Hello all,

More questions from me about my aging vehicle that I'm trying to keep on the road.

So: 6n2 1.4 8v petrol, 129,000 miles, original battery so nearly 16 years old.

Battery voltage reads 12.542 volts after leaving overnight in car without use. Not done a load test.

Please see pictures. To me this looks like you can top it up with water. The magic eye looks removable and like the top of one of the cells. You can see the next cell along under the sticker has the same cross head cap. Magic eye looks green but somehow I think it might not be reliable if the acid level is low and given the age of the car.

Halfords autocentre said my battery was at 37% and will fail this year. I said I didn't understand what that percentage meant - they suggested it refered to specific gravity but I wasn't confident that the technician really knew.

So can I use my hydrometer on this battery? And can I top it up with water without making the situation worse? If it ain't broke don't fix it comes to mind but adding water surely can only do good?

I've seen people put Epsom Salts in the cells - but I don't understand chemically how this revives them and so would just try a water top up first.

Am also weary of losing "Keep Alive Memory". I've got the retraining method from Haynes but if the battery is a bit low and losing the "Keep Alive Memory" means I can't start the car then I'm stuffed. I've done it before but start up is erratic I seem to remember.

Thanks all,

Simon

if its 16 years old id accept its past its best and replace it before it leaves you stranded somewhere when it turns icey

37% is a very specific percentage...has an odour of BS behind it too.

For the sake of the £50 you'll spend on a new battery I'd just get it replaced. If your current on is 16 years old then it has done it's job well.

37% of what would be my question - If the answer is Amp Hour capacity, then I reckon its time to treat it to a new battery. In any case, 16 years must just about qualify it for the Guineas Book of Records!!

As the battery gets older, some of the pasting comes away from the plates, reducing its capacity. In the bottom of the battery case, there is a sump to catch this paste, if the level in the sump then builds up high enough, it will bridge the bottom of the plates, causing them to short circuit, resulting in a flat battery.

As Steveo says, replace it before it lets you down - I reckon that you have had your moneys-worth out of it!

Regards

HI guys,

Many thanks for your replies. My thoughts are the same as yours of course. And what that 37% really related to I've no idea.

So if I changed the battery myself - do I need to worry about a battery backup for the 'Keep Alive Memory'? These type I can use a 9 volt battery with so that's super easy: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=computer+memory+saver&LH_PrefLoc=1&rt=nc

All that being said - back to my original questions. Say I wanted to keep the old battery for tinkering purposes - is it classed as maintainable or maintenance free? Can I use a Hydrometer on it? I know most batteries can be cracked open at some level but has anyone had experience with batteries of this type?

Many thanks in advance to everyone,

Simon

A bit like yourself, I don't like to throw things away that 'might come in useful one day' - I saved my old house alarm battery when I replaced it and now use it for the purpose described.

(I also made a charger for it from some other 'left-overs' using an ice-cream container for a housing!)

That battery of yours is a 'maintenance free' type, but if you are prepared to carefully drill the top, you could then top it up with de-ionized water - you would need to make some plugs for the holes that you drill.

The problem with doing the above, is that if you ever wish to transport that battery, there is a danger that you might spill the electrolyte, so al-in-all, not a very safe thing to do.

Regards

When I changed the battery on my 6n2, I simply unplugged the old one, cleaned up all of the contacts, slotted the new one in, reattached negative and then positive.

Done.

I would highly recommend BOSCH silver batteries. Even in the depth of winter, absolutely no problems.

The 6n2 is relatively simple and so you don't really need to worry about saving settings unless you have the original radio unit. Look in your manual for the code.

PoloD.

Thanks for the further comments and advice. It really is appreciated so thanks for your time. I feel an imminent purchase coming on! Will save the old battery and see what I can do with it.

UPDATE

Ok so I passed another Halfords and went in for another battery test to see if I could get to the bottom of the percentage above. I watched the guy test the battery and the machine printed a little receipt that this time said 'START CAPACITY 58% BATTERY UNSERVICEABLE'.

So I googled 'Start Capacity' and came up with this: http://www.buchmann.ca/article36-page1.asp

Same info described a bit differently: http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_age_affects_capacity_and_resistance

It's supposed to simplify things. Which it does to a point and then I get a bit lost the more it goes on. Thought I'd leg you guys know. Eurocarparts have the Bosch Silver for under £50 delivered so it looks like I'll go with that.

Edited 7 January, 201610 yr by cosaw