emergency battery question

[drew]

okay i was getting gas today and my girlfriend got in the car, i thought she had taken the pump out for whatever reason so i tried to start the car, it died. battery was completly gone, couldn't get any accesory or anything on, car wouldnt start after that. i got a jump from my buddy and drove to blockbuster, turned the car off and boom it was dead again, couldn't start or anything. we took his car to BJ's and got a new battery, i ****ed up and got size 56 instead of 65 ( darn it ) didn't realize the mistake until my battery was out, put my old battery back in and to my surpise it worked fine. car started, ran smooth no problems at all. battery seems to be fine now; what the hell happened?

my car is a 2002 explorer, battery appears to be original battery but i can't be sure. ( it says ford on it )

should i replace the battery or what? anyone know what the hell happen?

[malloyboy1]

as long as the cranking amps and the cold cranking amps are the same its ok. the size of the battery is just that... that size look at a 92 honda civic batery next to that one and youll see what i mean. also if it is the factory battery chances are it was just cold and gettin old and beat. replace it anyway

[drew]

yeah it doesn't fit in my battery spot though, way to small

[malloyboy1]

thats what i mean by the size the actual "power" of the battery can be the same but the physical size of it is the difference

return the wrong sized one and get a new correct size one and you should be set

[CleanNeon98]

maybe your batt terminals were just corroded and taking them off to get the new batt on got some of the stuff off??

[dragonfly2k3]

Im with alex. Sounds like the terminals were just completely corroded. The reason it ran fine when jumped is because your probably put the jumped on the terminal attached to the cable when starting. Once it was started the alternator provided enough power to run everything.

[drew]

the neg terminal did seem pretty gunked up.. ill take the battery tomorow to auto zone and have it tested ( they do that right? )

[99SL2_Modder]

I disagree on the size issue.

I've seen incorrectly sized batteries die way before they should have. Usually when one buys a smaller.

CIP: My dad put the wrong battery in his van. It died in 2 years. I put the correct one back in, and it's been fine ever since.

It's usually the same issue too. Cells end up shorting and the battery swells. Happened on my car too.

*edit*
Make sure that battery isn't hot as **** after driving around a bit. If it is, buy a new one. Now. Also, check for swelling. If it's swollen, even a little, buy a new one.

[Mrjaydeeone]

Originally Posted by drew

the neg terminal did seem pretty gunked up.. ill take the battery tomorow to auto zone and have it tested ( they do that right? )

yeah they do

[Roto]

I'm with the guys on the terminal issue...had that on out ExpoLRV, was annoying as heck cause the neg would get all gunked up and it would have to be cleaned to start the car.

[Erik]

Just wirebrush the terminals. Should take care of the problem.

Ive heard, but never tried, that a coating of vasaline on your connectors prevents them from corroding. Can anyone let me in on that? Wouldnt that look really nasty? lol

[99SL2_Modder]

Originally Posted by letsRACE

Ive heard, but never tried, that a coating of vasaline on your connectors prevents them from corroding. Can anyone let me in on that? Wouldnt that look really nasty? lol

It's just like that terminal grease **** they sell at the counters.

I would never use it, as it's non-conductive. So, if it gets between the post and your cable end, you have no connectivity.

That's not exactly what you want.

[Erik]

ohhh ok. idk i read that on a site that had a bunch of alternatives to over the counterstuff. like using olive oil and a "rain-ex" kind of product or something stupid. People just trying to be cheap and ****.

[ThePrimerSuspect]

Originally Posted by letsRACE

Just wirebrush the terminals. Should take care of the problem.

Ive heard, but never tried, that a coating of vasaline on your connectors prevents them from corroding. Can anyone let me in on that? Wouldnt that look really nasty? lol

the old timer that i used to work next to would spray paint them. seemed to work.

[pinacup7]

coca cola and baking soda

[J.Ralli]

did someone just agree with alex? sorry had to....

[drew]

brushed the terminals and coated them with paint stuff, well see what happens when i go to my car later today