My battery is going bad. Tested at 322 amps instead of around 600 or 650. My question is until i get some money can i let it charge overnight at 2 amps without the auto shutoff since my charger doesnt have it or will i blow my battery up? It starts after its jumped and doesnt take much then after i drive around some and leave it for like 4 hours itll still have enough juice left to start but at around 8 to 9 hours it wont crank at all. So until i get a new battery can i leave it overnight on 2 amps without destroying anything? I seriously hated getting my big charger out on 200 amp start in the rain (dont worry everything was covered) when i had to go somewhere in an emergency. Pfft battery is 2 years old im gonna take it back to rural king and see what they can do for me. And yes i know this is really gonna stress my alternator out and maybe ruin something i got that message already from several people lol.

 

If it's not a sealed battery remove the cell caps while it's on the charger.

 

Well guess i need a new battery now. I turn it off after a 20 minute drive and go to turn it on and its close to dead and only turns over once.

 

Is the battery taking a charge from the charger and not holding it or is it not being charged by the alternator. When you go to get a new battery have the alternator tested.

 

^^^ What EZEARL said.^^^

If you have a voltmeter you can also check the alternator yourself.

 

Alternator is good, I had it checked and it passed the machine test and my grandfather said it was good. I took it back to rural king as it had a 60 month limited warranty they honored it and i paid 22 bucks for a new one and plopped it in and it starts up very fast now (wish they started a new warranty instead of using my current one). The old one was tested and 3 of the cores were shot and wouldnt even charge. I stuck it on the battery charger for 3 hours on 2 amps then 2 hours on 10 amps and i took it off and wouldnt even crank at all. So in the process of bringing it up to the store the bottom of the battery popped and leaked everywhere. I have no clue why it happened to a 2 year old battery. Also 1 more question while i had the battery out the top bolt on the alternator where theres the long screw that goes through it. Is there supposed to be a nut towards the front where the belt is or is that supposed to be no nut there? i feel there is supposed to be a nut there.


I took this off the internet but where the red circle is under the pulley is there supposed to be a nut there?

 

The long bolt goes back through the bracket and alternator from where the circle is, and is secured by a nut on the back of the alternator.

 

I figured god knows where that bolt is lol. What size does it use if you may know?

 

'99 XJ 4.0 engine - M10X1.5X110 Bolt, Hex flange head.

 

Two possible causes I can think of:

1. Defective from the factory.
2. Abuse.

#2 is far more likely. It could take the form of mechanical abuse (vibration, impact), perhaps from not having a proper hold-down, or from frequent overcharging. That's easy to check, and my money is on the mechanical abuse.

 

While that would be the case for abuse i highly doubt it as it does have the hold downs the battery itself is only 50 dollars. My dad has a rural king battery and Mom has rural king batteries in her cars and some were cracked when buying (they inspect it before selling). My guess is when they put them on the shelves they just throw them on there. My dads battery in his blazer cracked after a month as well. So cheap case i guess? Im not trying to argue lol The warranties are a blessing with these sometimes as alot of them we took back for either posts not making contact inside the battery, cracking or cells going bad. You get what you pay for i guess lol. But one time i DID run it very very low in winter ill admit when frickin florida was 20 degrees and it sat for 2 weeks being i went on vacation and came back to it being dead. So i guess im partly to blame too. Charged it at 2 amps every 2 hours, Gave it a 30 minute break and continued charging in that process till i got it started after a full day if charging.

 

I do believe I'd be switching brands.

 

Thinking the same but money is a major factor right now lol. Florida isnt to good with giving jobs atm where im at. Once i do tho i was thinking of getting an interstate green top battery i hear those are very good.

 

Where abouts in Fla. are you? What kind of work you do?

 

Interstates are very good.


How cheap are Rural King batteries that must be replaced every two years and dump acid all over your engine compartment?