan 
--Looking for Commodore stuff (Drives, Units, Amiga, games, etc)If anyone has any of this laying around and wants it gone, lemme know --
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,143
Addicted CEG\'er
|
|
OP
Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,143 |
Would any engine degreeser work to clean off the terminals? I have some Greesed lightning in my garage...
98 Corolla LE 1.8L DOHC 1ZZFE
TEIN H.Tech Springs
Tokico HP series Struts
Short ram air intake
Tsudo Axel Back Exhaust
... if a jelly fish stung me.. would you pee on the wound?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,700
Addicted CEG\'er
|
|
Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,700 |
Use that and a firm wire brush to clean them off. Take the terminal wires off if you can, give eahc of them a nice brush, then hit em with some 750 grit sand paper to smooth out the pits that corrosiion can cause. 
2006 Pontiac G6 3900SFI GTP Coupe
CAI, Stainless Cat Back, Vector Tune, Strut Brace, Eibach Pro Kit, Custom Made Projector Headlights, 4300K, 20% Tint
Former Owner- 2000 "Stryped" CSVT
CEG Dragon Run- Oct 13-15
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,166
Hard-core CEG\'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,166 |
As a general rule, I replace my battery every 6 years. I figure I'm only buying a little time with the old battery, and replacing it on my schedule is much easier than replacing it when it finally dies.
- Zack
WANTED: T-Red HEATED Side Mirrors
FOR SALE: 4 14" Alum Alloys and Nearly New Avid H4s Tires w/ Center Caps
2000 T-Red SVT
1995 LX V6 MTX (RIP)
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5
Newbie
|
|
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5 |
Get a load check done on the battery. In the 8 1/2 years we owned our 96 Mystique, we replaced the battery twice (once under warranty). Extreme weather swings (the car saw +40 to -40 degrees C) combined with short trips to work every day really plays havoc with batteries. And we had to go to Ford for a replacement, no aftermarket batteries available in Canada that would fit when we needed to replace them, both times in the winter. Good luck.
1996 Mystique GS, pacific green, stock. V6, ABS, traction control, alloys and steel rims, car seats for two, now SOLD. 2004 Toyota Sienna and 2002 Nissan Pathfinder (the new work truck).
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,085
Hard-core CEG\'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,085 |
Originally posted by Trainman:
Get a load check done on the battery. In the 8 1/2 years we owned our 96 Mystique, we replaced the battery twice (once under warranty). Extreme weather swings (the car saw +40 to -40 degrees C) combined with short trips to work every day really plays havoc with batteries. And we had to go to Ford for a replacement, no aftermarket batteries available in Canada that would fit when we needed to replace them, both times in the winter. Good luck.
Howdy Southerner......
The 'Search' thing will produce an opinion that the Ford replacement battery will last Longer than CanTire or other brands. 6 years and counting with Ford and 3 years for most others I've had.......
2012 Lotus Evora
---------
95 Mystique MTX - GONE 395,000 Kms
--------- Both Zetecs
'97 Contour Mtx - stock - GONE
|
|
|
|
|
