removing battery for external charge

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
NornIron
Posts: 6
Joined: 19 Jan 2013, 20:50
Location: Co. Down, Northern Ireland
My Cars:

removing battery for external charge

Post by NornIron »

Bought a Citroen Xsara Picasso a few weeks ago, it was sitting at the car dealers for a while and then with me for over a week. Went to start it and no luck. Did a jump start and it was fine, only got driving it for about 15 mins though.

Had to leave the car unfortunately for another 6 days before going near it and guess what? Dead again! Tried jump starting again but nothing this time. Have removed the battery to do a charge overnight to see what happens.

Question on battery - I removed the + and - terminals and the retaining bar. I then went to pull the battery out and discovered there was a tube going into the side of the battery. This went down into the base of the car. What is this?? I have accidently broken this whilst removing the battery.
2003 Citroen Xsara Picassco 1.8i Exclusive
User avatar
oneday
Posts: 663
Joined: 15 Aug 2012, 22:49
Location: mansfield notts
My Cars:

Re: removing battery for external charge

Post by oneday »

sounds like its the battery vent tube so not realy an issue
C5 2.0 HDI VTR 2003 ICELANDIC GREY
306 1.4 LX MERIDIAN
NornIron
Posts: 6
Joined: 19 Jan 2013, 20:50
Location: Co. Down, Northern Ireland
My Cars:

Re: removing battery for external charge

Post by NornIron »

I have added a few pictures in here.

http://s1056.photobucket.com/albums/t37 ... 20Picasso/
Last edited by NornIron on 20 Jan 2013, 10:58, edited 2 times in total.
2003 Citroen Xsara Picassco 1.8i Exclusive
User avatar
oneday
Posts: 663
Joined: 15 Aug 2012, 22:49
Location: mansfield notts
My Cars:

Re: removing battery for external charge

Post by oneday »

invisible pictures :lol:
C5 2.0 HDI VTR 2003 ICELANDIC GREY
306 1.4 LX MERIDIAN
NornIron
Posts: 6
Joined: 19 Jan 2013, 20:50
Location: Co. Down, Northern Ireland
My Cars:

Re: removing battery for external charge

Post by NornIron »

What invisible pictures? I'm blaming photobucket, was getting messed about on the beta version.
2003 Citroen Xsara Picassco 1.8i Exclusive
User avatar
Mandrake
Posts: 8615
Joined: 10 Apr 2005, 17:23
Location: North Lanarkshire, UK
My Cars:
x 664

Re: removing battery for external charge

Post by Mandrake »

Pictures are ok for me.

Probably just a pressure relief drain pipe. These days car batteries are fully sealed to avoid water loss, however there still has to be a pressure relief valve in case the battery is severely overcharged. The pipe will just direct the overflowing battery acid onto the ground instead of into your engine compartment...
Simon

1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
2016 Nissan Leaf Tekna 30kWh in White

2011 Peugeot Ion Full Electric in Silver
1977 G Special 1129cc LHD
1978 CX 2400
1997 Xantia S1 2.0i Auto VSX
1998 Xantia S2 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive
User avatar
oneday
Posts: 663
Joined: 15 Aug 2012, 22:49
Location: mansfield notts
My Cars:

Re: removing battery for external charge

Post by oneday »

now there are pictures yes agree with you simon nothing to worry about
C5 2.0 HDI VTR 2003 ICELANDIC GREY
306 1.4 LX MERIDIAN
User avatar
Mandrake
Posts: 8615
Joined: 10 Apr 2005, 17:23
Location: North Lanarkshire, UK
My Cars:
x 664

Re: removing battery for external charge

Post by Mandrake »

If it was mine I would probably glue the plastic angle joint back on with a fillet of some 2 part epoxy glue like 5 minute araldite. Not sure if it would be successful but I'd give it a try. :lol:
Simon

1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
2016 Nissan Leaf Tekna 30kWh in White

2011 Peugeot Ion Full Electric in Silver
1977 G Special 1129cc LHD
1978 CX 2400
1997 Xantia S1 2.0i Auto VSX
1998 Xantia S2 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive
NornIron
Posts: 6
Joined: 19 Jan 2013, 20:50
Location: Co. Down, Northern Ireland
My Cars:

Re: removing battery for external charge

Post by NornIron »

Thanks for all those repIies. I have charged the bettery overnight and put it back in and nothing. :cry:

Looks like I need a new battery then? Any other thoughts?
2003 Citroen Xsara Picassco 1.8i Exclusive
User avatar
myglaren
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 25366
Joined: 02 Mar 2008, 13:30
Location: Washington
My Cars: Mazda 6
Ooops.
Previously:
2009 Honda Civic :(
C5, C5, Xantia, BX, GS, Visa.
R4, R11TXE, R14, R30TX
x 4888

Re: removing battery for external charge

Post by myglaren »

Can you check the battery voltage?
Although it does look like a possible broken lead or connection if there is no response whatsoever with a freshly charged battery in place.
Gibbo2286
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 7171
Joined: 08 Jun 2011, 18:04
Location: GL15***
My Cars: 2006 C5 2.0 Litre HDI VTR Automatic Estate.(now sold on)
Currently Renault Zoe 2014 ZE
x 2500

Re: removing battery for external charge

Post by Gibbo2286 »

You didn't by any chance connect the booster the wrong way round, if so it could have popped a fusible link. Not sure if there is one on your model but worth a look before you lash out for a new battery.
Man is, by nature, a lazy beast, he does not need twice encouraging to do nothing.
NornIron
Posts: 6
Joined: 19 Jan 2013, 20:50
Location: Co. Down, Northern Ireland
My Cars:

Re: removing battery for external charge

Post by NornIron »

I haven't touched the booster, not even sure where that is!
2003 Citroen Xsara Picassco 1.8i Exclusive
Hell Razor5543
Donor 2023
Posts: 13727
Joined: 01 Apr 2012, 09:47
Location: Reading
My Cars: C5 Mk2 VTX+ estate.
x 2993

Re: removing battery for external charge

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

The problem may be due to the battery going flat and then being left like that for too long. A battery with a full charge can be left on the shelf for months (depending on the battery, 6 months can be achieved), but a battery that does not have a full charge can fail within a fortnight. The problem is, in effect, due to the strength of the battery acid; when fully charged the acid is weak as water, but as the charge drops so the strength of the acid increases. Some batteries can be recovered by a series of discharge cycles, others can't.

The last company I worked for were in the IT industry, repairing equipment. One thing clients needed were UPSs (Un-interuptable Power Supplies). These used Lead/Acid batteries. Each one had a date stamp on their box. Exery 3 months they were put on a 24 hour charge, then stamped with the date of that charge, and put back on the shelf. Never had any problems using this routine.
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR

C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
User avatar
Mandrake
Posts: 8615
Joined: 10 Apr 2005, 17:23
Location: North Lanarkshire, UK
My Cars:
x 664

Re: removing battery for external charge

Post by Mandrake »

Hell Razor5543 wrote:The problem may be due to the battery going flat and then being left like that for too long. A battery with a full charge can be left on the shelf for months (depending on the battery, 6 months can be achieved), but a battery that does not have a full charge can fail within a fortnight.
That's correct. A lead acid battery left dead flat for a week or two will probably be history.
The problem is, in effect, due to the strength of the battery acid; when fully charged the acid is weak as water, but as the charge drops so the strength of the acid increases. Some batteries can be recovered by a series of discharge cycles, others can't.
Actually you've got that back to front. :) The acid is strongest when fully charged and is almost like distilled water when fully discharged. It won't take a charge because its internal resistance will be very high due to low concentration of acid (distilled water is a very poor conductor) and sulphated plates. In this condition a charger might only be able to pass a few milliamps through it.

Repeated attempts to charge/discharge it may eventually revive it as you say, but chances are it will take a long time (many days or more) and it will never have the original capacity that it had, so its probably best to replace it if a couple of attempts to charge it fail.
Simon

1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
2016 Nissan Leaf Tekna 30kWh in White

2011 Peugeot Ion Full Electric in Silver
1977 G Special 1129cc LHD
1978 CX 2400
1997 Xantia S1 2.0i Auto VSX
1998 Xantia S2 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive
Hell Razor5543
Donor 2023
Posts: 13727
Joined: 01 Apr 2012, 09:47
Location: Reading
My Cars: C5 Mk2 VTX+ estate.
x 2993

Re: removing battery for external charge

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

I accept that I could be wrong re acidity changes. What I was told was that as the charge dropped, the acidity level increased, and, over time, this would rot the plates. However, as I said, I could be wrong (possibly by being given incorrect information).
James
ex BX 1.9
ex Xantia 2.0HDi SX
ex Xantia 2.0HDi LX
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR
Ex C5 2.0HDi VTR

C5 2.2HDi VTX+
Yes, I am paranoid, but am I paranoid ENOUGH?
Out amongst the stars, looking for a world of my own!
Post Reply