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20 minutes ago, Orygun Duck said:

Thanks.  We live in Villanova.  Few of our friends have cables and the ones that do have real jobs in the daytime.  I'll try some of the repair shops.  We just arrived in town last night and need transportation.

 

Anyone who has a newer Mexican plated vehicle has cables. They are standard equipment along with fire extinguisher etc.

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On 11/9/2018 at 5:27 PM, Metuchenmama said:

My car drives fine all day until the next morning when it cannot start.  It doesn't even turn over or click. It can be jump started

I need a person who is an auto electrical specialist to find the cause and fix it..  An excellent mechanic has tried but cannot find the problem.

This has gone on for two weeks and I need my car.

Thanks.

Go to Autozone and one of the young men will put a tester on the battery. If it is the battery they will carry one out to the car and install it. No wait, no muss, no fuss.

This is where I start

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3 hours ago, Mainecoons said:

Did you get a start?  Frequent dead batteries looks like an electrical problem.

Got a start.  We've had the electrical system checked by Nissan last year and no problem.  Seems to be the 3 months of inactivity.  I bought a battery tender to maintain the charge while we're gone - a recommendation by a dealer in the US.  Thanks for asking.

 

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Mudgirl, we run in different circles.  Most people we know are old and ignorant. (Mutually exclusive categories, BTW).   We carry a potable battery starter, which doesn't work with a completely dead battery.)  Thanks for your input.

 

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Orygun Duck- I'm old, too, but I wasn't always 🙂  Been driving for about 55 years, so at some point, I realized that jumper cables were a smart thing to have in the car. Maybe the old folks you know have always had nice, new cars and never needed such a thing, but for those of us who had our share of old beaters, they were handy to have. 

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17 hours ago, Orygun Duck said:

Got a start.  We've had the electrical system checked by Nissan last year and no problem.  Seems to be the 3 months of inactivity.  I bought a battery tender to maintain the charge while we're gone - a recommendation by a dealer in the US.  Thanks for asking.

 

We have a Ford Fiesta we use as our tow car for our RV up north.  When garaged with the RV, I disconnect the battery.  Have had no problem getting it to start the car after 5 months. 

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On 11/26/2019 at 7:52 AM, Go Solar said:

Anyone with a car and cables.....where R U located?

Lakeside you can probably get a norteno to come by or a local mechanic. It all areas around it is the Taxis that provide a jump start. Just flag down a Taxi from Juarez to Progresso and he has cables or will radio another taxi for you. This was a real surprise to me 30 years ago that I have had to use a few times since.

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18 hours ago, Orygun Duck said:

Got a start.  We've had the electrical system checked by Nissan last year and no problem.  Seems to be the 3 months of inactivity.  I bought a battery tender to maintain the charge while we're gone - a recommendation by a dealer in the US.  Thanks for asking.

 

I have used battery maintainers for many years. Those battery tenders will boil out the water over time, so be sure to check it when you get back. I finally put my tender on a timer while I am gone and do 2 hours a day of power. It won't take much to keep it up.

As for ;unhooking the battery while you are gone, be sure you have the radio code to re-enter as it will lock out radio operation without a charge for some time.

 

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14 hours ago, cedros said:

I have 2 sets of jumper cables but I've been told you shouldn't use them on a car that has a computer. Mixed opinions on that.

IMHO those warnings come from the vendors of the portable power packs......

Done correctly with compatible 12 V battery, should be no issue.

Positive to positive, then negative, to GROUND (not to negative battery terminal, for safety in not sparking near the battery) works every time.    Then wait a moment while slightly revving the "donor" car engine a bit to a higher idle level, then crank the dead one up.     

Disconnect in reverse order and keep all cable tips apart until all are disconnected.    

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Most of today's newer vehicles, especially ones that have keyless start, will run down if not started/run occasionally. 45 days with either my Lexus or VW without starting will run mine down, even a somewhat new battery. I always put them on a tender if I'm going to be gone more than 30 days. Learned that lesson and won't repeat it.

I keep my 5th wheel trailer on a very small solar pad which approximates a tender but can't do that for the cars in the garage with no sunlight.

 

 

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  • 7 months later...

Twice I had my Maxima stored at a horse ranch for a year each time and the owner had a portable power booster and it started right up. Then I took it for a 30 minute freeway drive and it never acted up at all. 3 to 5 months many times I left it in my carport in Mexicali in 100+ heat when down south and it started up no problem before selling my house there. I didn't disconnect the battery because I wanted the alarm to work.

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58 minutes ago, conejorapido said:

Rick, I realize this is an old thread but in trying to send a PM I got a message that you were not receiving PM's. I have no experience with battery tenders but will shortly be needing one as my Acura is going to sit for three months. Could you recommend a brand, size etc. Thanks.

They sell them in Auto Zone.. ask their advise. Although they are all very similar.  
My advice is to hard wire  the device to the battery terminals that way there is no chance of it falling off.. The cable you connect to the battery has a rubber cap on the end which you put on when you’re not using the battery tender Make sure you get the polarity right. Positive (Red) to Positive (Red) and Negative (Black) to Negative (Black)  . Many of them come with a device you plug into the cigarette lighter or 12v outlet. You can use it that way to keep the battery charged.. A battery tender will not charge the battery, it will just keep it topped up without overcharging it.

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I use a Deltran product 'Battery Tender Junior'... see photo.  I have newer had one of the alligator clips come off a battery post. TelsZ4's comment about not a 'battery charger' is spot on.... it will keep a good battery topped off but will take "1 year" to charge a dead one. 😆   

P.S. I don't know why you couldn't send a PM... many people do.

528EB0AB-73DB-40F2-89A8-D616713DD7AE.jpeg

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On 11/27/2019 at 8:50 AM, geeser said:

I have used battery maintainers for many years. Those battery tenders will boil out the water over time, so be sure to check it when you get back. I finally put my tender on a timer while I am gone and do 2 hours a day of power. It won't take much to keep it up.

As for ;unhooking the battery while you are gone, be sure you have the radio code to re-enter as it will lock out radio operation without a charge for some time.

 

I stored multiple car for folks as I had multiple garages.  I have never had a battery maintainer do what you describe.  Its made specifically not to overcharge.  Yes a 1 amp small charger will ruin a battery over time and the timer is a good solution.

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Is a trickle charger the same as a battery maintainer? And are they readily available lakeside? I just decided to extend my short visit to Seattle,, until this covid virus thing calms down or  a vaccine becomes available and my car battery (1 year old) will need one

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1 hour ago, johanson said:

Is a trickle charger the same as a battery maintainer? And are they readily available lakeside? I just decided to extend my short visit to Seattle,, until this covid virus thing calms down or  a vaccine becomes available and my car battery (1 year old) will need one

No a trickle charger is a little different it’s old technology. A battery maintainer uses  electronic circuitry to monitor battery voltage,  it comes on and off as required, 
They are readily available at Lakeside Autozone carries them.

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