dry batteries

[strangethursday]

any ideas why my car keeps drying out batteries? I was having charging issues a few weeks back where the battery kept drying out. I replaced the battery cuz it was old anyway & today the new 1 is dry. It's only at the most 3 weeks old so I'm thinking it's the car.

[240ZX]

It is possible that the charging system is over charging the battery, hence boiling out the electrolite. Once the electrolite is gone the battery is doomed. Just a thought!

Tom

[Nissanman]

Yes sir, overcharging will do it:ermm:

If it has gone dry so quickly, I would suggest that you run the risk of having a battery explosion if the fault continues.

It is imperitive that you determine what the charging voltage is when you instal a fresh battery.

Nominally 13.8V - 14V.

Any more and you may re-enact the "China Syndrome":nervous:

It is a good idea to have a reputable supplier instal the new battery.

They will usually do a check of your system then for voltage and regulation of charge.

Only a couple of seconds work but well worth the effort.

[strangethursday]

thats what i thought. what would cause it? i havent been able to determine if my alternator is interally or externally regulated. im thinking it is externally & the regulator isnt working. i was thinking it was an internally regulated alternator but they left the old regulator there. theres also a very low rated inline fuse that looks spliced into a wire off the external.

thanks for the help

[sblake01]

You haven't said what year your car is but the earlier cars, 240z, 260z, early 280z would be externally regulated unless they've been converted. And, I might be wrong but I believe that only the 1978 280z was internally regulated from the factory.

[strangethursday]

Oh sorry. It's a 73 with a L28 w/ electronic ignition swap. I haven't seen a comparison of internally & extrernally regulated alternators but, something about the back of the 1 on there has me thinkin it's internally regulated. Theres so much half-assed wiring that I'm not sure what's goin on tho

[dogma420]

Well, on the wheel well, stock there'd be a voltage regulator, by the little underhood light. If it's connected, then it's externally regulated...sounds like it 'isn't' being regulated....