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[Shop-talk] OT--car won't start

Subject: [Shop-talk] OT--car won't start
From: pj_thomas at comcast.net (Peter J. Thomas)
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:09:13 -0500
References: <36aaedd8.6afab.13460e09fa5.Webtop.49@charter.net>
On 12/21/2011 8:47 AM, Tim wrote:
> Sorry for the OT here but I cannot afford to have this car towed to the
> mechanic for diagnosis. I hope to deal with this one myself.....
>
> 92 Ford Tempo, less than 65K miles--legitimate miles as it only had 51K
> on it when we got it and had the original plug wires dated 1992 when we
> got the car. It was a true little old lady car. It has run decent since
> being given to us by my wife's dad for my daughters's use several years
> ago. Car has not really been driven much since my youngest went to
> college this past fall.
>
> Battery is fully charged right now with battery tender use and fuel
> stable put in tank a couple months ago. I tried to start the car
> yesterday (approx 35 degrees at the time) and it was acting like the
> battery was down on charge: barely turning over. I hooked up my battery
> charger, put it on the "start" setting and tried again. I basically got
> the same result with only slightly faster turn over speed. The starter
> has always sounded good and the car has always started since we got it.
>
Car that old may have an old battery; they don't last forever.  Added, 
the tender may have overcharged it.  Quick test, disconnect the positive 
terminal and try to jump it using a running car with a good battery.  If 
it starts with the cars battery disconnected, but not with the battery 
connected, then its the battery is bad.  Trying to jump with a bad 
battery, the battery can sometimes draw current taking it away from the 
starter.  Also, I've never been able to start a car immediately off of 
my 50 amp charger.  I usually have to let the battery build up a charge 
for a few minutes then the car will start using the charger.

Peter T.

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