Hawker Battery, Anyone have problems with heat? Options

[slowTA]

HAHAHAH... I was wondering if that's what you did, or tap the bolts to match the battery. Once I got the bolts out I thought about getting longer screws and drilling out the factory bolts, too much work.

[robz71lm7]

I just bought the adapter after I decided I didn't like reusing the bolts it came with.

[nape]

I just bought the adapter after I decided I didn't like reusing the bolts it came with.

I bought the SAE adapters too but I couldn't figure out what size the thread inside were so they got chucked into the corner of the garage out of frustration.

[robz71lm7]

I just bought the adapter after I decided I didn't like reusing the bolts it came with.

I bought the SAE adapters too but I couldn't figure out what size the thread inside were so they got chucked into the corner of the garage out of frustration.

It comes with alllen head bolts to bolt onto the battery and your standard side terminal bolt (factory) screws right into it.

[Teutonic Speedra...]

I tapped the battery like Jon and then I think I used the factory bolts or some standard ones that fit in.

[nape]

I just bought the adapter after I decided I didn't like reusing the bolts it came with.

I bought the SAE adapters too but I couldn't figure out what size the thread inside were so they got chucked into the corner of the garage out of frustration.

It comes with alllen head bolts to bolt onto the battery and your standard side terminal bolt (factory) screws right into it.

Hmm, I'll have to check that out. The holes in my adapters were way too big for the factory terminal bolt. It seemed like 3/8 to me. I'll see if I can snag some pics to compare one of these days.

[slowTA]

I think my battery is completely dead now, it wont even turn on the check engine light. It sat from December to today. I'm not sure if I want to get a charger for it or not, most of the chargers they recomend cost more than the battery! I'll have to see what they say about a warantee claim. I found these two charger but don't think the cheaper one will work, the last link tells you how to charge them.

http://www.batterymart.com/p-ACC-12V7A-S.html
http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=ACC-1206WB

http://www.odysseyfactory.com/odycharg_c.htm

Anyone have other options?

[nape]

Anyone have other options?

Start the car off one battery then swap the Hawker back in with the car running so the alt can recharge it?

Not sure if it'll work, but I'd try it.

Hopefully, I have better luck with mine. Mine sat disconnected for 3 months last spring and was fine but it'll be closer to 5 months this time.

[John_D.]

Yeah, or jump start the car and let the alternator charge it. You might even be able to put somewhat of a charge on it just by hooking it up standalone to another running car with jumper cables, and let that car charge on it for a while.

I have an ancient hand-me-down charger from my stepdad. It's rusty and looks rough, but still charges just fine... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I've thought about hitting the case with a coat of POR-15 next time I have some out.

[Teutonic Speedra...]

I was kind of wondering if there was anything special about charging up the Hawker. I've had mine on a 12V 4A charger for an hour or two here and there the last few weeks in between starting it or flashing the PCM. It seems to be working fine, and the battery sat (disconnected) from October to February. It struggled to start one morning last week after sitting on the trailer in 17F weather overnight, but did start after stalling about 3 times.

[slowTA]

I'm really thinking of getting this charger now. It's the same price as the battery but looks like it will do a full charge as well as maintain the battery. I'm just hoping it will fit in the car so I don't have to pull the battery to charge it all the time. I don't have a garage but I do cover the car, I doubt it will get wet.

Under the Odyssy heading it says it wont even try to charge a battery that is less than 2 volts, I'll have to check it first. If its lower I'll try and get a new battery under warantee then get a battery tender instead.

http://www.batterymart.com/p-ACC-12V7A-S.html

As for as charging it off of the alternater, its obvious I need some kind of charger anyway.

[slowTA]

I talked with Odyssey today and they said you can NOT trickle charge a battery that only has 5.5 volts left in it. They recommend at least a 7 amp charge at this point. The voltage for charging has to be as follows:

Fast charge voltage= 14.4 to 14.7 volts
Standby charge voltage= 13.6 to 13.8 volts

The current only matters if the battery is dead. So a trickle charger (like the battery tender) should be between 13.6 and 13.8 volts. Not a very big window and the battery tenders fall outside the range at 13.4 volts. There specifications even say that battery tenders shouldn't be used on gel cell batteries.

Right now it looks like I'll borrow a friend's charger and set it at 10 amps for 2 hours (or more) assuming the output voltage is correct. Then I'll get the cheaper $35-ish charger I linked to above to keep it topped off... and cross my fingers!

This post has been edited by slowTA: Mar 13 2006, 11:46 PM

[Teutonic Speedra...]

I think between the cold weather a week or two ago and not letting it run (trailer runs) at all, and keying the car on about 5 times with the WB 02 heater running for 30 seconds each time, it smoked the battery. Wouldn't even crank on Saturday. I threw my charger on it again (4Amp old school thing from the 70's) for about an hour or so, and it started right up. I then drove the car around, and it still seems to have a charge today. I wonder what long term effects this might have on the battery, not following the right charge voltage/amperage?

[slowTA]

Dennis, I would make sure the charger you have falls within the range I listed above. I was in Home Depot and Autozone today looking at chargers, but none of them listed the charging voltage.

[Teutonic Speedra...]

Whatever damage I did is done. I've got to stay on schedule for Limerock on April 21st. Still have to tune, setup the 7pts, Wideband and other odds and ends. It's sat since Saturday and just started right up today. I'm hoping I didn't really hurt her too bad! If not, I think the Hawker I got was only likr $60.

[slowTA]

If not, I think the Hawker I got was only like $60.

That's what I'm thinking now. The 'correct' chargers for them are pretty pricey, typically the same price or more expensive than the battery itself. Go figure.

This post has been edited by slowTA: Mar 15 2006, 04:30 AM

[John_D.]

I've recharged mine several times. After extended periods in the Camaro, and then when it became a hand-me-down for the motorcycle after I blew the engine in the Camaro. The motorcycle alternator/regulator/something is weak and the battery will get low, so after a couple weeks of riding, I throw the charger on it to bring it back up to 100%. It's an old one, no special program or anything. I'll hit it with 10amps for about 4 hours (longer if I forget - luckily the charger tapers off on its own...).