shawdreamer Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 well in the last few days Ive noted my batteries repeatedly dropping out under this freezing weather. batteries function less and less efficiently the colder they get, sometimes even to the degree were the liquids within can freeze and further limit the batteries overall power levels. now mine has reached the point were after two days of non-starting I find the battery incapable of starting the engine due to what I suspect is the above reason. some research yielded some interesting solutions. the obvious one is to increase the batteries temperature or protect it from frost in the first place.... but how to go about that? the yanks have protective jackets for their batteries in winter but I'm fecked if I can find similar in the UK?, I suppose I could quickly make up a tarp sewn box (or maybe even fire blanket) shaped bag to place the battery in before bolting it back in place but I cant see that being safe when the engines running and the bay heat builds, plus will it really be so effective given that all it will be doing is preventing direct frost contact with the battery. has anybody been having similar issues? have they came up with their own preventative measures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caled Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 You could always unplug it and take it into the house. Of course the downside of that being your alarm is disabled, but then they wont be driving the car off with no battery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawdreamer Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 You could always unplug it and take it into the house. Of course the downside of that being your alarm is disabled, but then they wont be driving the car off with no battery. not a option, and kinda makes the full closure, sonic, shock and infrared alarm system an absolute waste of cash and effort. plus there's to much to tempt within the car, gauges, HU, expensive speakers and Amp, full built in blue tooth IPhone system...the alarm obviously wouldn't stop many thieves but it does make it impossible for someone taking their time trying to remove the stuff (which they'd need given how strongly I built it all in) it also wipes the Ecu's running statistics meaning that it would need to relearn its baselines every time I remove and replace the battery. not to mention the inconvenience of having to pop the bonnet twice a day a work on increasingly cold parts and cables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRAVEN Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Mate I have seen afew vectras with a "jacket" over the battery so they are on some cars best bet I think is ask at your local breakers or eBay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaweV6 Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 My alternator froze, then gave up and new one is £85. Plus the fokin drive belts snapped. Why ? It's a Vauxhall. That's why. And before it arrives I have to charge battery on daily basis. 80 miles a day with just dipped beam, no radio and no heating is a dreary motoring. Your problem can be solved once and for all by a gel maintenance free battery for £50-£150. I tested one on a Transit with recorded -15C and no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 my battery did the same, nice new one from Ford sorted the problem :-) (cheers Froggy!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawdreamer Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 my battery did the same, nice new one from Ford sorted the problem :-) (cheers Froggy!) mines a Bosch with less than 100 miles on it so that isnt the solution. I think its more a case of insulating the battery against direct frost or insulating the battery area/compartment (much as newer cars are and ultimatly dont suffer this issue to often) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caled Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 I have to say, Ive not heard of anyone else really having this kind of difficulty, and Im not exactly far from you. And my brother is fine in Warrington, my gf's mum is fine in Burscough... So either your new battery is shoite or you may have some other issue. What are the contacts like? Id be smothering those things in grease. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hicksy Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 If your battery is having problems and its only done 100miles id take it back. When a battery becomes unserviceable it will die out in cold weather.A battery in good servicable condition will not die out in the kinds of temperatures that we have in england.Id take it back if i were you, its not unheard of for a new battery to be faulty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawdreamer Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 Ive had a few older motors that suffer the same kind of cold weather battery problems and its invariably down to the battery getting below its efficient working temprature..... its been as low as -10 here of late which is more than enough to freeze the liquid in a common car battery. my Capri years back did it (tho not as badly) and it wasnt till I got round to refitting the insulation to the underside of the bonnet when it finally stopped doing it. However, my escorts insulation is in place but Ive noted it doesnt extend back over above were the battery would sit and it has nearly direct access to exterior weather via the scuttle panel which sits right above a escort battery. hence why I believe the issue is insulation and not battery which has performed flawlessly to date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottg17 Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 mk2 v6 mondeos have jackets on the battery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeeWee Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Am I correct in thinking this car isn't driven on a daily basis? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawdreamer Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 mk2 v6 mondeos have jackets on the battery do they now? hmmm a trip to the scrappy may be in order me thinks Am I correct in thinking this car isn't driven on a daily basis? you'd be right in that assumption, once every two days maybe, sometimes one in three. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeeWee Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 mk2 v6 mondeos have jackets on the battery do they now? hmmm a trip to the scrappy may be in order me thinks Am I correct in thinking this car isn't driven on a daily basis? you'd be right in that assumption, once every two days maybe, sometimes one in three. I only ask as I havn't had this problem but I drive my car regular. This I think is your main problem a the battery is left for extended lengths. Obviously in the recent temperature drops this is more apparent. Freezing weather does this & the battery isnt being regularaly cycled & charged properly. Over time the battery is degrading regardless of age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawdreamer Posted December 8, 2010 Author Share Posted December 8, 2010 mk2 v6 mondeos have jackets on the battery do they now? hmmm a trip to the scrappy may be in order me thinks Am I correct in thinking this car isn't driven on a daily basis? you'd be right in that assumption, once every two days maybe, sometimes one in three. I only ask as I havn't had this problem but I drive my car regular. This I think is your main problem a the battery is left for extended lengths. Obviously in the recent temperature drops this is more apparent. Freezing weather does this & the battery isnt being regularaly cycled & charged properly. Over time the battery is degrading regardless of age. aye that was also part of my suspicion and Ive took measures to rectify that, Ill be building a solar panel into the rear shelf to supply a trickle charge to the battery and keep it at minimal circulation (it was my fallback plan if I couldnt find a way to insulate the battery itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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