charging a dead battery (Now more interesting!)

[Smokey Eddy]

Do you guys have any input for my problem at hand? Is 14.2 volts too high? With the car off the battery sits at 15...

[ORCoaster]

I wouldn't be concerned with 14.2 on the car charging but 15 off the car is not normal that I know of. 

I normally notice 14.5-13.5 after start up and the amp meter is at about 30.  Once I get rolling it drops quick to 13.5 or 12.8 and 5 amps.

My guess is that the high demand on the fuse just took it out.  Replace and keep a spare in case it happens again.  If it does then go looking for troubles. 

Whine in my car was there whenever the alternator revved up.  I put on a suppressor on the radio hot wire.  Problem all gone.

Some new batteries are not "fully charged" and you may be experiencing that effect.  Put it on a home charger and stop making the alternator do the work.  It may be on it's way out as well.  There are plenty of shops that will test your alt, bat and starter for free.  Use the service and thank them heartily.

Buy one battery and returning it on day 364 is just short of criminal behavior in my mind. 

[theman53]

FYI, Sam's Club has the 1 or 2 year free-replacement on their batteries and if you return the battery during that time the warranty time period is restarted.  If you get one with a 1-year free replacement, you can return it at 364 days each year, indefinitely... 

I have done the same thing

[dieselweasel]

Just read through this quick...

The whine from your speakers could be due to a failed diode in the alternator.  The alternator can still charge with one bad diode...I recommend getting a shop to check the charge output with an oscilliscope.

[Smokey Eddy]

If the whine is from a bad diode why did it go away...

[8v-of-fury]

They do not check them.  They replace it with a new battery, no questions asked, and give you a new updated receipt that renews the warranty back to the full warranty period.   

Oh, I was unaware they didn't check them at that particular store. I know at Canadian Tire they check them before any warranty is fulfilled.

[maxfax]

They do not check them.  They replace it with a new battery, no questions asked, and give you a new updated receipt that renews the warranty back to the full warranty period.   

Oh, I was unaware they didn't check them at that particular store. I know at Canadian Tire they check them before any warranty is fulfilled.

THe thing is, they don;t check them very well..  Throw the tester on..  If it's low they replace it..  So just made darned sure it's dead before you take it in..  There used to be a vendor for I think it was titan batteries here..  Very good batteries btw..  They required a charge for so long at so many amps and be tested before replacement.. 

[mtrans]

They do not check them.  They replace it with a new battery, no questions asked,

Both true,In my case 100 ah new has only 45 ah real by my check.Shp check said OK of corse,and here don`t change easy.If you interested I`ll tell how to.

[Smokey Eddy]

So I drove 800km today during which the light went out but now flickers

[burn_your_money]

Resistance tests are pretty close to 100% useless for identifying bad grounds. You need to do a voltage drop test. It's in the FAQ on how to do it.