|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,693
Hard-core CEG'er
|
Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,693 |
Originally posted by ThomasBrown:
Thank You very much guys, I checked out the awesome how-to Ray put together and I believe with some help from a friend we should get it swapped out.
Follow up question... will installing a different type of battery that came out of a Porsche damage your alternator or anything else? I was away on business in our other car when our battery died on my wife and my father in law (attempting to save money) bought or found an old Porsche battery and installed it. Started and ran for a few weeks then the battery light came on and later that day we lost all electric. Will doing this damage the alternator or more?
A Porsch battery should not have hurt anything. Really, nearly any car 12 volt battery should not have hurt anything.
Jim Johnson
98 SVT
03 Escape Limited
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,100
Addicted CEG\'er
|
|
Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,100 |
Originally posted by ThomasBrown:
lost all electric.
elaborate?
No charging? no lights? no interior illumination?
Ray
'99 CSVT - Silver #222/276
In a constant state of blow-off euphoria.
Originally posted by Kremitthefrog:
I like to wear dresses and use binoculars to watch grandmas across the street.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 29
New CEG\'er
|
|
OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 29 |
My wife was on the highway and the battery light came on and shortly after she started losing lights, both headlights and interior lights then she started losing engine power untill she finally had to pull over. She couldn't even put on her hazzards. What do you think Ray?
Plain Jane 2000 Contour SE Duratec V-6
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 29
New CEG\'er
|
|
OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 29 |
Jim,
Thanks for the reply, I thought
it might have messed up something, but now I see your point, 12 volts are 12 volts so it shouldn't have made a diference.
Thanks
Plain Jane 2000 Contour SE Duratec V-6
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 29
New CEG\'er
|
|
OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 29 |
Tony,
To test the alternator where do I need to place the leads of my meter to get a reading?
Plain Jane 2000 Contour SE Duratec V-6
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,345
Addicted CEG\'er
|
|
Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,345 |
Originally posted by ThomasBrown:
Tony,
To test the alternator where do I need to place the leads of my meter to get a reading?
Same as battery test, on the postive and negative terminals.
"Always do the cheap and easy ones first."
1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,345
Addicted CEG\'er
|
|
Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,345 |
Originally posted by ThomasBrown:
My wife was on the highway and the battery light came on and shortly after she started losing lights, both headlights and interior lights then she started losing engine power untill she finally had to pull over. She couldn't even put on her hazzards. What do you think Ray?
I was just wondering. Wouldn't a fully discharged battery cause additional strain on an alternator? And wouldn't recharging the battery from zero charge (deep cycling) cause the battery to eventually die out? Especially if it was not rated for the Contour to begin with. Not saying that the used Porshe battery had a lower rated cranking amps but a used or junk yard one might not have the required cranking amps to sustain the starting or the continued running of the lights/accessories and charging of the alternator. Of course, this is assuming the alternator is up to snuff to begin with. 
"Always do the cheap and easy ones first."
1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,693
Hard-core CEG'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,693 |
Originally posted by Tony2005:
Originally posted by ThomasBrown:
My wife was on the highway and the battery light came on and shortly after she started losing lights, both headlights and interior lights then she started losing engine power untill she finally had to pull over. She couldn't even put on her hazzards. What do you think Ray?
I was just wondering. Wouldn't a fully discharged battery cause additional strain on an alternator? And wouldn't recharging the battery from zero charge (deep cycling) cause the battery to eventually die out? Especially if it was not rated for the Contour to begin with. Not saying that the used Porshe battery had a lower rated cranking amps but a used or junk yard one might not have the required cranking amps to sustain the starting or the continued running of the lights/accessories and charging of the alternator. Of course, this is assuming the alternator is up to snuff to begin with.
The alternator compensates automatically for a wide variance in battery condition. Basically, when the battery is low on charge, the charging amps will increase with a drop in voltage (ohms law). In extreme circumstances an alternator will overheat and could be damaged if it must constantly compensate for a battery that will not accept a charge. It would take a few hours of driving, not just a few minutes. Also a battery that constantly does not get sufficient charge will eventually die. These are extreme conditions. Most always the alternator will increase amps to charge a battery that just cranked an engine (by far the biggest electrical load), the battery comes up, and the alternator settles down.
It is always wise to slow charge a deeply discharged battery (trickle charge at 2 amps overnight for example) so that the battery can properly recomver before subjecting it to normal use before it fully recovered.
I don't know if this helped. Did I help clear things up?
Jim Johnson
98 SVT
03 Escape Limited
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,345
Addicted CEG\'er
|
|
Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,345 |
Originally posted by Big Jim:
I don't know if this helped. Did I help clear things up?
Yep, thanks.
"Always do the cheap and easy ones first."
1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 29
New CEG\'er
|
|
OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 29 |
Plain Jane 2000 Contour SE Duratec V-6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
