Battery Fluid Level

[Lee Quave]

I replaced the original battery in my 1999 C2 in November of 2005. I replaced it with the OEM battery from Porsche. The battery comes dry and the parts department adds acid at time of purchase. My car has been slow to turnover for the last few weeks and last night I thought it wasn’t going to start. When I made it home I checked the fluid level in the battery and all cells were low. It took 4 ½ cups of distilled water to refill. My questions are: How much fluid does the OEM battery hold? Is it normal to have to add that much water to a battery that is barely 6 months old? Could an electrical or mechanical problem cause this? :renntech:

[Loren]

Perhaps they under filled it at the dealership.

If the (alternator) regulator is not turning off when the battery is charged then it will try to overcharge the battery and that can cause overflow (through the vent tube). Any other leaks should be very visible.

I would have the battery tested at an Autozone (or the like).

[nick49]

Once the battery is filled, it takes a least 30 minutes for the plates to fully absorb the electrolite. At this point the fluid level is low and should be topped up. After this the battery has a surface charge and will start the vehicle but to obtain maximum efficiency the battery must be slowly charged over several hours to a fully charged state. This can be checked with a voltmeter after the charger has been disconnected from the battery for at least 30 min to 1 hour. The voltage should be approx 12.75 (I forget the exact number). This brings the battery to a fully charged state and the charging system when properly working will recharge the battery to this voltage. If the above is not done you will be using an under charged battery and experience slow cranking, fast but less than full recharging, quick discharging and much shorter battery life. Hope this helps.