Hello,

My 01 XJ came with an Interstate MT34 battery which has the little card punched as being purchased over 4 years ago. The Jeep is from Pennsylvania and I am in Massachusetts, and have had no starts a couple times already when I left the door open and interior lights on for about an hour. I feel like it should still crank over at that point, but it just clicks a bunch of times and I have had to get jump started. Another time I left the fog lights on for 30 mins and it wouldnt start.

This morning was a pretty warm morning and I measured the voltage across the battery terminals (after scraping them a little with a pocket knife to get nice shiny metal on the posts) and it read 12.26 volts. Is that a good 40 to 50 degree morning voltage before the jeep was started?

I am going to have the battery tested at the local Interstate dealer tomorrow morning, already called and they have a new MT34 waiting for me for $99 + tax if I need it.

I'm mildly suspicious that I may have a drain somewhere as well, and will have to disconnect the battery negative and use a test light to see if it lights up from + to chassis ground.

Thanks for anyone who can tell me if 12.26 v is a good resting voltage or if it should be higher after sitting overnight.

Squelchtone

 

This is what I'm running.

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/auto-gr...prod9510080.ip


Made by Deka as far as I can tell. Cost me around $130.

 

That's totally normal voltage for one of these batteries that is fully charged. You may have a weak cell or some other problem. Corroded wires will increase the amount of current required to et things done, or your starter could be jam packed with crud and require a lot of current. Get the battery load tested.

 

Thank you for the good tips. I will say that I have a new starter from Napa, installed it leas than 3 months ago, paid $160 for it and it spins like a top. I'll get the battery load tested per your advice.

Update to follow.
Squelchtone

 

Went to the Interstate place yesterday, first they popped the caps and checked the levels of each cell and that looked good to them, so then they rolled out this awesome cart with big gauges on it and clamped onto my battery and it failed the load test. They also tested my alternator and it was putting out a good voltage, around 13.72 in my case.

I had them pull the battery and install a new one, they only charged $10 bucks and I didn't even have to get my hands dirty, plus they were pretty thorough in checking things when I told them something *may* be zapping my juice, so I figured, hey their time and effort is worth $10 bucks. Battery was $99 + tax.




happy camper right now, and ready for the winter!
Squelchtone

 

Failed the load test eh? Sounds like you found the culprit. It's always good to know!

 

Strange you should say that and with ZERO knowledge of the top of the line batteries from AutoZone.

I use them in 11 different cars and trucks both gas and diesel along with a diesel pusher Motorhome. The oldest set of 4 are in the Motorhome and they are 6 years old and still going strong with the 72 mo. warranty batteries in it as in everything else. The next set is 5 yrs. old and in 3 Power Stroke diesels used for business we own.

I hate cheap batteries and will use them in anything I own. My "04" GC and the XJ both have Amateur radios in them and have a constant drain on the battery from them and powered speakers so hard on batteries to begin with. The radio in the GC is a 200w output radio and very hard on batteries, I did have to replace on in it after 3 yrs. of use but there was no charge to do so on it either.

Now will you tell everyone again where "NOT" to buy batteries again, BTW I've been buying batteries for over 50 yrs. now of all kinds and you??

 

OEM battery? lolwat