Non-standard advice from experienced people about the battery, terminal fastening and wire harness

Each reader can send their tips by email. Don't forget to include illustrations. Be sure to indicate your postal address with a six-digit code, last name, first name and patronymic (in full), as well as a telephone number for quick communication. This will speed up the sending of your well-deserved prizes.

ADJUSTABLE IS BETTER

A. Filippov, Moscow region

On VAZ cars of the tenth family, the fan-type windshield washer nozzles are not adjustable, which, in my opinion, impairs cleaning and leads to excess fluid consumption. I decided to install “classic” injectors with two nozzles sold in every store (price - no more than one hundred rubles per pair). To do this, I removed the wiper arms and marked and drilled holes for new ones in the plastic frill. I connected the injectors to the factory pipes. I fiddled with it for no more than an hour, but for five years now I have not noticed any shortcomings in the washer’s operation.

A few words about materials for manufacturing

Quite a lot of materials can be used to make heat-saving covers. It depends on their choice in retail chains, the chosen insulation design, your financial capabilities and the region where the car is used. For batteries that are used in different climatic zones, the approach to choosing material is different. We can recommend the following list:

• Acid resistant fabric;
• Adhesive tape or fabric-based Velcro;
• A little construction isolon;
• Felt materials or faux fur;
• Foams or splen;
• Polyurethane foam.

Having selected the necessary materials from the list above, you can begin to design and then manufacture insulation for the battery.

TREASURE IN THE GARAGE

V. Krivosheev, Samara

The reason for sending advice was a story about resource tests of editorial Largus. It mentioned that the front stabilizer mounting bolts were badly damaged by corrosion. For about thirty years now, I have been using a proven product - Movil - to protect threaded connections, including when repairing suspension. Fasteners treated with it can be unscrewed freely even after many years. The shelf life of this drug is almost unlimited. Even slightly thickened, it also reliably protects the fasteners. There is only one drawback: if it gets on your hands, you cannot remove it without a solvent.

What methods of insulating batteries are used?

The reason for insulation should be the outside air temperature. As soon as it drops below -20°C, such a moment has arrived. At such times, a slightly larger battery capacity is already needed, since the engine and transmission oils will thicken in the cold, making it difficult to start a cold engine.

If the car is used daily, simply insulating the battery case will be sufficient. In this case, the battery is insulated together with the engine compartment. They usually start from the engine compartment. Cover the radiator grille, especially carefully in the area of ​​coolant supply and extraction. You also need to protect the front wall of the battery from the flow of cold air. There is no need to install anything on the side of the engine compartment; this will allow the warm air of the heated engine to heat the battery.

ONE SCREWDRIVER

P. Chistoprudov, Armavir

I read the advice on lengthening the battery mounting bolt (ZR, No. 3, 2017). I've done this for a long time. And I went further. To make the battery easier to service, all the fasteners—both the elongated bolt and two tall nuts—were made with a slot. Now, to connect the battery to the charger or remove it from the car, just one powerful screwdriver is enough - you can loosen the battery terminal clamps and release the clamping bar and plugs.

Types of batteries by installation method

All batteries can be divided into several types according to the method of installation on the stand. Based on this, there are three most common types.

Battery mount without petticoats

1. Has a universal mount.
2. Modification B00.
3. Straight body with no protrusions on the sides.
4. Installation is carried out on a direct stand in the car.

Batteries with double-sided skirt

1. Modification B03.
2. The clamp is carried out by the battery mounting bracket located on both sides.

Four-sided skirt batteries

1. One of the varieties that has a bottom type of battery mounting on all 4 sides.
2. There is a small protrusion at the bottom, with the help of which the tightest pressure to the stand is achieved.
3. Modification B13.

GOD SAVES MAN, WHO SAVE HIMSELF

D. Korovin, Krasnodar

Drivers usually place their bags on the front passenger seat, and this attracts the attention of unscrupulous people. To save property, I suggest that before the trip, fasten the bag with the driver’s seat belt, passing it through the shoulder strap - a simple manipulation will add trouble to the netters. One note: do this before you start driving so you don't have to take your eyes off the road later.

Thermal case for battery. A true review and is it possible to do it yourself?

The winter period brings its own changes to seemingly ordinary things. Now many of us are trying to insulate car batteries for easy starting of the engine in the morning. There is simply a boom in so-called “thermal cases”, and many motorists make them with their own hands! Is such a “coat” justified for the battery, is it worth installing, and is it worth doing it yourself? Read to the end, you will get a lot of useful information...

THE CONTENT OF THE ARTICLE

Let me start with a definition.

A thermal case is a durable, often even sealed, soft “thermos” made from a special fabric or material that does not allow cold or heat to pass through. Must maintain the battery temperature at all times within the operating range, which facilitates its proper charging and operation. If it’s just the cover itself, or the heated , when low-current heating elements are installed under this fur coat.

It seems that this is happiness - you bought or made such a “thermal case” with your own hands and you don’t care about winter! But in the structure of this case, a bunch of questions immediately appear, which, if looked into, will, on the contrary, contribute to the failure of the battery. And if you are thinking about such a device, you need to choose or make it correctly.

Functions of the thermal cover

The thermal case performs several functions at once:

• heating protects against freezing in winter;
• thermal insulation prevents battery overheating;
• reduces the amount of dirt and dust falling on the power source;
• reduces the likelihood of an increase in self-discharge rate at low temperatures;
• protects against mechanical damage;
• The heating of the battery, provided by the operation of the engine, allows you to charge the battery well before a long stay.

What to do if your car battery is stolen

If you arrive at a parking lot and notice that the hood of your car is slightly open or the windows are broken, then this is a sign that you have been robbed. This is how vandal robbers usually act, most often using tools such as a crowbar and a hammer. If the thief is already an experienced one, he won’t even leave a trace, and you will only notice that it’s missing when you try to start the car. In any case, you need to contact law enforcement agencies for help and write a statement.

The procedure should be approximately as follows:

1. Call the police and report the battery theft. If you don’t know how to call the police, then dial 112 on your phone and they will transfer you to the police.
2. After this, you need to go to the police station and write a statement.
3. Next, you and your employees need to return to the crime scene and remove all available prints. This can help in the investigation because sometimes thieves leave traces: hair, personal items, a piece of clothing and much more.

How to Repair a Battery in Less Than 20 Minutes

You get out of the car and the battery dies overnight; it can be frustrating to say the least, especially when you're late for work or have the kids ready for school and ready to leave. When the battery is low on charge in the morning you could have a voltage leak in the electrical system which is called a parasitic draw. I have created this guide that will show you simple fixes and move on to more complex electrical problems. Here are a few things that can cause this problem, which I will cover in more detail in the next guide.

The most common electrical problems are:

• Seat switch stuck
• The glove compartment is light on
• trunk on
• Dome lamp on
• CD Stuck in Player
• ABS stick relay
• Side mirror switch stuck
• Internally closed generator
• BCM or GEM shorted
• Alarm module is closed
• Door lock stuck
• Cigarette lighter stuck
• Vanity stuck on

Scenarios that will be covered:

• My battery is over three years old
• The car smells like sulfur or rotten egg and it's dead
• I'm driving a car with a battery warning light.
• I just installed a new battery and it lost charge.
• I smell something burning and now the engine won't start.

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Now that you have an idea of ​​what could be wrong, let's take a detailed look at how to check for these problems and how to fix them, let's get started.

Step 1

Your car's battery is designed to store electricity, which is used to start the engine when the key is turned to the crank position. If the battery warning light did not illuminate the last time you drove the vehicle, the alternator is working correctly. If you notice that the indicator light on the battery is probably on charge, which is not a battery failure. When the battery short circuits, there is a sulfur or rotten egg smell internally either from age, from overcharging from the alternator, or in If necessary, replace the battery and check the alternator output voltage. Learn more

As a battery begins to age, three years or more, it loses its ability to hold a charge overnight, which is the first sign that the battery is ready to be replaced. To learn more

Step 2

If you know the battery is fine because it was recently replaced and it's dead in the morning, there is electrical voltage causing this problem. There are several "live" electrical circuits that bypass the ignition switch that can draw power when the key is in the off position. Let's start with the most popular and then head to the more obscure problems.

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Check the electrical seat control switches, this switch may be stuck or weak allowing the switch to remain on causing the seat motor to draw power from the battery.

To check for this condition, observe the operation of the seat control switch; if it does not return to neutral or is stuck in one position, replace the switch with a new part, which you can get from Amazon or a car dealership. Learn more

Check the light in the glove box, in most cases this light is controlled by a small contact switch inside the door frame box. If this switch is faulty or improperly aligned, it will allow the lamp to remain on the battery. This can sometimes be difficult to see in bright daylight and is best checked during the evening by looking for light inside the unit through small cracks and around the door box. If the light is on, open and inspect the light switch to replace it if necessary or make minor adjustments changes to make it work correctly and turn off the lights.

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Check the lighters in the front and rear passenger compartments. Check to see if the lighter itself is stuck, which is usually accompanied by a fair amount of heat and a burning smell, pull the lighter upward to stop the electrical attraction. In this case, the lighter has become damaged and needs to be replaced.

When you turn off the ignition key the radio also turns off, this is not the case for the CD player and changer. If a CD is stuck in the loading or ejecting position it will continue to run the small motor inside the player while the electrical system drains.

With the key turned off, listen carefully to the player if you hear that the motor running on the CD is stuck. Try handling the disc either in or with small tweezers or a flat-blade screwdriver.

If you can't remove the CD, pull the radio fuse until you can replace or repair, this will stop the battery charging.

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The door lock switch is constantly hot or energized. Sometimes the control switch becomes clogged with dirt or soda, which causes the switch to stick in the locked or unlocked position. This will force the door lock actuator to stay on which will pull the battery down. Check the lock switch to make sure it returns to the neutral position. If this switch is broken or permanently stuck, replacement is required.

The side view mirror switch continues to receive power after the ignition switch is turned off. This switch, like other switches, can become clogged from dirt and soda that the switch may hold, causing the motor to draw power. Test the switch operation to ensure it returns to the neutral position. If this switch is broken or stuck, it will need to be replaced.

The vanity mirror, which is located in the sun visor on the passenger or driver's side, has a light in it in most cases that can stick. To check this problem, move the visor down slightly to observe the light that is still shining even if the visor is in the up position. If so, pull the visor down to inspect the small pin. switch and repair or replace as necessary.

The ABS system will operate when the ignition key is turned off in most vehicles. This system has a control relay that is built into the module or into the fuse. panel. If, when your key is turned off, and you hear something running under the hood or frame of the car, it is probably this device. Locate the fuse for the ABS system and remove it from the fuse panel until you can replace the module with a new part. To learn more

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The trunk light may or may not be controlled by the vehicle's BCM depending on the year and manufacturer of the vehicle. The information I have found on this is vague to say the least. The good news is that it is very easy to check whether a truck light is causing an electrical problem, although it is best to check in the evening when the light is much easier to observe. Open the trunk and observe the light, then slowly close the lid, observing the light through the small hole near the back of the trunk lid, the light should go out. If the light is on, replace or adjust the switch or trunk latch control pin

Step 3

This section is for more obscure and rare problems, please read below:

The alternator is used to charge the battery while the engine is running. When this unit shuts down it can create a draw in the system to check this Problem wait until the engine is cool then find the alternator and feel it with your hand to check the heat if the alternator is warm with possible burn The smell there is short and the alternator needs replace.

The BCM, Alarm and GEM computer modules can short out internally, which can cause various electrical systems in the vehicle to remain "live", which creates an electrical outlet. This problem can be checked by locating the systems fuse and removing them or removing the controllers altogether. If the car starts the next morning you have found the problem.

If you cannot find the cause of the battery drain, a manual test of the electrical system should be performed. With the ignition key in the off position and the doors closed (driver's side window down), wait 15 minutes, then disconnect the battery cable from the negative side. (Note: The 15-minute wait time allows computers to enter "sleep mode" which shuts down most electrical systems.)

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Connect a test light between the negative end of the battery cable and the negative terminal of the battery, the test light should be dim or not lit at all. If the test light is bright. There is high electrical voltage in the system. To find the beginning of the draw, removing the fuses one at a time, when the control lamp goes out, the circuit in question has been found. Identify all accessories in a specific diagram using the wiring diagram.

Step 4

The following set of problems only applies to older vehicles built before 2000. In most cases.

If the headlights are left on overnight, the battery will drain, check the headlight switch. If the switch is in the on position, turn the switch off, start or charge the battery. The battery should regain its state of charge after approximately 15 minutes of driving.

Once all doors are closed, check the interior and dome lights, these lights should turn off after a short time. If the lights stay on after a reasonable amount of time, check whether the interior light bypass switch is located on the headlight switch or on the panel that also controls instrument panel brightness. You should feel a slight bump when turning the scroll wheel indicating when the switch is activated or deactivated.

All doors, including the rear or hatch, have a contact switch or internal switch located in the latch itself that determines when the door is open. when these switches fail or become misadjusted, the interior lights will remain on.

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Some SUVs and trucks have a light under the hood that is controlled by a mercury switch that detects the level of the hood. At night, look under the vehicle to check for a light near the engine compartment, to correct this problem, replace the light assembly.

Step 5

If you cannot find the reason for the battery drain, check the electrical system should be done. With the ignition key in the off position and the doors closed (driver's side window down), disconnect the battery cable on the negative side. Then take a voltmeter and place it on the DC amplifier. scale.Then attach the red wire to the battery negative terminal. Take the black lead and attach it to the battery cable. Use a small jumper along the side of the Voltmeter and wait 15 minutes for the modules to go into sleep mode. then remove the small jumper, leaving only the voltmeter. Then look at your reading should be between 50 and 75 milliamps. It is considered a normal draw to keep module redundancy systems charged.

If the draw is higher than that, then start removing fuses one by one until the draw drops to the normal level. Once you find the fuse, you will need to look for a power manager wiring diagram that will show what components are on that fuse. Install the fuse and go to each component in that circuit and disconnect the components one at a time until the draw drops into the normal range. At this moment you have found a draw. Replace the component and recheck the draw to confirm your repair.

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Questions?

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Article published 2018-12-19

Dead Car Battery - Here's how to get started on your car and fix your battery.

GETTY
This is a guide for drivers replacing a car battery.
to lack of activity. Millions of drivers may wake up to find their car battery is dead over the festive period.

Tuesday 2 January is the UK's busiest day for outages, with around 11,300 people likely to experience problems, according to the RAC.

This is mainly because the batteries did not have time to charge over the Christmas period because the cars were not driven.

Old batteries may also struggle to start in cold weather conditions.

James Knight, director of roadside operations at the RAC, explains: “Typically the busiest day for breakdowns is the first working day after the holiday period, so this year calls will peak on Tuesday 2 January, when we expect them to there will be about 11,300 disruptions.

“This is because many people haven't driven their cars over the Christmas period and so their batteries haven't had a chance to charge and old, tired batteries will struggle in icy conditions to start their vehicle.

“We advise drivers to take their cars out ten or fifteen minutes the day before they return to work, just to charge the battery.

“It would be wise to spend another ten minutes doing some simple checks to make sure your oil, coolant and windshield washer are fully charged, your headlights and wipers are working, and your tires are at proper pressure and have good tread depth

“It will be time well spent and may save you the inconvenience and disappointment of a New Year's disruption.”

Top 10 Driving Skills That Are Secretly Damaging Your Car

Monday, July 17, 2022

10 Essential Driving Skills That Are Secretly Damaging Your Car

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1 out of 10

1. Management of low fuel level in the tank

Here's what you need to do to avoid draining your battery:

-Try to keep your battery charged while doing a number of long-distance journeys over the Christmas period. According to Auto Express, batteries are put under peak stress by many short journeys as they do not allow enough time for the battery to charge.

-Press the clutch when starting the engine as they can help take the load off the car.

Typically the busiest day for breakdowns is the first working day after the holiday period.

James Knight, Director of Roadside Works at the RAC

-Make sure the headlights are turned off at night as they can easily drain the battery.

-Routinely servicing your car can help identify things on your car that could be putting extra strain on your battery.

Drivers are warned that they should not attempt to start the vehicle if the battery is damaged, leaking or corroded.

How to start a car, according to information provided by the Dummies website:

-Parking a dead car and a car with a working battery nearby, but not touching.

-Make sure both hand switches are turned on and the machine is in park or neutral.

-Open the car covers and attach one of the red clips to the positive terminal of your car, and then attach it to the positive terminal on the other car.

-Connect the black clamps to the negative terminal on the other battery and then strike an unpainted metal surface of your car that is not near the car battery.

-Turn on the ignition of the running car and after a minute try to turn on the car with a discharged battery.

-If this doesn't work, try it and let it run for five minutes before trying to start it again.

-If the car does not start after this period of time, it may not be able to help and needs to be replaced, but if it does start, you should drive it for at least 30 minutes to charge it.

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Millions of drivers could wake up to find their car's battery is dead over the holiday period.

Recent research from Halford found that a whopping 60 per cent of motorists have not checked their battery in the last six months, despite recommending regular checks.

Nearly half of motorists don't know how to start a car, which can lead to car misery, and 66 percent don't know how to replace a battery, up to 80% of those aged 25 to 34.

At Halfords, demand for replacement car batteries typically doubles during the Christmas period, with 40% of shoppers also taking advantage of the fitting benefits.

Ella Colley, winter car expert at Halfords, says: “Not only will passengers feel sluggish after the holidays, but their cars will too.

“Using your car's heater, lighting and devices such as dash cams places increased demands on the battery, and this combined with your car sitting idle in sub-zero temperatures could result in a less than positive start to 2022 - so it's worth giving Your car will have a quick health check this weekend or take it to Halfords where we will do it for you.”

Halfords offers free battery checks at Halfords Auto Centers and Halfords stores across the UK to ensure they are ready to return to work.

Top 8 Things That Drain Your Car Battery

You're late for work and rush to your car, only to find that it won't start. The headlights are dim and the engine simply refuses to turn over. You realize your battery is low. How did this happen?

A car battery is the most important piece of equipment to start and drive your car. It sends energy from the starter to the spark plugs, igniting your car's fuel, and also powers other systems. This includes lights, radio, air conditioning and more. You may be able to tell when your car's battery is starting to die, if you're having trouble starting, have flickering lights, or have a weak alarm.

Your car battery may start to drain for 8 reasons:

Human error

You've probably done this at least once in your life - you came home from work, tired and not particularly thoughtful, didn't turn on the headlights, didn't close the trunk all the way, or even forgot about some of the interior lights. At night, the battery drains, and In the morning your car won't start. Many newer cars will alert you if you've left the lights on, but may not have alerts for other components.

Parasitic drain

A parasitic drain occurs due to components in your vehicle that continue to operate after the key is turned off. Some parasitic discharge is normal—your battery produces enough energy to constantly run things like your clock, radios, and alarms. However, if there are electrical problems—such as faulty wiring, poor installation, and faulty fuses—the stray discharge can exceed normal levels and drain the battery.

Faulty charger

If your charging system isn't working properly, your car battery can drain even while you're driving. Many cars power their lights, radios and other systems from the alternator, which can worsen battery drain if there is a charging problem. The alternator may have loose belts or worn tensioners that are preventing it from operating properly.

Defective generator

A car alternator charges the battery and powers certain electrical systems, such as lights, radio, air conditioning, and automatic windows. If your alternator has a bad diode, the battery may die. A faulty alternator diode can cause the circuit to charge even when the engine is off, leaving you with a car that won't start in the morning.

Extreme temperature

Temperatures can cause lead sulfate crystals to accumulate, whether extremely hot (above 100 degrees Fahrenheit) or cold (below 10 degrees Fahrenheit). If the car is left in these conditions for too long, sulfate buildup can harm the long-term life of the battery. In these conditions, charging the battery can take a long time, especially if you only drive short distances.

Excessively short drives

Your battery may die prematurely if you take too many short drives. The battery produces more power when starting the car. Turning off the car before the alternator has a chance to recharge may explain why the battery keeps draining or doesn't last long.

Corroded or loose battery cables

The charging system cannot recharge the battery while driving if the battery connectors are disconnected. They should be checked for dirt or corrosion and cleaned with a cloth or toothbrush. Loose battery cables also make it difficult to start the engine because they cannot effectively carry electrical current.

Old battery

If your battery is old or weak, it will not be fully charged. If your car won't start, the battery may be low. Typically, you should replace your car battery every 3-4 years. If your battery is old or poorly maintained, it may drain regularly.

What to do with a battery that keeps dying:

A battery that won't hold a charge is frustrating, and figuring out what's causing the problem can be difficult. Assuming the dead battery is not due to human error, you will need the help of a qualified mechanic who can diagnose your vehicle's electrical problems and determine whether it is the dead battery or something else in the electrical system.

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