The Ford Barn

wa4ko · 08-18-2010, 04:36 AM

I have five cars all with 12 volts and electronic ignition but only one has had a problem for the past five years. I have replaced all wires and battery but every six months I will find the car hard to start. If I check the battery "post" cranking voltage it is near 12 volts, but if I check the lead battery post "clamp" it will show 8 or 9 volts. Take the clamp off the post and I find a very light white haze. Wire brush off the haze and all is well again for another six months. I have tried grease to prevent it along with pennies etc. Nothing I do seems to stop it from happening. The car can sit for months and crank well the battery never seems to be drained by this problem. Any ideas
Larry

ford1 · 08-18-2010, 02:31 PM

change the batt cable, you seem to have reaction between the batt and cable, make sure the cable ends are all lead , not a combination of different metals

Frank The Plumber · 08-18-2010, 03:26 PM

^^ I think so too, In the past battery cables were made of full copper, now due to the price of copper, many parts that used to be full copper are being produced with alloy mix parts so the manufacturer can save pennies multiplied out times a 100,000. The problem is that due to hasty engineering these alloys are not proven out under service conditions. In your case it sounds like a reaction between metals. One way to stop electron flow and leak by is to install a battery kill switch or an anti theft battery switch. This would cause some inconvenience if you have a clock, but it works good for me.

wa4ko · 08-19-2010, 02:34 PM

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Sorry Guys, I have changed out the battery cable and the battery and I do use a kill switch when the car is sitting. I agree with you that it is an electrolysis problem but
I do not know where it is coming from. The battery cables are lead ended not the steel clamp shell type. Hey thanks for all the response
Larry

08-18-2010, 04:36 AM	#1
wa4ko Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Okeechobee, FL Posts: 41	Battery problem I have five cars all with 12 volts and electronic ignition but only one has had a problem for the past five years. I have replaced all wires and battery but every six months I will find the car hard to start. If I check the battery "post" cranking voltage it is near 12 volts, but if I check the lead battery post "clamp" it will show 8 or 9 volts. Take the clamp off the post and I find a very light white haze. Wire brush off the haze and all is well again for another six months. I have tried grease to prevent it along with pennies etc. Nothing I do seems to stop it from happening. The car can sit for months and crank well the battery never seems to be drained by this problem. Any ideas Larry

08-18-2010, 02:31 PM	#2
ford1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: oroville ca. Posts: 1,554	Re: Battery problem change the batt cable, you seem to have reaction between the batt and cable, make sure the cable ends are all lead , not a combination of different metals

08-18-2010, 03:26 PM	#3
Frank The Plumber Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 693	Re: Battery problem ^^ I think so too, In the past battery cables were made of full copper, now due to the price of copper, many parts that used to be full copper are being produced with alloy mix parts so the manufacturer can save pennies multiplied out times a 100,000. The problem is that due to hasty engineering these alloys are not proven out under service conditions. In your case it sounds like a reaction between metals. One way to stop electron flow and leak by is to install a battery kill switch or an anti theft battery switch. This would cause some inconvenience if you have a clock, but it works good for me.

08-19-2010, 02:34 PM	#4
wa4ko Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Okeechobee, FL Posts: 41	Re: Battery problem Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Sorry Guys, I have changed out the battery cable and the battery and I do use a kill switch when the car is sitting. I agree with you that it is an electrolysis problem but I do not know where it is coming from. The battery cables are lead ended not the steel clamp shell type. Hey thanks for all the response Larry