Dead battery....but not?

For starters, I have a guy coming over tonight to look at the Crewzers... Then this AM, it's almost like it does not want to leave:confused:

Threw the boys in for a ride, car ran perfect as allways. Toured for almost a hour and stopped for a coffee, was in and out in 2 minutes and Wurrr, wurrr, wurrrrrrrr, tick, tick, dead battery! And of course no jumper cables to be found. After 5 minutes I was just about to start walking but tried the car again and it flashed up no problem.

Got home, turned it off, let it sit for a couple minutes and the car starts fine. 10 minutes later, still starts strong and fine. Battery is 2 years old, tested the alternator and it's charging at apx 13.6-13.9 volts witch I believe is on the low end of the scale but it's still in the...it should work! No, no lites etc left on either, both battery connection wires are 3 months new and tight. Didn't even have head lites on while driving, so no extra draw from them.

Any input would help, I'm baffeled:confused:

I believe in karma, I am going to tell the guy what happened today, not going to have some one beating on my door the next day saying WTF? I'm not and was never one of those flippers

 

Maybe you should try some construction adhesive on it, your box is leaking and all your starter fluid ran out.

 

I know you said you checked the connections, but I bet if you check them all you will either find something loose or corroded.
At battery (remove and clean both)
At starter
At frame
At block
At solenoid if it is separate

That's about all I have without seeing it.

 

Same sorta thing happened in my Electra one night about 7 years ago.... except it died while cruising. I got it off the road, wouldn't start again. After about 30min, it started up like there was never an issue, and never a problem again.

The problem on mine seem to be a build up of black corrosion on the positive battery terminal, which seemed to build up with that particular battery. I just used my terminal cleaner every so often to clean it up and never another issue.

I've since replaced that battery due to age (it was over 10 years old), and the new battery doesn't corrode in the same way at all.

 

It's got me..???? Did all the above and more. Car starts strong and drives.:confused:

 

I had a vehicle with fairly new battery that I had installed. A couple of months later the same as you described. Turned out to be unseen corrosion on the negative post.

 

If memory serves, the Cruisers us side post connections. Is the battery a duel post model? If so, check the top positive, and make sure it is not sometimes too close to the hood. If it is, it could be jumping a spark at times, and if it connects, it could short out the battery very quickly indeed.

 

Cables are new, took them off again, everything clean.


BTW, potential buyer is coming tomorrow. Told him what happened today, he still wants to see it and was on the same page as all of us for WTF.

Guy says he has a 77 Pontiac wagon, hope he shows up with that.

 

3ish months ago when I changed the cables I gunned the side post connections ( stupid idea from GM IMO), All my batteries have dual posts just because ya never know when your going to borrow one for some thing else.. This battery has been under the hood for 2 years and I do have plenty of room between the hood, sooooo.....

 

Using the tick-tick as a clue, I conclude its a bad connection, but we now know that's not the case,, which leads to a faulty soilonoid that can act up anytime conditions are right.. I'd guess that's the problem for it started up again soon after the problem ! ( a loose connection usually wouldn't heal itself)..