Battery dead : need advice

[Yves]

Haven't driven the car in a month and the aftermarket alarm system sucked the battery dry.
Anyway, I tried to jumpstart it (attached to my other car) and was unsuccesful.

This is what happened :
- Couldn't get to crank it over.
- After a couple of seconds the car started making this weird, fast noise from under the hood (rakketakketak...)
- Next, the OEM alarm system armed itself (started blinking on the message center). This is weird, I normally never use it.

What happened ?
- Is the battery dead ?
- If not, how do I recharge the battery ? Can I hook up the charger to the + and - terminals under the hood ? Or do I really need to take off the rear wheel ?
- In case dead, buy an Optima ? Which type + what's the best place on-line ?

Thanks !

 

[NCVCA]

The battery is dead - no biggie.
Your hearing the solenoid click because it doesn't have enough juice to turn the starter to turn the flywheel
You can charge from under the hood
Optima is a good battery but you don't necessarily need one
Buy a trickle charger to slow charge the battery when it's in storage

To jump start the any car place the ground (black) cable on a vehicle ground like the engine - not the negative post.

Let it charge from the second vehicle for 10-15 minutes. If you still hear the clicks try revving the second vehicle to raise the amps.

This isn't uncommon for any vehicle with slow drain on the battery from alarms, stereo systems, clocks, etc.

 

[Yves]

Thanks !

Any idea what caused the alarm system to activate ?

Also - what's the best place to put the ground cable on the engine ?

 

[ceieio]

Yves - my GTS has a ground cable below the protective capped positive lead. You may have a shorted or open plate in the battery. If it takes a charge you are in great shape. Not quite the same but my 4 year old John Deere gave up the ghost this year with an open plate. Symptoms described during jumping (sans alarm) were the same (well, and the diesel sounds a little different too). Now I can't play Green Acres until I get a new one. (Too rainy last weekend to walk out there... maybe this weekend)

 

[95Viper]

Go with Optima...a little over $100. I got mine at Autozone

 

[obaa996]

Yves,
Get a Battery Tender; it'll work great on the bikes as well. If you want an Optima, Costco generally has the best prices around here, followed by GI Joe's when they are on sale.

 

[Ryan]

Best recommendation (on replacement) that I can give is use someone else's back if thats a Gen I car with the battery under the trunk.
At least that was my old mans reasoning (and my back).
For jump starting it, on the firewall upright under the hood on the drivers side there is a positive post under a protective cap that you should use for jumping it. As for grounding, someone mentioned having a grounding post near the positive post under the hood. I didn't notice one on the 93 RT/10 that I am used to. I eventually used the frame mount stud for the rear hood support (guide or what you wish to call it)

As for the alarm, from what I've read and experienced, the arming when you hooked it up to the other car, this appears to be normal.
On Dad's 93 had to jump it right after we got it (loose battery terminal) low voltage appears to trigger the alarm into arming and sets itself into its anti-theft (?) mode where the car will not start until you reset the alarm with the remote. Which, in my opinion is a good thing as if someone (criminal type) crawled under and cut the battery cable to disable the alarm to tow (steal) your car upon fixing that it still will not start without the alarm being reset. Although, i will admit not knowing whether you can reset the alarm without a remote unit.

 

[Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder]

Get a new stock battery and use a battery tender during storage. The Optima will not fit all cars. The distance from the battery tray bottom to the frame varies. If the tray is on the close side the neg. top-post will hit the frame. Cutting the top post to clear the frame may cause the battery side terminal to go open. Or measure the tray to frame distance and check if the Optima will clear the frame. Some do and some do not. My 96RT did not clear! I cut the top post re-assembled, put the tire back on, torqued the lug nuts and had zero current to the side terminal. Made for a very bad weekend!