Battery Question

Steveman · February 16, 2011

So my old battery was going on 4 years and after experiencing the Texas heat and Oklahoma cold weather, the engine just wasn't cranking over as well as it used too. So, I went to Napa and bought a new battery, supposedly they are supplied by the East Penn so they are pretty good. Anyways the next day I begin my drive from Stillwater, OK, to Dallas, TX to visit my family for the weekend. Over the course of the drive I notice my Voltmeter fluctuating from right above 14 to around 12 and back. I had never noticed this before with the Delco battery that came with my truck from the factory. So, I do some research and find the post on here that states that the new GMT900 platform trucks have a module that regulates the voltage of the electrical system depending on the load, all in an effort to improve fuel economy. While this seems to explain my problem, Im just curious as to why I never noticed this before. Then yesterday I go to remote start my truck and it turns over maybe once, doesnt catch and just dies. Then I go start the truck with no problem with the key.

Do you guys think I might have a problem, or do you think I'm just overreacting?

Thanks

txab · February 16, 2011

I'd check all the connections and maybe even have the battery battery double checked for performance. Do it for your peace of mind. New batteries can be crap too. As for the volt gauge, yes it fluctuates. Maybe to was still bringing your new battery up to full charge. After all it was sitting on a shelf for a bit. And you probably are paying more attention to it now than before. Human nature.

Diesail · February 16, 2011

I think you are over reacting. The voltage fluxuation is normal as you have read. The old batteries did not show the fluxuation because of the state they created enough load constantly to that the system had to charge continously. You are not the first person I have seen make this observation after a battery replacement.

A little test to prove the point, turn the headlights on. Bet the voltage stays steady.

Bish · February 16, 2011

Agree with the others. My voltmeter regularly moves between 12 and 15 volts depending on charging needs. Perfectly normal.

Regarding your battery, I put the same Deka (East Penn) battery in my YD about 1.5 years ago due to running down my battery too many times with the radio. It cranks significantly stronger than my oem even when new. Have had great luck with the replacement so far.

Super 8 · February 16, 2011

Copied this off another forum, good info.

I teach automotive electrical system training and have just recently assisted in developing a bid spec for batteries to be used in our fleet of vehicles. So I have a little bit of experience in this area. One of the most important factors that is often over looked is the construction of the plates.

Lead-acid batteries have plates that are constructed from lead. Pure lead is not strong enough to withstand the vibration that an automotive battery is exposed to. Because of this lead must be combined with another material to make it stronger. Battery manufacturers for years have combined lead with antimony to give the plates strength. Antimony is the ingredient that causes lead acid batteries to gas.

Years ago Delco pioneered the use of batteries that had no antimony. The plates were reinforced with calcium. This virtually eliminated gassing. Because gassing was eliminated there was no water loss from charging. This eliminated the need to have filler caps to replace lost water. The maintenance free battery was born. Today most automobiles come with sealed maintenance free batteries as standard equipment.

Lead-calcium batteries are more resistant to charge than lead-antimony batteries. Because of this the charging system must charge at a higher voltage to keep them fully charged. The voltage levels that are used for lead-calcium batteries will overcharge a standard lead-antimony battery. If a standard maintenance type battery is installed in your truck you can expect to have excessive gassing and acid spewing.

The major drawback to maintenance free lead-calcium construction is that they are not very resistant to deep cycling. If you run your battery to a low state of charge, there is a good chance that it will cause damage to the battery and it’s life will be shortened.

I always recommend replacing a sealed maintenance free batteries with the same type to prevent overcharging. Recently, in speaking with a representative from Exide, he told me that their batteries were lead-calcium construction. They still have caps to fill them so I’m not completely convinced that this they won’t be a problem. But we have some in service that we are testing in GM vehicles to see if we experience excessive gassing.

In my personal vehicles (GM products), I always replace them with the original equipment Delco batteries and have had very good luck them. I seem to get very good life from them. Also, I don’t have problems with rust and corrosion because there is no acid present in the engine compartment.

tanked_darren · February 16, 2011

I'd check all the connections and maybe even have the battery battery double checked for performance. Do it for your peace of mind. New batteries can be crap too. As for the volt gauge, yes it fluctuates. Maybe to was still bringing your new battery up to full charge. After all it was sitting on a shelf for a bit. And you probably are paying more attention to it now than before. Human nature.

So true.