Engine barely cranks over, battery fully charged

Billua · **Joined:** Sat Nov 25, 2006 5:05 pm **Posts:** 64

The header explains the problem we are having with our libby. It cranks extremely slow. My wife said that today, it barely started, she backed out of the garage and the whole jeep just went black...Engine stopped, no lights...After it sat for a few minutes, it started..

The battery shows 12.7 volts on a meter, and is fully charged within 1 minute on 2 amp setting of a charger...It is an Optima OEM battery...

As an aside, her sirious is now resetting to 187 after every start...

Cables and terminals all check out...

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:57 am

You need to have the battery checked at load. have an AutoZone or similiar parts store test it...

Billua · **Joined:** Sat Nov 25, 2006 5:05 pm **Posts:** 64

Will do today!

Thanks.

kccrd · **Joined:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:35 pm **Posts:** 267

Check your charging system your alternater should put out around 14.2 to 14.4 volts. I had a broken spring in my alternater pulley and had to replace it, I also greased all the pulleys that the belt runs on including the tensioner pulley. How much did your ome springs cost and were they hard to install?

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:06 pm

Sounds like a crap battery, you need to test it under load. If its showing that its takes a full charge after only a minute or two then that pretty much means its crap.

Ditch the Optima crap and get a good normal lead acid battery.

Billua · **Joined:** Sat Nov 25, 2006 5:05 pm **Posts:** 64

kccrd wrote:

Check your charging system your alternate should put out around 14.2 to 14.4 volts. I had a broken spring in my alternate pulley and had to replace it, I also greased all the pulleys that the belt runs on including the tensioner pulley. How much did your ome springs cost and were they hard to install?

I will check to voltage, thanks!

The ome springs and Rancho shocks and struts were installed by 4 Wheel Parts here in LAS. I forget exactly how much it cost, but the price was very reasonable. It fact, it was so reasonable that it wasn't worth my time to do it myself...Plus, the front struts are a bit of a pain to deal with from what I understand..I think install was less than 200 dollars total...

For the CRD, you want the Heavy Duty springs in the back and the Crd springs in the front...I was afraid that combo would be too stiff, but it's actually an outstanding combo for the Libby...

Cheers!

nursecosmo · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:59 pm

I had exactly the same symptoms when my stock Redtop went south. Chrysler had Optima build some special application batteries for the CRDs, which were lower quality than the normal ones. If you get a new one from the auto parts store it will have a higher CCA and last much longer the OE ones.

cerich · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 4:50 pm

you know my line of work is as a product manager for a couple brands of sporting equipment, I also work with companies that we private label product for. If a client wants a product that is sub-par in my view...I can promise you that there will be no tell tale links to our company.

Optima was proud enough to put their logo and brand on the battery that came in the CRD. In my view that says enough, given the experience of other CRD owners as reported on here and other places, they won't get to sell me an Optima to replace the original when it dies. I say that having just done a load test and it showing over 900 cca at 3 years of Georgia heat. better than spec'd.

In my line of work I am aware everyday that public perception is everything, and people can share like never before...

Billua · **Joined:** Sat Nov 25, 2006 5:05 pm **Posts:** 64

Well, the Libby started this morning...I measured the volts and it was 14.2. Charging system working good...I suspect bad battery and will drive it to Checker to get it checked....WRONG!

I went back out 1 hour later and the Libby would not crank...I can hear the starter solenoid engage, but nothing happens after that.

This is the same intermittent problem my wife reported yesterday.

So, with AAA and a warranty, I had it towed to a dealer that has done work on it before...I am also taking this opportunity to have them fix the Sirius Radio problem...

I will post the diagnosis....I am disturbed that Optima would put their label on a lower quality battery...The label does have the DC monogram on it..

Cheers

msilbernagel · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:07 pm

The connection problem can be internal to the battery, or external (cables, clamps, etc). Check 'em all, particularly where metal is exposed and corrosion can occur. Even a loose nut at the starter can do it.

I had a (normal lead-acid, not Optima) battery fail internally, where the side terminal had failed but the post on top had not - so I picked up new clamps at the auto store and kept that battery for quite a while - thinking it would fail relatively soon...

Mark

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:37 pm

Sounds like a bad battery, if you don't have a warrantee anymore it probably would have been cheapest just to buy a new battery and see if it cures the problem.

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 27, 2008 9:37 am

cerich wrote:

you know my line of work is as a product manager for a couple brands of sporting equipment, I also work with companies that we private label product for. If a client wants a product that is sub-par in my view...I can promise you that there will be no tell tale links to our company.

Optima was proud enough to put their logo and brand on the battery that came in the CRD. In my view that says enough, given the experience of other CRD owners as reported on here and other places, they won't get to sell me an Optima to replace the original when it dies. I say that having just done a load test and it showing over 900 cca at 3 years of Georgia heat. better than spec'd.

In my line of work I am aware everyday that public perception is everything, and people can share like never before...

I agree. They put their name on it with nothing to distinguish it as an inferior product. They helped perpetrate the fraud.

WolverineFW · **Posted:** Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:08 pm

Just another thing to think about after you get the battery tested and check all your connections. If the battery is good, you might want to think about the starter too. I used to have an old S15 Jimmy and my starter was failing. It would start fine if you left the vehicle for several hours and it was cool. It would not start if it was hot though. Changing the starter solved the problem.

Something to keep in mind, but there are other easier things to check first.

Turbo Tim · **Posted:** Sat Sep 27, 2008 8:35 pm

Another quick easy test to try: Turn the headlights on and crank it up. Do they stay nice and bright? Or do they turn into birthday candles when cranking?

Billua · **Joined:** Sat Nov 25, 2006 5:05 pm **Posts:** 64

Well, battery it was. The Libby is still under warranty so the out of pocket was zero.

Looking back, there were plenty of warning signs...Slower crank, sirius resetting after start up...

So, thanks for the help!

The new battery the dealer installed??? Optima red top DCX monogramed...In 2 years, the Libby should be out of warranty, so I will put a real battery in it at that time..

Cheers, Bill

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:43 pm

Billua wrote:

Well, battery it was. The Libby is still under warranty so the out of pocket was zero.

Looking back, there were plenty of warning signs...Slower crank, sirius resetting after start up...

So, thanks for the help!

The new battery the dealer installed??? Optima red top DCX monogramed...In 2 years, the Libby should be out of warranty, so I will put a real battery in it at that time..

Cheers, Bill

I'm surprised you got a battery under warranty. I wouldn't expect that unless it was in the first 12 months or 12k miles. Good for you.

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:14 pm

Optima batteries when run dead has to be charge long and slow low amps. My battery went dead after a long weekend one time (Left XM and something else on). I charge it with a slow charger for a couple of days and no problem since. Vehicle built date is December 2005. I seen a lot of good Optima batteries thrown away because it not supposed to be quick charged or charged just a short time.

Billua · **Joined:** Sat Nov 25, 2006 5:05 pm **Posts:** 64

Goglio704 wrote:

Billua wrote:

Well, battery it was. The Libby is still under warranty so the out of pocket was zero.

Looking back, there were plenty of warning signs...Slower crank, sirius resetting after start up...

So, thanks for the help!

The new battery the dealer installed??? Optima red top DCX monogramed...In 2 years, the Libby should be out of warranty, so I will put a real battery in it at that time..

Cheers, Bill

I'm surprised you got a battery under warranty. I wouldn't expect that unless it was in the first 12 months or 12k miles. Good for you.

Agreed! This dealer has been awesome to deal with!

Cheers!

Engine barely cranks over, battery fully charged

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