How to Know If It Is Only A Battery Problem

[_Cathy_]

My car is a 1996 Corolla GLi. The car is seldom used and the battery has been drained and recharged several times already since I got it in 2009. The last time the battery was recharged was about a month or two ago. Since then the car gets started for about 5 minutes daily. However during the past few days, the battery indicator would still light up even when the car is started. Now I am not sure if I only need to buy a new battery or there could be a deeper problem? The Motolite guy mentioned that there is ground(?) in the battery, I am not sure if I remember it correctly though. I should have the alternator checked daw.

In 2011, I already had the distributor assembly replaced at Tower of David. My car also has an AC problem, it stops blowing cold air in slow traffic or idling. But when it's running fast, it works just fine. There are times when the AC is really cold but often times it's almost just fan. I already had the compressor replaced (original Denso) in 2008 and it cost me 15k!!! I am not sure if all these problems are connected.

Please help me identify my car's problem as I want to have an idea on what needs to get fixed. Also, does anyone know the new contact number of Tower of David? They moved their shop na kasi in Pasong Tamo. I would also appreciate other shop recommendations in Makati or Paranaque area. Thanks!

[ghosthunter]

My car is a 1996 Corolla GLi. The car is seldom used and the battery has been drained and recharged several times already since I got it in 2009. The last time the battery was recharged was about a month or two ago. Since then the car gets started for about 5 minutes daily. However during the past few days, the battery indicator would still light up even when the car is started. Now I am not sure if I only need to buy a new battery or there could be a deeper problem? The Motolite guy mentioned that there is ground(?) in the battery, I am not sure if I remember it correctly though. I should have the alternator checked daw.

It could be a dead/dying battery or one of the battery terminals could be loose or corroded. Generally a car battery that reaches a fully drained state gets damage on its plates by action of the lead sulfate. Although a single full drain will not destroy a battery, several times could kill it. The battery could also not be charging up because of a loose battery terminal or due to the corrosion between the battery terminal and battery post. If you can see corrosion (looks like white powder) at the battery post, remove the battery terminal and clean off the white powder with water & a cleaning brush. Assuming the alternator is working fine, the battery should charge up normally.

In 2011, I already had the distributor assembly replaced at Tower of David. My car also has an AC problem, it stops blowing cold air in slow traffic or idling. But when it's running fast, it works just fine. There are times when the AC is really cold but often times it's almost just fan. I already had the compressor replaced (original Denso) in 2008 and it cost me 15k!!! I am not sure if all these problems are connected.

problems NOT connected. Your AC not blowing cold all the time could be an indication of low freon levels in your car aircon. That in turn would show that car AC has a slow leak. Have your car brought to a car AC specialist to be checked and freon refilled. Hopefully the leak is from a loose fitting only.

[jick.cejoco]

My car is a 1996 Corolla GLi. The car is seldom used and the battery has been drained and recharged several times already since I got it in 2009. The last time the battery was recharged was about a month or two ago. Since then the car gets started for about 5 minutes daily. However during the past few days, the battery indicator would still light up even when the car is started. Now I am not sure if I only need to buy a new battery or there could be a deeper problem? The Motolite guy mentioned that there is ground(?) in the battery, I am not sure if I remember it correctly though. I should have the alternator checked daw.

In 2011, I already had the distributor assembly replaced at Tower of David. My car also has an AC problem, it stops blowing cold air in slow traffic or idling. But when it's running fast, it works just fine. There are times when the AC is really cold but often times it's almost just fan. I already had the compressor replaced (original Denso) in 2008 and it cost me 15k!!! I am not sure if all these problems are connected.

Please help me identify my car's problem as I want to have an idea on what needs to get fixed. Also, does anyone know the new contact number of Tower of David? They moved their shop na kasi in Pasong Tamo. I would also appreciate other shop recommendations in Makati or Paranaque area. Thanks!

your battery has a shelf life and useful life. they don't last forever. it might be at the end of its road. have the parasitic drain checked too. your battery store should be able to do the battery test, charging rate test and parasitic drain test. if they can't do this or can't do this properly, look for a better battery store.
as far as the airconditioner/climate control, the idle speed maybe too low and/or the condenser fan might have insufficient airflow across the condenser.. check the idle speed (around 750 in neutral at idle), also test the a/c by simulating the ram air using an electric fan blowing straight through the condenser. have the technician use a thermometer in the vent register and have him read the pressures both suction (low side) and discharge (high side). your low shide should be around 29 to 35 psig at idle and the high side around 275 to 300 depending on ambient temperature and airflow across the condenser

[greenlyt]

based on experience: lit battery indicator even when the engine is running is a sign of a busted alternator

[glenn manikis]

C4U.... regarding your battery... pwedeng problem lies on your alternator... ayaw na mag charge kaya may red battery signal.....

or sabi kamo ng bat. techinician... grounded? grounded na yung battery mo....

sa aircon naman.... kung 1996 na yung car mo... most probably you need to replace your condenser na, nagbabara na mga tubes nun... or it should be cleaned internally... iisa nga lang shop ang alam ko na pwedeng malinis ng mabuti nyan... sa Q.C. pa yun... near mindanao ave.. EDS car aircon...

or check mo A.C. AUX FAN....

low freon pwede din... baka hindi yun ang problema at normal naman pag tumatakbo na....

[_Cathy_]

Alternator problem nga ang kinakatakot ko :nerves: Yan na lang kasi ang wala pang nagiging sira since we bought the car.

I don't remember what the Motolite guy said but I think he said grounded nga ata or may problem kaya parating nagdi diskarga yung battery.

[Retz]

^

mahal din alternator. ung sakn dati akala alternator mismo ang sira un pala ung pulley lang kailangan palitan.

[jick.cejoco]

Alternator problem nga ang kinakatakot ko :nerves: Yan na lang kasi ang wala pang nagiging sira since we bought the car.

I don't remember what the Motolite guy said but I think he said grounded nga ata or may problem kaya parating nagdi diskarga yung battery.

don't jump into conclusions. don't believe hearsay. don't rely on personal anecdotes. have a true diagnostics done. numbers don't lie. numbers are quantifiable. as long as the gauges and test instruments are reliable, they don't lie. the symptoms your car have are routine maintenance items and not rocket science.

[ClaNker]

Alternator problem nga ang kinakatakot ko :nerves: Yan na lang kasi ang wala pang nagiging sira since we bought the car.

I don't remember what the Motolite guy said but I think he said grounded nga ata or may problem kaya parating nagdi diskarga yung battery.

Pa check mo muna kung charging pa alternator mo.

[Retz]

^

kung grounded, electricians have a way of testing to verify na grounded nga kaya na dr-drain baterya. It is just a matter of finding knug ano ang nag cause nun.

[glenn manikis]

high side... 275-300 sir medyo mataas na po ata yan...

IMO dapat nasa 180-250 max..

[jick.cejoco]

high side... 275-300 sir medyo mataas na po ata yan...

IMO dapat nasa 180-250 max..

that's why i mentioned it varies with airflow and ambient temperature. as long as it does not exceed 300 psig.
under normal conditions ( below 1000 feet above sea level, ambient temperature not exceeding 110 degrees fahrenheit, that should be the range.)

[uls]

kakapalit ko lang ng alternator

before that i noticed the voltmeter was dropping below 12 volts when lights and aircon are on but goes back above 12 volts when they're off

di na kaya ng alternator pag naka on ang ilaw and aircon so it's sucking power from the battery. kung hayaan ko ganyan mauubos karga ng battery

so nagpalit ako alternator agad

now when lights and aircon are on above 12V parin

[glenn manikis]

c4u....

si ser retz....expert yan pag dating sa alternator at aircon.

at tamang tama... low bat cya... este yung battery pala ng car nya.. joke...

pasama ka nalang po sakanya... mabait naman yan.... harmless like a puppy... (pero may rabies)

masyado nga lang b.c. si sir...

ask retz nalang... maam c4u... kung pwede sya maabala?

[uls]

di naman kailangan pa ng kung ano ano diagnostics pa

ipatest yung battery sa shop. pag sira na bili bago

install new battery start the car. alisin ang positive battery terminal. pag di namatay ang makina that means may kuryente nilalabas ang alternator. pag namatay ang makina that means walang kuryente nilalabas ang alternator

[jick.cejoco]

di naman kailangan pa ng kung ano ano diagnostics pa

ipatest yung battery sa shop. pag sira na bili bago

install new battery start the car. alisin ang positive battery terminal. pag di namatay ang makina that means may kuryente nilalabas ang alternator. pag namatay ang makina that means walang kuryente nilalabas ang alternator

sir, never disconnect the battery with the engine running or the ignition switch on correct me if i'm wrong, but i have never seen or read a repair manual instructing you to disconnect an electrical circuit that is live

[MrQ5]

actually ginagawa ng mga mekaniko yan kaya lang di safe, be prepare sa arcing at electrical surge sa electronic components.

[ClaNker]

sir, never disconnect the battery with the engine running or the ignition switch on correct me if i'm wrong, but i have never seen or read a repair manual instructing you to disconnect an electrical circuit that is live

Matagal ng gawain yan.

[uls]

if you're afraid of doing that then have the battery shop connect their tester to the battery and turn on lights and aircon

if the alternator isnt working there will be a voltage drop

so go replace the alternator

[jick.cejoco]

Matagal ng gawain yan.

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matagal nang mali yan

imagine your car having a lot of computers and memory, not all cars are sarao