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Sephia left sitting, won't start
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IAmAI
Anonymous Poster
IAmAI.AJR@gmail.com
Mar 15, 2009, 6:44 PM
Post #1 of 9
(3176 views)
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Sephia left sitting, won't start
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Hello all. I'm writing in about my fiancee's 2001 Kia Sephia, which due to insurance reasons and moving her between states, has been sitting unused for about 9 months (since mid-summer, around July).
Ok, some basic background. First off, the car was in good repair and running without any noticible issues before it went into stasis. I expected it to be having issues when taking it out of hoc like this, since it hadn't been run regularly during that time -- but amazingly, to my surprise, it ran with no more than a jumpstart about a month and a half ago. It just required a jump to recharge the battery (not a long jumpstart at that), and was up and moving. No tire damage, oil seemed high enough (a bit dirty and in need of changing, but not that bad overall), battery was working well, etc. We only ran it about 10 minutes during that trip a month and a half ago -- and it hasn't been run since.
When we tried to run it today, it didn't start, so we figured once again a jumpstart would get it running as it did last month. Sadly enough, we spent a good hour trying to jumpstart it. I checked, using a multimeter, that 12 V was reaching her car's battery while mine was attached. But, while my car was running and attached, her car would do no more than turn over at a slow pace, but didn't start. (Even while having my car revved to a good 3000RPM and with a very strong connection between the two cars). I tested her car's battery when disattaching from point-to-point, and at times it would reach 11V or so on my multimeter, but drain to 8V after one or two times trying to start it (with it turning over, once again, but not actually starting). That said, the battery held some bit of a charge for internal appliances, but drained quickly obviously.
I could accept the battery being bad and possibly needing replacing (or not charging entirely as my multimeter indicated), and checked the water levels and filled one of them which was low in the battery afterwards. That said though, what's odd is the car wouldn't start even running off my car's power, after a good 8 minutes or so straight of my car running beyond idling.
I'm worried one issue is likely the gas (which was put in during the summer) is low, but since it's at half a tank right now, and I'm hoping to not have to run gas from the station to and from the car until it's full, and possibly drain the current gas first, I wanted to check for any other issues that might be good to check as well. Any ideas you all could give me would be appreciated, whether it relates to the battery or gas or whatever -- I'm just unsure of where to start with checking it, especially since I'm hoping to not need to tow it around. Thanks in advance for any help you can give!
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Double J
Veteran
/ Moderator
Mar 15, 2009, 7:56 PM
Post #2 of 9
(3173 views)
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Re: Sephia left sitting, won't start
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First things first!
Remove the battery and take it to Autozone Or a major parts chain to be charged and tested.
They'll do this for free
If its the original and/or more than 3 years old,i'd pitch it and put a new one in anyway.
Start there..Probably will fix the problem.
If it starts/runs ok after the new battery,drive it to Autozone and have the charging system tested too!
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IAmAI
Anonymous Poster
IAmAI.AJR@gmail.com
Mar 15, 2009, 8:22 PM
Post #3 of 9
(3170 views)
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Re: Sephia left sitting, won't start
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Thank you for your prompt response. I plan to go have the battery checked tomorrow, but I worry it may still lead to a dead end. I feel there's a decent chance the battery IS in need of replacing, which I'll do if necessary(based on the quick withdraw time of voltage as I measured after trying to start the car), but it still doesn't quite answer why the car would start while running off of the other car's battery while being jump started, especially while feeding full power over the cables -- does it? I mean, I could understand if the battery couldn't hold a charge (which I don't think it can), but wouldn't I still be able to get a start, or at least closer to it, while physically connected to the charged car?
I'll update after tomorrow's excursion to check the battery's status.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 16, 2009, 1:19 AM
Post #4 of 9
(3161 views)
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Re: Sephia left sitting, won't start
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IAmIA:
As Jim said the battery is likely the problem. I'll go further and say don't bother testing that one as you found it with one cell low so it's junk already!
More: While buying a new battery get an automatic battery maintainer/charger with float mode. Charge the new battery before installation or before starting anyway. That's just a $20 item - takes it's time but a must have for anyone who does any of their own work AND has 110vAC "house" power available.
When jumping anything it really should be just to move the needy vehicle the shortest "stone's throw" to really charge the battery and NOT rely on the alternator for that as it burns them out trying way too hard and fast to charge a dead battery or worse one with a short.
Gas may be ok and suggest a shot of Techron fuel treatment and let this gas get used up soon,
T
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IAmAI
Anonymous Poster
IAmAI.AJR@gmail.com
Mar 16, 2009, 9:18 AM
Post #5 of 9
(3153 views)
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Re: Sephia left sitting, won't start
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Thank you for the response. I will give an update as soon as I get a new battery in there or if I find this one is, somehow, fine.
The only reason I questioned it before is that it still seems beyond the battery. For instance, I disconnected the dead car's battery and jumped directly from the good car's battery to the dead car -- which should get the dead car started off of the good car's battery, right? But still, that was to no avail, with it doing little more than turning over very slowly.
I'll update once a new battery's in. Thanks
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 16, 2009, 12:03 PM
Post #6 of 9
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Re: Sephia left sitting, won't start
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True, true about isolating the dead battery like that. Note though that jumper cables and their length lose a LOT of power vs being right there like the orig battery. Most jumpers don't really cut it without some marginal help from the low battery. It takes seriously heavy gauge jumpers AND incredible clamps for that to work perfectly. Makes you want to install real cable clamps with bolts on the jumper's claw ends or something.
I do happen to have some with jaws and teeth that would cut your fingers off and take two hands to retract! Even then it's iffy each time - rarely now,
T
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IAmAI
Anonymous Poster
IAmAI.AJR@gmail.com
Mar 16, 2009, 12:19 PM
Post #7 of 9
(3137 views)
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Re: Sephia left sitting, won't start
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Very true about the jumper cables. In fact, since I've only been able to try using one car to jump it (which has new battery connections, but not a very new battery itself), and only one set of jumper cables, I've worried about the connection when jumping it anyhow. In fact, as a quick question -- I get a good spark when making the final connection to the dead car's chassis, after a few tries at least. But, after trying to jump start it, I can't get that same spark -- indicating to me an issue with the cables or the good car's battery. What do you think about the fact that I'm getting a spark and a noticibly good connection at first, but when disconnecting I can't get that same spark from the chassis and the jumper cable?
I'm going to be using an overnight battery charger tonight just in case the connection has just been bad, and if that's not good I'll just get the battery checked and replaced tomorrow and update after that. I'm hoping it works, since another worry after this goes to the starter, since I'm getting it to turn over when cranking it, but it turns over VERY slowly, even when the cars are attached.
We'll see! Thanks for the help again!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 16, 2009, 1:29 PM
Post #8 of 9
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Re: Sephia left sitting, won't start
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Not sure what you meant by the "good spark" with what way you jumped it.
Basics: Battery grounds engine first and strongest as the starter is the big enchilada of amp consumption for it's short blast. Hooking up jumpers to body metal for ground then passes back thru the assorted ground straps to the engine block and could only be as good as the total of the accumulated sources of connecting engine to body metal, frames, dash parts and so on.
The best jump would be direct to where a battery is/was of course. The overwhelming reason for the universal suggestion of making the last connection to a good ground other than and away from a potentially dead battery is to avoid making a spark from the last connection with possible explosive gasses (hydrogen made by lead acid batteries) and in some failures lots of it so the warnings are everywhere to avoid it. If and when explosive gasses are present you can smell them. I'M NOT HERE TO DENY THE SAFETY BENEFIT OF USING BODY METAL FOR THE LAST GROUND CONNECTION!
Way back when all battery cable ends were actual lead they were soft enough to mold to imperfections of hook ups. Now whatever zinced over metal is used and doesn't perform as well. I see brass ended things out there for big bucks for the fussy, copper is best but has it's own issues for certain places too. Oddly - copper can be cracked with certain forces on it so you don't see it for cable ends much or ever. Google out the crack in the COPPER Liberty bell!
T
Is: The "overnight" or trickle, slower charger concept for common automotive batteries is the very best charge you can get IMO. It even seems to have a healing power vs the super fast high amp charger for the impatient
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
/ Moderator
Mar 16, 2009, 4:26 PM
Post #9 of 9
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Re: Sephia left sitting, won't start
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IAmAI; I just glanced thru the posts. Agree 100% with the others. I didn't notice if it was mentioned,or not, but for future reference, don't ever use a running engine to 'jump start' another vehicle. Good way to damage the running vehicles' electronics. If you HAVE to do it, (which I won't) disconnect the battery in the good vehicle before attempting the jump so as to isolate the good vehicle's system.
Loren
SW Washington
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