[SEL] O.T. Ford 2000 Expedition want Start

[Robert L. Holtzer]

Rather than checking off-gassing during charging, I'd suggest a specific 
gravity check.  You can get a very inexpensive tester consisting of several 
colored balls in a glass tube with a rubber squeeze bulb.  Last one I 
bought was around $1.00.  While not highly accurate, it will give you a 
general idea of the charge status of each battery cell.  Usually one cell 
dies off when a battery is "dead".  On the other hand, on my Fords I note a 
tendency for the thin (non-lead) battery cable terminals to corrode and the 
ability to carry current can be reduced substantially.  A good cleaning 
followed by a corrosion preventing liquid or spray helps a lot.

Best wishes.

Bob Holtzer

At 07:52 AM 10/1/2004 -0400, you wrote:
>Paul,
>I agree with the bad battery diagnosis. It's 4 years old, it's about that 
>time. You can either have this checked at an auto parts house or check it 
>yourself. Pop the caps so you can see down in the cells. Put your charger 
>on and then turn it on high charge. If you see bubbles much heavier in one 
>cell than the others you have a bad cell.
>Now Paul, wouldn't this sort of question be better suited on many of the 
>well established automobile or Ford forums? This IS a gas engine list, but 
>that is ANTIQUE gas engines. At least the OT subject isn't computers for a 
>change.....
>Flame over.
>Curt Holland
>Gastonia, NC
>
>paulmaples at sbcglobal.net wrote:
>
>>Hello Bob,
>>
>>I just went out and put a battery charger on the Expedition and now 
>>everything lights up and the horn blows but when I try and start it, it 
>>sounds like a machine gun going off and it will not turn over. Maybe I 
>>need to leave the charger on longer.
>>
>>Paul
>
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