Battery down to 2 volts with no warning.

[straycatkid]

I tried to start 'er up this mornig to go to work, completely dead. No cranking, no lights. Drove a p.o.s. pontiac we have lying around to work instead.

Got home, tested the battery with my father... when a "dead" battery can have 6 or 7 volts, this was at 2 and change. Obviously, I need a new battery, but how could this have happened with no warning? I haven't had to jump it, it hasn't stalled on me or anything at all. The batter is maybe a year and a half old, I just think this is strange, especially given how dead it is with no sign prior to this.

[earthworm]

Originally Posted by straycatkid

I tried to start 'er up this mornig to go to work, completely dead. No cranking, no lights. Drove a p.o.s. pontiac we have lying around to work instead.

Got home, tested the battery with my father... when a "dead" battery can have 6 or 7 volts, this was at 2 and change. Obviously, I need a new battery, but how could this have happened with no warning? I haven't had to jump it, it hasn't stalled on me or anything at all. The batter is maybe a year and a half old, I just think this is strange, especially given how dead it is with no sign prior to this.

I have had this happen to me, once with the '50 Super - a warrantied 18 month battery - only 9 months old...A Delco battery yet..
Maybe one out of 500 batteries will fail when several of the rather frail plates fall and short a cell or two... end of battery.
Automotive batteries do have some QC problems, but I'd say it is under control...

[Snaab:)]

All true earthworm, but might I ask how long was the car sitting from last driving? Just thinking if it isn't a QC prob with the batt, then he might have some short somewhere that drained it and the replacement battery won't be the fix. Have you tried to recharge the battery or take it into the shop and have them boost charge it for yeah? Just thinking no sense in throwing money at a new batt if it's not the prob.

I found a "2 day" battery draining short (if I left the car longer then that the battery was too low to start the car) in my 72 Alpha Romeo by removing each fuse one at a time and putting an ammeter across the fuse circuit. When the meter showed current flow I knew what circuit was causing it. I traced it to a light socket in the rear passenger compartment.

[straycatkid]

I drive the car every day, so it wasn't sitting more than 9 or 10 hours or so when I went to start it this morning.

I was able to jump it from my father's Expedition and it's been charging for the last several hours. Maybe it was just a bad battery, not a terribly short life, but not a good, long one either.

[earthworm]

Battery brand ? Good to know this
Miles?
Who installed it ?
Warranty ? You should be covered

[straycatkid]

Battery is a Bosch.
Mileage on the car is about 158K
Unfortunately.. Pep Boys installed it for me, had no choice at the time.

[earthworm]

"Bosch" no longer has any meaning - it is probably just a cheapie made by Johnson Controls in this country - with a Bosch sticker on it. Check out batteries.com or similar..

But you must be covered by warranty...just as I was nigh 50 years ago .....I hope your papers are still attached to the battery, in a moisture tight plastic bag.