Auto Battery Issues

[shall]

I'm having problems with my auto. When I put it on a charger the light wont turn to the charging color (USB stays blue-wall stays green) also the lighted end of the battery does not flash. If I tap on the battery it will turn on but then I have to tap it several times for the light to go out.

I seen the video for cleaning the battery but Im afraid that I might short the whole battery out in order to clean the plunger or what ever it is that seams to be sticking.

I already broke one battery at work so this is my only battery until usps delivers my new manual one tomorrow. The bad part is it will be 6pm before I even get it on my hands.

Anything I can do so this will limp by till tomorrow night? After 19 days Im pulling my hair out thinking I will have to go back to analogs to get threw tomorrow.

 

[Runkmud]

Argh, no pass thru or anything? Sometimes faulty batteries happen. I'm sure Mark or Steve will take care of you, but the next 12 hours or so could be tough

I go with the military theory, one is none, two is one, and three is almost enough.
Best of luck!

Runk

 

[DanF]

I had a battery that would stay on for the entire cutoff no matter how short of a drag I took on it. Steve replaced it(of course) so I decided to mess with it since I couldnt hurt it anymore.
I had success fixing it by sticking a straightened paper clip into the battery end hole until I felt the rubber diaphragm thing, then pushing on it lightly. Battery is working seemingly perfectly now.

 

[Cola]

I had a battery do the exact same thing after having completely drained it one day. Your mileage may vary, but I was able to fix this by just leaving it on the charger. After about 15-30 minutes the charger switches to red and the tip light will blink again.

 

[shall]

I felt the rubber diaphragm thing.

So I might be able to get the tip wet? Like dunking it up to where the threads end in a cap full of alcohol to clean it better?

Yeah I have a passthru but the boss will not let me use it in the company vehicle.

 

[viny1]

shall,

"I seen the video for cleaning the battery"

Where is this video of which you speak?

My searches have been fruitless.

viny1

 

[shall]

look for "The Vapors - [Our version of The Oscars] - Winners Announced tonight!!!watch and learn" in the sticky threads, its on the 1st page and 3rd video.

 

[DanF]

I dont think I would "dunk" it in anything, but a drop of alcohol down the hole shouldnt hurt if you let it dry long enough.

Also, did you try unplugging the charger itself? To sort of 'reboot' it.

 

[Cimyss]

the one I heard you use a q tiip with alcholol and wipe it gently of course I wouldn't do sopping wet maybe just a little bit more then damp? but I dont't know maybe someone with more knowledge can help u

 

[Cola]

Also, did you try unplugging the charger itself? To sort of 'reboot' it.

fwiw, in case anyone else runs into this...

I got the same behavior with the USB charger that I described in my previous post, so it seems like it's more about the battery if this really is the same thing. Unplugging couldn't hurt, though.

 

[shall]

Yeah I tired the reboot thing, I had to do that several times last night before it would start charging. I also did this tonight and I have done the Q tip thing 6 times now. LOL

Actually I think I just finished breaking this one. Now when I plug it to charge it the tip flashes like normal but my led indicator stays green or blue depends on what Im plugging it into. I know the battery is dead cause I was able to use it most of the day.

 

[Cola]

I really would just leave it alone in the charger for a bit. Like don't mess with it or anything for at least 30 minutes.

But then again I could be going on about something that only applies to my battery, so I'll shut up.

 

[shall]

I will try that Cola, if this works then Im back to the smacking the battery around to turn it on and off

 

[viny1]

shall,

Thanks for the info on the video.

I had an auto battery act similarly to what you are describing.

I found a used dryer sheet. (they are strong, thin, do not frey or break)
I folded a corner portion of it into a long thin piece, and twisted it up until it would fit into the battery hole, dampened it with isopropyl, and twisted it into a wick that would allow about 1/2 inch to fit inside the little hole on the battery. Rotating the battery around, it would pull out all kinds of junk when removed. After a half dozen of these cleanings, I let it sit to dry, and now it doesn't stay on anymore, (I could draw on the hole end, and it would come on, but stay on till it began flashing, over and over.) and the charger charges it just fine now. I actually went a little overboard with the alcohol, but once it dried it works well.

viny1

 

[shall]

viny1- I will try this 1st thing in the morning 5am comes too quickly.

 

[boxhead]

dipping the atty end of a battery in alcohol has not hurt any of my batts, but i canair the thing dry and then charge it so it has had time to outgas any thing from the canair.

i use the one with alot of does not contain xxx ( used the can up on the cat litter battery vac so i dont have the list but i got the canair from frys.
and i ohpe this helps.

 

[JenJen]

I'm having problems with my auto. When I put it on a charger the light wont turn to the charging color (USB stays blue-wall stays green) also the lighted end of the battery does not flash. If I tap on the battery it will turn on but then I have to tap it several times for the light to go out.

That happens to me when I suck the battery dry! It is like you have to charge it a bit for it have enough juice to send the charging info to the charger. I put it on the wall charger and let it sit. After a few minutes the batt will blink and the charger will turn to red to show it is charging. Maybe this is all that is going on for you as well...

This happens to me quite often because I can never tell when it is going to die. lol Other people must notice the subtle difference in vapor production or taste, but mine seem to work really well until I get the dreaded blinking that signals that it is dead lol!

 

[pjmma]

Dan,
Did you stick the paper clip straight in, like towards the little metal pin you see in the hole, or angled along the side of the battery? (I didn't know there was a rubber diaphragm in the battery.)

 

[pjmma]

I had a battery that would stay on for the entire cutoff no matter how short of a drag I took on it. Steve replaced it(of course) so I decided to mess with it since I couldnt hurt it anymore.
I had success fixing it by sticking a straightened paper clip into the battery end hole until I felt the rubber diaphragm thing, then pushing on it lightly. Battery is working seemingly perfectly now.

Dan,
Did you stick the paper clip straight in, like towards the little metal pin you see in the hole, or angled along the side of the battery? (I didn't know there was a rubber diaphragm in the battery.)

 

[DanF]

Yes, straight in. I dont actually know for sure if its a rubber diaphragm, but it feels like it. When the paper clip "bottoms out" (between 1/4 and 1/2 inch) it will feel spongy/rubbery. You can gently push on this and feel that it is springy. Apparently this gets misaligned and causes the battery to stay on for the entire cutoff(at least thats what mine was doing)

Dont push hard or try to push past this point(let the paper clip stop on its own), I'm sure unrepairable damage will occur.