No start after storage

[chrismoore701]

Had a nice day today so I thought I would take my 79 out for a spin. Dead battery. Was down around 6 volts. Put a charger on it and it came up pretty quick to over 12 volts. Tried to start just to see. Not even a click. So I left charger on it for the night. Any ideas?

[Pano]

It should charge to 14.7 but I would expect a click even if it was 12+.

I just got back from 6 months of work travel. My truck had been in storage for 6 months and the battery was dead as a doornail, no click, no lights. I threw it on a charger but havent tested to see if it took a charge. I had brought a spare battery and it started right up. My car was dead and it wouldnt take a charge. It was less than 3 years old and Autozone replaced it free.

[Honest Bob]

I had a battery that charged to 12v but wouldnt last past 3 cranks. Get it tested or temporary steal one out of another vehicle and see if it fires up.

[wilkin250r]

A lead acid battery will slowly discharge on it's own. And sitting, discharged, for an extended period of time will kill the battery.

I won't bore you with the exact chemical reactions involved in producing electricity, but under normal circumstances, it's a reversible reaction. That's what allows the battery to recharge, you're reversing that chemical reaction.

If the battery sits too long, discharged, the chemical reaction is no longer reversible. The battery cannot be recharged properly.

If you DO try to recharge it, it will say it's charged, because you can indeed get it up to 12V, but it's just a small charge on the surface of the plates. As soon as you try to pull real power off it (like to start your engine), it's just not there.

A battery will several years if it's kept fully charged. But if it's allowed to sit discharged, it will be completely useless within a couple months.

[chrismoore701]

Alright so it's trickle charger time

[my56chevytruck]

Chris,
Go to your local NAPA dealer and ask for a battery charger/maintainer, their brand. for about $30 you can get a real good one. it'll charger 6v and 12v systems.

[chrismoore701]

I have a smart charger that has 2 6 and 12 amp settings. Is this the same thing?

[donut]

Not quite. If your heading to the local auto parts store, take the old battery and get it load tested. This will determine if it's worth wasting time on.

[chrismoore701]

I have to say. Pretty amazing how good it starts when you remember how to start it. Just finished it last year and I have a push button start on it and forgot about that. Battery was still low but that explains no click when it tried. Lesson learned

[cadillac_al]

Life in High land IN?

[chrismoore701]

Not saying why. Ha ha

[donut]

Glad you got it, and reported back in.