[xj] battery or other...`86 SIII

hey guys
i am back.optimistic about the current project xj6(until i
can afford one with less issues!)

dealing with what I think is a battery draining issue.
Charged the battery yesterday and she fired right up this
morning. not 20 minutes later nothing. barely trying to
turnover. some clicking and some light attempts to turn over.
cleaned battery connections and still same.
can this battery be draining this fast?

going to try to jump it to see but jumping her has never
worked in the past even from the suzuki 6cylinder suv.

maybe something else I can check?

the battery has been charged too many times the past yr
while seeming like it drains
thanks
Dietrich–
86 XJ6 Black :needs some TLC!
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In reply to a message from dietrich sent Wed 7 May 2008:

Dietrich:

Welcome back. I guess it’s getting warm enough where you are to
kindle an interest! Optimistic= Optima battery? No interest, but I
sure wish I did!

Remove the negative cable. Use a meter or light in series. A small
flow is expected from the retained memory feartures such as the
clock and radio. Make sure everything else is off. Then pull fuses
until the lamp gets dim or the meter reads less. Then track that
circuit for a short, posswibly to ground.

I am leery about high amp jumps. But, sometimes, you have to let
the rescue vehicle run a bit with the cables connected to charge
the victim battery a bit before trying to start it.

I have a jump box in the Jaguar. Preventative maintenance.

Yes, it may be done for and have little capacity remaing. But, why
not get it charged up and then load tested.

Carl–
The original message included these comments:

I am back.optimistic about the current project xj6(until i
can afford one with less issues!)
dealing with what I think is a battery draining issue.
Charged the battery yesterday and she fired right up this
morning. not 20 minutes later nothing. barely trying to
turnover. some clicking and some light attempts to turn over.
cleaned battery connections and still same.
can this battery be draining this fast?
going to try to jump it to see but jumping her has never
worked in the past even from the suzuki 6cylinder suv.
maybe something else I can check?


Carl Hutchins
Walnut Creek, California, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

===================================================
The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
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Dietrich, how old is the batt? One age-related failure is the gradual
development of internal shorts, as the natural detritus from many cycles fills
the space below the plates in conventional batts. If you charge disconnected
from the car, hwta doess it’s voltage read right then, and what does it read
the next day?–
Alex
79xj6L SII (BRG + wires)
86xj6 SIII (Black)
61 Sprite MkII (Red)
Menlo Park, Calif.

dietrich wrote:

hey guys
i am back.optimistic about the current project xj6(until i
can afford one with less issues!)

dealing with what I think is a battery draining issue.
Charged the battery yesterday and she fired right up this
morning. not 20 minutes later nothing. barely trying to
turnover. some clicking and some light attempts to turn over.
cleaned battery connections and still same.
can this battery be draining this fast?

going to try to jump it to see but jumping her has never
worked in the past even from the suzuki 6cylinder suv.

maybe something else I can check?

the battery has been charged too many times the past yr
while seeming like it drains
thanks
Dietrich

===================================================
The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
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In reply to a message from dietrich sent Wed 7 May 2008:

Dietrich, don’t forget the poss that the positive cable post
is shorted out. I just bought a new battery I didn’t need
because of that. These goofy, overly complicated GM-style
batteries with the screw-in posts can get really silted in
without you noticing and then they’re intermittent in terms
of whether they’re going to make a connection or not.

I took a bowl of water with a heaping teaspoon of baking
soda in it and soaked mine for half an hour. It was still
‘‘boiling’’ when I said ‘‘enuff!’’ and rinsed it all off. The
contacts were bright copper colored and it made much better
contact, and cleaner too withoutall that green fluffy stuff
caked on it. Now I have a new battery waiting for me when
the o0ld one finally does go south (probably this fall)!

Good luck! 86 is the best year for US Series III XJ6es, and
black, of course, is the best color (only because I own one,
of course; if mine was mustard-colored, that would be the
best color). Have fun.

–Finn–
Black Series III, 1984, intact - blue '81 Lancia Beta Zagato
Corvallis, Ore., United States
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In reply to a message from dietrich sent Wed 7 May 2008:

sounds like a dead battery, since a good battery won’t get so
discharged in 20 minutes, even if you leave the headlamps ON for 20
minutes. Substitute batteries for a day or two and see if it does
the same. If it does, sounds like a bad starter or starter
solenoid, which in the XJ, is all one unit.

You can order an Optima Yellow Top battery here: (if you decide to
pay the price):

And locally too, I imagine.

Zurdo–
The original message included these comments:

dealing with what I think is a battery draining issue.
Charged the battery yesterday and she fired right up this
morning. not 20 minutes later nothing. barely trying to
turnover. some clicking and some light attempts to turn over.
cleaned battery connections and still same.
can this battery be draining this fast?
going to try to jump it to see but jumping her has never
worked in the past even from the suzuki 6cylinder suv.
maybe something else I can check?
the battery has been charged too many times the past yr
while seeming like it drains


1965 3.8 ‘S’ 1984 XJ-6
Florida, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

===================================================
The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
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In reply to a message from dietrich sent Wed 7 May 2008:

If the battery is 5 years old, replace it.

                                       Walter--

The original message included these comments:

dealing with what I think is a battery draining issue.


Walter Schuster 78XJ6 FI Ser.II, 69E Ser.II 2+2original
Albuquerque/New Mexico, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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dietrich wrote:

hey guys
i am back.optimistic about the current project xj6(until i
can afford one with less issues!)

dealing with what I think is a battery draining issue.
Charged the battery yesterday and she fired right up this
morning. not 20 minutes later nothing. barely trying to
turnover. some clicking and some light attempts to turn over.
cleaned battery connections and still same.
can this battery be draining this fast?

going to try to jump it to see but jumping her has never
worked in the past even from the suzuki 6cylinder suv.

maybe something else I can check?

First, Dietrich, after what you have done so far; measure voltage across
the battery posts with and without cranking. An adequate battery should
show some 12,6+V, and drop by a volt or so while cranking.Too little
voltage drop; the starter isn’t drawing enough current, for whatever
reason. Too large voltage drop; the battery is bad…

Adding Carl’s suggestion of an external leak test (normal current up to
35mA) may give further clue. But a good battery doesn’t discharge that
quickly - unless there is a very major leak…

Frank
xj6 85 Sov Europe (UK/NZ)===================================================
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In reply to a message from Frank Andersen sent Thu 8 May 2008:

hey guys-
thanks for the tips. have not had time to get back under the
hood and rain next few days.
PO had just bought the battery in 2006-$$ model with a 5 or
10 yr warranty. time to find that receipt he gave me.
need to pick up a new voltage meter to check things out.

going to pop a different battery in to see.

BUT I JUST remembered when I stopped working on the car.
Last fall took her out for a 15 mile drive to bank. Cruising
well, oil pressure seemed good finally. On way back the car
stalled at every stop sign/light, even before the stop.
Never got the bottom of it!–
86 XJ6 Black :needs some TLC!
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

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In reply to a message from dietrich sent Fri 9 May 2008:

Dietrich:

I suspect the dying battery and stalling are related. You need
juice to run these things!

Just like my old computer, when the power supply failed it went
dark.

Getting the hang of backing up on disc. Now, if I can keep my stubs
off the ‘‘caps lock’’ key.

Carl–
Carl Hutchins
Walnut Creek, California, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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I think you are right, Carl.
A sick battery will start the car just fine, but it will not keep up
with EFI.

And can your new computer lock out the caps lock key…?
That’s what I had to do, but it’s a mac.
(Geezer trick)
Bill
AlaskaOn May 8, 2008, at 4:25 PM, cadjag wrote:

In reply to a message from dietrich sent Fri 9 May 2008:

Dietrich:

I suspect the dying battery and stalling are related. You need
juice to run these things!

Now, if I can keep my stubs
off the ‘‘caps lock’’ key.

Carl

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dietrich wrote:

In reply to a message from Frank Andersen sent Thu 8 May 2008:

hey guys-
thanks for the tips. have not had time to get back under the
hood and rain next few days.
PO had just bought the battery in 2006-$$ model with a 5 or
10 yr warranty. time to find that receipt he gave me.
need to pick up a new voltage meter to check things out.

going to pop a different battery in to see.

BUT I JUST remembered when I stopped working on the car.
Last fall took her out for a 15 mile drive to bank. Cruising
well, oil pressure seemed good finally. On way back the car
stalled at every stop sign/light, even before the stop.
Never got the bottom of it!

You won’t either, Dietrich - unless the problem returns…
Which of course requires you to drive the thing - in principle the
alternator should be ably to supply the juice required, but that may
also have an issue. A battery warranty is of course only relevant for a
refund - a defective battery will not run the car irrespective of
warranties, and the warranty doesn’t grant that…:slight_smile:

The battery can be thoroughly tested, and will be if you make a claim.
But in any case it is a wise move; it will positively identify whether
the battery is, or is not, at the bottom of the problems. Any suspect
eliminated ease the detective work…:slight_smile:

Frank
xj6 85 Sov Europe (UK/NZ)===================================================
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In reply to a message from Frank Andersen sent Fri 9 May 2008:

I am also thinking my blunder from last work done might of
caused the stalling.
Had to put on a new fan clutch and thought I need to
disconnect one coolant hose. coolant went on the distro and
cap-maybe I ruined these and this could cause the stalls?–
86 XJ6 Black :needs some TLC!
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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