Went to start the car, the dash lights up but won't crank.
Background:
- Work at home, only drive the car every couple of days, mostly short trips.
- Last week went to start and the cranking was laboured, but it started.
- Once started runs without issue.
- On Sat did 2x 2hr highway drives, assumed if battery was low should recharge it.
- Mon (today) went to start the car: dash lights up but won't crank.
Checked:
- Pulled back-seat and checked voltage across terminals - 12.2v
- Charts show this to be ~50% charged.
- On trying to crank voltage drops to ~10v, and spike drops to ~7v.
- Haven't checked any current/voltage in engine yet.
- Battery looks to be orig equip (i.e. 12yrs old)
(Part # 61 21 8 353 442, RealOEM show part only available until 12/98)
Conclusions:
- I'm 80-85% sure it's just the battery giving up the ghost.
- I've had chipmunks in the engine setting up nests and chewing hood lining, concerned they may have chewed a wire and caused a short.
Questions:
- Is my conclusion about the battery being done sound ?
- Aside from a dealer, where can i get a new battery in Mississauga/Toronto area ?
- If a new battery does not fix things where should i start looking next ?
- If a new battery does fix things how can i check to see:
- if there is high parasitic drain somewhere ?
- if the recharging system is working correctly ?
(Sat drive obviously did not recharge battery)