ahardb0dy Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 (edited) My 90 sentra has been cranking slow last few days, today when I got home I shut it off, grabbed my multimeter to check the Alt and battery and went to start the car and it just clicked than wouldn't do anything. I jumped it with the pathfinder and it cranked slow but started. The sentra when running has 14.10 volts at the battery and with the positive lead from the multimeter on the alt output post. When the car is off the voltage drops to about 13.6, when I turn the key on but do not try to start it the voltage drops to about 12.6, when I start the car the voltage drops down into the 8 volt area. With the jumper cables attached from the pathfinder the voltage with the key on stays around 13.6 and when I start the car the voltage stays at 13.6. To me this points to the battery being bad, the alternator is putting out 14 + volts so that seems ok, (Alt is a 110 amp out of a Maxima, stock was 60), Starter seems to be ok as it cranks as long as the voltage is up. Battery is 4 years old purchased on 05-01-09 terminals are clean and tight also Does this sound like it's the battery?? Edited June 7, 2013 by ahardb0dy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nismothunder Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 Battery. Sounds like it was froze at some point. I know, in Florida. But that's how they act when they freeze and then thaw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardb0dy Posted June 7, 2013 Author Share Posted June 7, 2013 The battery, the current one replaced lasted 4 years also, current battery is Walmart Everstart Maxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonianwalk Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 Four years is pretty darn good for a Walmart branded battery. Is it a sealed battery or, can you pop the caps off of it to inspect the electrolyte? If it is low on fluid just fill it enough to keep the cells submerged. I have always found the cells closest to the terminals to evaporate the quickest. Make sure to wear safety glasses and gloves before doing so! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nunya Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 ...but no pants Sounds like a battery issue personally. If give it a good load test as well just to have that re-assuring nail in the coffin as well though if it were me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkorahil Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 Four years is pretty darn good for a Walmart branded battery. Is it a sealed battery or, can you pop the caps off of it to inspect the electrolyte? If it is low on fluid just fill it enough to keep the cells submerged. I have always found the cells closest to the terminals to evaporate the quickest. Make sure to wear safety glasses and gloves before doing so! I started out reading the first post and was thinking exactly the same !!! even use saftey glasses! you stole the words from my mouth! exactly what I was going to say! I agree though, defiantely sounds like a battery issue with a bad cell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trogdor636 Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 Walmart batteries are made by Johnson Controls, who make a bunch of other batteries. Diehards, Costco, Autozone, Interstate off the top of my head. They even make Optima. The question has always been do they make the Walmart battery cheaper? I don't mind buying them, good warranty and there are plenty of Walmart stores to trade in if it I'm out of town and it goes bad. I've heard more complaints about Diehards than Walmart in the last few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 Walmart! *shudders* when I start the car the voltage drops down into the 8 volt area It is the battery (assuming all connections are clean and solid, wires in good condition). A battery should never drop that low when cranking, especially a little Sentra motor... B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonianwalk Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 I started out reading the first post and was thinking exactly the same !!! even use saftey glasses! you stole the words from my mouth! exactly what I was going to say! I agree though, defiantely sounds like a battery issue with a bad cell. Hehehehe .. I'm in your head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardb0dy Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share Posted June 8, 2013 (edited) yup. battery was bad, Walmart tested it, guess they did a load test, it failed. The printout said something about expected life of battery this area - 24 months, age of battery - 46 months! Guess they don't expect them to last long down here in this Florida heat !! First one I bought in 2004 lasted 5 years, second one just went 4 years. I did not know that if you say bought a walmart battery, than years later buy another one and they prorate the first one that years later if you need a third battery replacement ( like in my case), they will not prorate the second battery because you already used the warranty from the first one ! They also told me they don't prorate the batteries any more now they have a 3 year warranty and that's it. So I had to pay full price on the one I got yesterday, $102.75, another Maxx battery 24FS 750 CCA's, I like having a bigger battery in the sentra due to the stereo and stuff, I also noticed on the drive home it didn't seem like when I came to a stop and pushed the clutch in that the idle was dropping as low an d was all shaky like it has been lately. Edited June 8, 2013 by ahardb0dy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 I only buy delco and interstate batteries now. I have learned my lesson with walmart and parts store batteries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardb0dy Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share Posted June 8, 2013 I used to like Interstate, years ago but don't think they are the same anymore, I have a auto parts battery in my pathfinder right now, so far it's been fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 yup. battery was bad, Walmart tested it, guess they did a load test, it failed. The printout said something about expected life of battery this area - 24 months, age of battery - 46 months! Guess they don't expect them to last long down here in this Florida heat !! First one I bought in 2004 lasted 5 years, second one just went 4 years. I did not know that if you say bought a walmart battery, than years later buy another one and they prorate the first one that years later if you need a third battery replacement ( like in my case), they will not prorate the second battery because you already used the warranty from the first one ! They also told me they don't prorate the batteries any more now they have a 3 year warranty and that's it. So I had to pay full price on the one I got yesterday, $102.75, another Maxx battery 24FS 750 CCA's, I like having a bigger battery in the sentra due to the stereo and stuff, I also noticed on the drive home it didn't seem like when I came to a stop and pushed the clutch in that the idle was dropping as low an d was all shaky like it has been lately. Honestly, with shady policy like that and only 3 year warranty on a $100 battery, I wouldn't buy from them at all... B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nismothunder Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 I payed 70 for a bigger battery for one of my fords 850cc. I actually messed up and got the bigger diesel model batt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardb0dy Posted June 9, 2013 Author Share Posted June 9, 2013 I checked the local auto parts stores before going to Walmart, and honestly the only reason I went back to Walmart was because I thought they would prorate the old battery, had no idea they wouldn't because I already used the warranty when I got the battery I just had to replace. The auto part stores were just as expensive for their cheapest batteries as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trogdor636 Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 The one thing I do like about Interstate is they just go off the date/code on the battery if you don't have a receipt. They don't care who owned it before you. Around here anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebelord Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 The one thing I do like about Interstate is they just go off the date/code on the battery if you don't have a receipt. They don't care who owned it before you. Around here anyway. Same for Napa Batteries. Plus I have always had good luck with Napa batteries. I did have a Interstate battery last 5 yrs down in AZ. Which surprised me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesRich Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 I have used walmart batteries in my wife's quest van. They last about 4 to 5 years. They always prorate mine but maybe this is a recent policy change. I would never have bought an autozone battery but my pathfinder came with a small one that looked old when I got it. three and a half years later it's still going strong even after going dead sitting for the few months waiting on the header Y pipe I never got. I'll have to try and find a date stamp on it. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonianwalk Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 I have no loyalties to any battery when it comes to brand or where I get it. On a positive note, I have yet to experience any negative issues with any batteries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardb0dy Posted June 10, 2013 Author Share Posted June 10, 2013 Back home in NY through one of my "connections" ( a wiring terminal supply store that only sells wholesale but would sell to me), I would be running Optima batteries as I could get them extremely cheap, but living in Florida with no "connections", Walmart is usually pretty inexpensive and being there is a store almost everywhere it makes it convenient if there ever is a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trogdor636 Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Optima isn't the same company after Johnson Controls bought them. I read about issues with them as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonianwalk Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 I read about issues with them as well. Like getting a battery charger to charge one? I have a completely dead Optima red top in my wife's Prelude (shame on me) that I'm going to have wake up soon. Virtually any standard automotive battery charger on the market will charge an Optima battery just fine. However, most automotive battery chargers will not charge any battery that has been discharged below 10.5 volts. If a standard flooded battery is discharged below 10.5 volts, there’s not much of a chance that it will be serviceable again. However, AGM-style batteries, like Optimas, can be recovered from a deeply-discharged state, by using an AGM-specific charger or by parallel charging. To charge a deeply-discharged Optima with a regular charger, you can wire a second fully-charged automotive battery (12V+) to the discharged Optima in parallel (+ to + and – to –). Then hook up the charger to either battery, setting the charger at 10 amps for 2 hours and monitoring it frequently. When the discharged Optima reaches 10.5 volts or more, remove the second battery and continue charging the Optima until fully charged. Typically we recommend charging at a relatively low current, such as 2 amps, but when a battery has been deeply discharged, some sulfation of the battery plates may have occurred. However, if you charge at 10 amps, the higher current will help to break up sulfation that may have occurred. If you have an automatic charger, let it run until the charger indicates charging is complete. If you have a manual charger, estimate charging time by multiplying the capacity (amp hours or Ah) of the battery by 1.2 for a rough estimate of charging time in hours. In most cases, these steps will recover an Optima battery. It’s ok for the Optima battery to get slightly warm during the charging process, but hot to the touch or hissing from the battery indicates a short and the process should be discontinued. If you are able to fully charge the battery, but it gradually loses it's charge (without any loads on it) over 12-24 hours, the battery is probably not recoverable. If you’d rather not deal with this process, you can always take your battery to a professional battery specialist, like Interstate, who knows AGM technology. Most of them are willing to provide “charge and check” procedures for a small fee and many will provide the service for free. If you have any other questions, I’ll do my best to answer them. I appreciate your interest in Optima batteries! Jim McIlvaine eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trogdor636 Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Just the failure rate. I owned one before they were bought out. Damn thing wouldn't die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonianwalk Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Interesting. Someone had made a similar comment later in the thread that I found the quote on. I had a red top in Vajay and had to replace it shortly after my mud nightmare. I still think it was the alternator getting mucked up that lead to its early demise. I purchased both of them around the same time and her's is still (well, you know .. should be) doing fine. I'm thinking that I bought them circa '08'ish ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alkorahil Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Nissan batteries are an 84 month prorated battery. We sent out coupons last month for Nissan batteries for $109.99 +tax installed which I though was a farily good deal for the average person that has no idea how to install a battery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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