[elky] Re: Battery holding charge while sitting unused

  • From: John Christensen <johncgg@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 16:13:34 -0600

Good Deal Dan. By pure coincidence, I tried starting the El Camino today.
This was after putting it to rest after starting it and taking it around the
block that same 6 weeks ago. This time, I turned the ignition on to let the
fuel pump build pressure. Turned it off, and turned it on again for about 10
seconds. When I hit it, she fired right up this time.

I had been moving all the vehicles around earlier to allow free access to
the front door for the ambulance to pick up Grandma, unfortunately. Things
had calmed down, and I had to move everything again, so the keys were in
hand.

Fortunately, we don't think it was a heart attack, but maybe a bug that got
her coughing uncontrollably. Her blood pressure was through the roof, and
her chronic bronchitis is a poor bedfellow for a cold. I dialed the phone
when I heard her say "I don't think I'm gonna make it" and Mom asked if we
needed to call for help. She was fine and responsive to the helpers. They
were amazed that she could still navigate around at 96. She will be there
overnight for observation, before she starts telling them all to send her
home again. She just likes my cookin' better <G>

So make with the +++~~~   they are much appreciated.

JC

133d0d2310
---
John Christensen
1984 El Camino "Elkenstein" 350 TBI
NECOA #042 http://www.myelcamino.net
Saint Charles, IL
133d0d2310




On Tue, Mar 9, 2010 at 1:44 PM, Dann Keller <kwhale22@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> A while back, about six weeks to be exact, there was a thread about
> batteries discharging while the vehicle was not in use.  Some of the posters
> said they couldn't even go a week without the battery being dischared others
> went longer.  I volunteered to give the process a real test.
>
> We were gone for a couple of days less than six weeks - Jan. 26 to March 7
> to be exact.  The Elky was parked in the garage while we were gone; it
> wasn't started or left on a trickle charger.  The garage is attached to the
> house; only the door and ceiling are uninsulated.  The outside temps were
> only as low as 30 while we were gone; unlikely the temp in the garage got
> less than 40 under those circumstance.  The house temp was set to hold 50
> while we were gone.
>
> The bottom line, ta dah, drum roll, etc., after a couple of jabs at the gas
> pedal it cranked for about 5 or 6 seconds and fired right up.  I was both
> surprised and pleased.
>
> I don't try to explain it or why others discharge while sitting.  The only
> thing on when it is sitting is the digital clock in the radio.
>
> The battery is a Sears DieHard about 8 1/2 years old with the Elk doing
> about 25,00 miles during that time.  We haven't been getting too many miles
> on it the last few years for a variety of reasons.
>
> FWIW, that's the story.
>
> Dan
>
> ------------------------------
> Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. Sign up
> now. <http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469226/direct/01/>
>

Other related posts: