Ok, So how many of you sometimes just chill and listen to a CD in your car? Twice now I've just been sitting in my car listening to a CD and within about 45min - 1hr. My battery is already dead. The radio will still work, but if I go to start the car, it just "clicks" and dosnt start. (Jumpstarting will get it back to normal though)

I just cant believe I cant listen to a CD for an hour without the battery dying. (note: the car isnt started) And im running minimal electronics too. Just the CD player...no TV or DVD or anything.

I went and got the battery tested and they said it was still good. The thing is, I use to be able to chill in my car and listen to the radio or CD for longer than an hour and I never had problems with the battery dying like this. Could it be the battery is just getting old and worn down, or the alternator?

Im thinking about movin on up and gettin a Optima Yellow Top...but I just want to make sure the yellow top wont have/cause the same problems im having now.

So what could my problem be? The battery or alternator? Can anyone else just chill in their car for a while w/o the battery dying?? Ive never had this problem before until now...but the battery was tested to be "ok"...
How long could I run on the Yellow Top w/o having to start the car or having the battery dying? (keep in mind, im just chillin in the car listening to a CD or the radio...im not pullin much power from the batt.)

 

whats happening is ur batter will test out good but really its not fully charge back to standard. Once you drain your normal battery so low some of the cell will die and wont be able to recharge. Optima, with gel cell technology will always charge your battery back to manufactor standard. you should get the Optima battery if you keep doing that or if you go on trip often for a long period of time.

 

Get an optima, also have your charging system checked, but sounds like u have a cheap battery.

 

after you jump it does it run normally? if so then your alternator is fine. Normal battery does wear out over times.

 

its your battery, 99% sure.

if you wanna test your alternator, get a muiltmeter and while your car is on test the battery. it should say 14.4+ anything under 14 then its the alternator

 

I figured it was prob. the battery. I just coudnt understand how a battery could drain soo fast in 1 hr, that it wouldnt have enough power to start back up. Im not too sure how old the battery is, but your prob. right that part of the cell wont charge back up anymore.

Now help me understand this...Lastnight it happened..I was listenin to a CD, went to start the car and "click click click click" it woudnt start. (the radio was still workin) So i turned off everything, removed the keys and say and waited for like 30min. Then tried to start it again and It was still clicking but I could feel the engine trying to turn over...and then all of the sudden, then engine turned over. So its like the battery recharged itself enough to start the car...but the car wasnt running, so therfor i donno how it recharged itself enought to start the car. I did have an alternator go bad like 2 yrs ago and i was running on no power (trying to get to the Acura Dealer) Im pretty sure this is the same battery from back then....so im sure the cell is not chargin back up to normal. (although the test came out fine.) I just wish the Yellow Tops wernt like $160. How long should I expect to be able to run electronics off the yellow top w/o having to start my car, or w/o my car dying?

 

Batteries do rebuild their residual charge, but that means that your battery is on the way out.

ps: I got my yellow top for $140 shipped from ebay

 

Thanks! I'll have to look around and check prices. (I take it the yellow top is waaayy better than the red top...correct?)

Also, did anyone notice any improvements with the yellow top? Better/easier starting? Better sound quality (ie. subs/amp...etc.) Just wondering if its really that much different and better. What should I expect? Is it really worth the $140-160??? (i might just say F* it and go buy one today.)

 

My car doesn't die after using my radio for an hour, how's that for improvement

 

haha good enough for me! lol..thanks! (I was just wonderin because the Optima website claims better sound quality...etc. Anyway, which Yellow Top fits our car? I've been lookin and it looks likes theres a few different sizes of yellow tops. (I'll prob. just go to the local auto parts store and grab one) But is there anything I should know before getting one? I was looking at a list of yellow tops and they were all dif. sizes and some where 650 cca and some were 750 cca....etc. Which one will fit and which yellow top is the best to get? (Do I really need to spend the xtra $40ish on another 100cca??? Is it worth it?

 

reason your radio was still working and the car wont start is cuz the radio doesnt need much power, but to start a car it does. thats why when you car doesnt start for any reason you really just wanna try to start it like 4 or 5 time. anything more you will feel the battery dying. just like any battery, u let it sit for a lil bit and it will gain a lil bit of power.

 

know i think our car only need 650cca to start.

 

no i think our car only need 650cca to start.

 

acutally i'm pretty sure 650cca is enought cold crank power.

 

I have the deep cycle D75/25 It fits perfect with the spacer that it comes with. And yes, my system is a lot happier with a yellow top, you really need a farrad cap too if you're using a bass amp. Looks pretty too.

 

if you upgrade those grounds, you wont need a cap.

 

you must be a bored ass ninja to be sittin in your whip for an hour listening to music.

 

lmao ... prob waiting for someone?

 

Ground wires are on their way But I still need a cap, my amp draws SO much power, if I don't have the cap it'll clip out from lack of power.

 

I should prob. upgrade my power/ground wires. Can anyone suggest some good ones? (also, should I get a cap? Ive always thought about it...im not actually sure how they work or what exactly they do. (just been told they keep a constant power supply to the subs)

yeeaaaa...lol...see, im living at home right now while im at school and work. (im movin out next semester into my own place) But i mean, im 20 and sometimes my parents just drive me crazy...So on school nights when I cant stand being @ my house, I go to the local car wash, clean the car, maybe meet up w/ a friend, and just chill there for a bit.


BTW: If it nessary to get a High Performance Alternator? (cuz im running tv,dvd,subs...etc. Do I need / should I get a high performance alternator when I get the yellow top?

 

sounds like your using the wrong guage power wire, or wrong amp fuse.. try upgrading to a bigger fuse.

i used a 80a block fuse with my rockford punch 800a2, never cut out unless it got too hot after 2 hours of bangin. i did use a 60a glass fuse but it blew after 5 minutes.

no need to upgrade the alternator.. my homeboy has a big ass orion amp (3 feet long) more than 2k watts pushin 4 orion 12's on his stock 4 cyl accord alt. using an red top that thing hurts when you get near it.

 

I use 4 Gauge with an 80A fuse, and a 3 Farrad cap, the amp doesn't clip now. I said that it draws too much or at least used to, b4 I put a cap in, but I also upgraded to 4 Gauge at the same time. I have no problems now, though I miss my bass, it's been sitting in my basement for a couple weeks since I was dynamatting my trunk.

 

crap...the local Auto parts store dosnt carry the D75/25 that fits our car....i'll have to find it somewhere else