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-   -   Battery dying (https://www.mercuryforum.com/forum/general-tech-help-12/battery-dying-11057/)

RichW May 18, 2020 03:04 PM

Battery dying
 
My 2 year old battery on my 96 MGM loses its charge if I don't drive it every other day. In these days of stay at home I haven't been driving it as much. Is this normal? Is there a way to check the battery to see if something is on that I don't know about? I know how to do it on a pre-computer car but not on this. Thanks in advance. Rich W the battery light does not come on when driving it. Voltage when idling is 14.7

95 MERC May 25, 2020 10:44 AM

The "quick & dirty" way to check for current loss -- Disconnect the fully-charged battery. Wait for 2 days. If the battery loses it's charge, it's junk.
Of course, the correct way to check a standard, lead-acid battery is with a Hydrometer -- like the battery manufacturers recommend.
Most hydrometers are a P.I.A. to operate, but the E-Z-Red Hydrometer (Amazon) is super-easy to use and to read.
A common mistake is to OVER-FILL the battery -- causing random corrosion all over the battery area.
Fill the battery to the BOTTOM of the fill hole, using distilled water ONLY.
Those Red&Green Felt Rings on the battery terminals help to keep them corrosion-free.


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