whats wrong with my battery?

[ExplodingTurtle]

A little while ago (about a month or so, I'd guess) my battery went nuts on me. The car wouldn't start at all and we tried jumping it but that didn't work. We later found out that it was because there was a TON of corrosion on my positive terminal on the battery. Well, we cleaned it off and the car started fine. Til about a week ago, that is. It's acting funny again and it takes a couple of seconds for it to turn over and I looked at the battery and the corrosion was back. (already!)

What would cause that? Should I get a new battery? The one I have now is about 4 years old.

Thanks in advance for any responses!

 

[77sleeper]

check the water

 

[Onimere]

get a new battery and battery cable, the plates are probably toast and if there is corrosion then it is possible that it is in the cable also. If your terminal corrodes once then the possibilty of it corroding again is very high. So try and get rid of the corrosion as much as possible by cutting the wire out or just replacing the wire. Had to deal with this yesterday with a buddies car and on mine before also.

 

[ExplodingTurtle]

get a new battery and battery cable, the plates are probably toast and if there is corrosion then it is possible that it is in the cable also. If your terminal corrodes once then the possibilty of it corroding again is very high. So try and get rid of the corrosion as much as possible by cutting the wire out or just replacing the wire. Had to deal with this yesterday with a buddies car and on mine before also.

How much does a new battery and a new battery cable cost? Plus instalation...

 

[ExplodingTurtle]

check the water

Why?

 

[77sleeper]

because if the BATTERY water is low it could cause the same issue, if it is a sealed unit then is there a green glow in the window?

 

[94 3.8l stang]

Water....ha!!! . It depends on where you live if you need to check water. I live in ND and you have Gel battery's, no water, it would just freeze up if you lived up north.

My advice, go to an interstate battery shop and have them check it, they will get you fixed up.

 

[97v6Silver]

hah this aint the sixties no mo i can't remember the last time i saw a car battery that wasn't a sealed unit. Now boat batteries and such are a different story...

 

[ExplodingTurtle]

Does anyone have a clue what the cost of all this may be? Cuz I am a poor college student at the moment... I know how much a new battery costs and everything but is it possible for the one I have now to be fixed? And... my battery does not have a window and I live in Virginia...

Thanks.

 

[marvinmycat]

Batteries range from the middle of the road $60 to higher end, $80. Some cost as much as $120+ for long life ultra-duty batteries.

Cables, depending on which ones need replacing, are anywhere from $10 a cable for cheap POS, or a full set (3 wires) $35 or so. I'd replace all three if one of them is starting to corrode just as a precaution, and not have to screw around with them again anytime soon!

 

[ChrisYellowV6]

because if the BATTERY water is low it could cause the same issue, if it is a sealed unit then is there a green glow in the window?

However, that only gives you the condition of one cell in your batery. Any of the others could go out, and therefore your battery be dead but that doesn't tell you. I don't trust those.

If you're a really poor college student, you may be able to just put new terminals on your current wires, or just go to home depot and get yourself the wires and terminals, it's really cheap. The wires are under-rated anyway, but if you get yourself some good THHN wire off the home depot spool it wont cost but about 80 cents for the wire, and $3 for the terminals (at the most)

 

[ExplodingTurtle]

If you're a really poor college student, you may be able to just put new terminals on your current wires, or just go to home depot and get yourself the wires and terminals, it's really cheap. The wires are under-rated anyway, but if you get yourself some good THHN wire off the home depot spool it wont cost but about 80 cents for the wire, and $3 for the terminals (at the most)

Ha, that's awesome. I'm gonna think about it, thanks. But I'm also gonna look into getting a new battery. thanks everyone.