Battery help

[TooT]

Ok so i dont have me 406 any more but still need a little help

My Megane would start tonight, easy i thought battery is dead, im pretty sure its the original (2003). Took the battery cover off and the little light thingy is still glowing green I thought it would glow red of something if the battery is goosed?

Am i right?

[steve_earwig]

I guess you mean wouldn't...

I suppose that just says the electrolyte in that cell is ok, nothing about other cells or open circuits - which is how batteries seem to go these days. Could also be a loose connection somewhere.

[Welly]

Yeah I've seen 'dead' batteries still showing green. I think it's more of a level indicator than an "I'm ok" indicator

You should still have some electricals like central locking, dash lights etc even if the battery's goosed it just won't turn the starter. If there's absolutely nothing then get a meter across the battery? even at 11volts it'll still work most stuff (just in case the main fuse or whatever is stopping things working).

[TooT]

Hey cheers guys, i knew i could count on you Posted the same thing on the Megane forum and nothing, no replies as usual

The car unlocked but then wouldn't turn over. There is just enough power to put on the interior lights, very dim tho but nothing else, no radio, no headlights, bloody thing wouldn't lock afterwards, left it unlocked all night

So first job today is to nick the multimeter from work.

Do batteries completely fail overnight with no warnings?

[steve_earwig]

Oh yes.

The green spot is a hydrometer, it looks like there's a little green ball at the bottom of a tube and when the electrolyte's ok it floats up to the bottom of the tube and that's what you're seeing through the lens. In a discharged state the ball falls away and you see black through the lens and when the electrolyte's low you can see daylight through the case.

Sounds to me like yours has done just what mine did Could still be a dodgy connection tho, so don't scrap it 'til you tested it.

[TooT]

Nabbed the battery tester thing from the fitter guy at work and hooked her up to my fooked battery
Hmmm a little over 12 volts that means its fine


Then switched the switch on the tester to put it under load. Our fitter bloke said it should only drop a little if the battery is ok. It dropped as far as it could. As it says on the gauge replace


So i went to the local factors to relieve myself of 62 quid

Thanks for your help fellas.

[Doggy]

Nabbed the battery tester thing from the fitter guy at work and hooked her up to my fooked battery
Hmmm a little over 12 volts that means its fine

Glad you're sorted Toot.

Fully charged is 13.2V, 11.4V is as flat as a witches' tit....