This Video Is Going Nowhere Fast...

Originally recorded December 27, 2024.
A couple of weeks ago, I had to take the car out. Being that I don't really go anywhere, nor need to very often, the car had sat for at least a week and a half or maybe even 2 weeks. Now it was pretty cold that day, and we hadn't had it get quite that cold yet, but the car cranked pretty slow. It worried me a bit. Especially since the battery in the car is 2 and a half years old. They don't last like they used to. I've had batteries last as long as 9 years, and I've had batteries last as short as 2. I really didn't want to have to go through another battery.
Anyway, the car started and got me where I needed to go, and back home just fine. But I decided it would really be a good idea to put the battery charger on the battery. First, I'll put the tester on the battery and see what it has to say about the battery's health, if of course it is to be believed. So I broke out my AUTOOL battery tester and hooked it up and the results were...unimpressive. Not just in what it had to say about the battery itself, but also for the fact that it absolutely refused to print. There was an odd red light on, in the corner near the display. Never had seen that light. I checked the book, it said nothing about it either. The printer had paper and was otherwise ready to go, there was no reason it shouldn't print. Well, it is a computer, maybe something got screwy, so try rebooting it by disconnecting the cable and reconnecting and retesting. No, once again, refused to print. In fact, the print option was not even showing on the screen.
I decided it was possible it was just too cold for the thing to go ahead and print so I'd bring it in the house for a while. Meanwhile, I got out the ADPOW battery charger. While it's certainly a bit of an odd design, that charger has actually revived a couple of batteries in its lifetime so far. It's certainly not the fastest thing out there, but whatever the circuitry does, actually works on it and does the right stuff.
I put the charger on and left it for a few hours. The display on the charger read 83%. I didn't want to leave it out there any longer. Ran the tester on the battery again and had some much better results this time, not just on the battery's health but also, it printed again!
So, lesson learned. Nothing likes the cold.
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[@ski567]

Always good to see a video featuring "The Big Six" !

[@jaykay18]

Thanks! She's been well. Much happier now that the battery's been charged. I did have a MAJOR problem with it this morning. The windshield washer was frozen! Sitting in the sun for 30 minutes fixed it.

[@KaidoFujimi]

Yeah. Batteries are pretty hit or miss now. I have good luck with Interstates. I also got a good four and a half years out of a DieHard one time. Way she goes I guess. In any case, this video reminds me that it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to make a video about my recent vehicle acquisition. Wasn't really planning on it but when my buddy offered to sell it to me after all the excellent upkeep and restorative work he's done to it, I would have been absolutely foolish to decline it. I remember going with him when he acquired the vehicle 10ish years ago. I was thrilled for him but considering all the work and meticulous supportive/longevity improvements he did to it? Man, it became an enviable truck. I never thought I'd own one of these, never mind ever owning his. Finding near pristine examples of these now are becoming few and far between. I'm lucky I live in an area that isn't plagued with road salt. A lot of these survived and aged splendidly around here. They're also EXTREMELY unreasonable to buy on the second hand market now if they are in a nice condition. Where we have long time friends, they'll ignore enthusiast value and focus more in the realm of Blue Book. Anyway, I've done a few things to make it mine and I think it's in a perfect place to make a video of it. Big Six is looking good. Glad to see it.

[@jaykay18]

I would love to see your new vehicle acquisition. Funny thing you mention it and where and how you got it. I might have something similar happen in the next year or so, and guaranteed there will be a video if and when it happens.

[@xjoe81x]

That battery fixer fixed my corvette battery...

[@jaykay18]

Yes, yours was one it fixed.

[@xjoe81x]

@jaykay18 In the video, you said there's another battery Gadget that you do not have? Which one is that?

[@jaykay18]

@@xjoe81x This one: www.harborfreight.com/100-amp-612v-battery-load-tester-61747.html

[@xjoe81x]

@@jaykay18 Interesting product.

[@applianceman6009]

The 2GR V6 was one of the best engines Toyota made. In 2019, my parents bought a brand new Highlander with this engine. My dad also bought a used 2010 Lexus ES350 that only had 50,000 miles on it in 2022. Toyota stopped using this V6, and it sucks. The turbo 4 is a lot less smooth and less reliable. People say it is slower too with the turbo lag. It is definitely a downgrade. People blame the EPA as it is becoming a trend, but Honda still uses a V6 for now at least. I like the new tech in modern cars for the interiors, but I prefer naturally aspirated engines any day. At least Toyota still makes a few reliable engines that aren’t turbocharged.

[@jaykay18]

Agreed, the 2GR is excellent. Tons of power, yet still pretty efficient. Very smooth. Getting rid of the 6 cylinder models in many vehicles is a huge mistake. They are going to lose a lot of customers that way. If Honda still has 6's, they may go there. Otherwise, their older vehicles' prices will go up. I know someone who is going to be in that boat soon.

[@240Volts]

Here is how I do it. In winter if it is single digits or below zero I go out to start it even if I have no where to go. if its in the teens the longest stretch without starting no more then 2 days. in the 20s maybe 3 days. Any thing warmer no more then 4 or 5 days. Get out there and start it. These modern vehicles always have a slight draw on the battery.

[@jaykay18]

That is true, they do have a slight draw, and that's more than it was many years ago when cars were simpler. This car sits easily 5-6 days at a time. Tossing a battery charger on it every once in a while isn't a bad idea for a vehicle that's driven seldomly. Starting it is great and it's good to run the engine, but you're also taking away power only to put it back, and then hopefully charge it up the rest of the way. The charger will sit there and slowly turn the amperage down as the battery reaches capacity, without worry of overcharging.

[@240Volts]

@@jaykay18​​⁠ I have kept mine on an automatic charger while the charger was inside the vehicle.

[@jaykay18]

@@240Volts That's a great idea. I'd have to extend the cables or use jumper cables to make that reach. But I drive a _little_ more than that.

[@240Volts]

@@jaykay18Had to redo my comment. Just use a cigarette lighter plug with insulated alligator clips to do it. Not necessary to do long cables. It won’t work if it doesn’t securely stay in the cig plug hole though.

[@jaykay18]

@@240Volts It also won't work if it shuts the cigarette lighter off when the ignition is turned off, like a GOOD car should. Cigarette lighter socket accepts up to 15 amps, making this right on the cusp of being "legal" with this particular charger, since it puts out up to 12 amps.

[@ItzYaBoyJesse]

Cold starts?

[@jaykay18]

No, bad, I explained that.

[@niks_crazy_world]

Alt title for video: ‘Not the most electrifying video’

[@jaykay18]

That works too!

[@ItzYaBoyJesse]

Maybe it's a never start battery that's why it's weak so soon.

[@jaykay18]

It's a Neverlast Gold from AutoZone.

[@ItzYaBoyJesse]

@jaykay18 right right. My mom's car battery was a Neverstart, thankfully it was still under warranty and got it exchanged. Oops i misread that sorry I thought you said NeverStart

[@jaykay18]

@@ItzYaBoyJesse NeverStart, NeverLast, same thing.

[@nerdywolfi]

Looks like China needs to send you a headlight polishing kit :D

[@jaykay18]

Ha ha, yes they do! But I'm not concerned about polishing them. I know it's unsightly, but it's also not against the law, so I leave them cloudy since I can. I'd be quite angry if they made it a law that they have to be clear. If that were the case they should still make them out of glass like they used to. I never had a problem with round or square only headlights. When I think "car", that's what I see in my mind on it.

[@nerdywolfi]

@jaykay18 here unfortunately they do require them to be (somewhat) clear, and technically it's illegal to polish them. I've polished the ones on one of my cars three times or so, basically every time the safety inspection was due (cause it failed one time as the measurements for light output weren't correct due to them being so fogged).

[@jaykay18]

@@nerdywolfi Wow, I can't believe they go to such a degree. Here, in some states, there are no inspections needed at all. And then you watch channels like "Just Rolled In" and see these absolute train wrecks of vehicles that have one flake of rust holding them together, and you happily drive down the road behind them. As much as I absolutely hate having to have the cars inspected, it's almost a necessary evil.

[@nerdywolfi]

@jaykay18 yeah, to some degree it is good that they require cars to be safety-tested every two years here, albeit failing cars for "slightly rusted brake rotors" is very annoying and unnecessarily costly. They also do emissions tests with the safety inspection as well - in my opinion that part is just to screw end-users and make them have to buy a "new" car sooner (cause some minor-ish issue can destroy exhaust filters, which usually cost thousands to replace, which usually ends up costing more than the vehicle is worth and also wouldn't fix the slight oil burning issue that caused those filters to fuck up in the first place).

[@jaykay18]

@@nerdywolfi At least yours is every 2 years, here it's every year. I deal with the catalytic converter issue every year, even Ginger is prone to that pesky P0420 code, but I have been able to beat that for years. Rusty brake rotors is ridiculous; if the brakes are otherwise working properly, there's no reason that rust shouldn't be ground off after a few times applying the brakes. If the rest is rusty it should only be surface rust, which shouldn't condemn it.

[@ItzYaBoyJesse]

Vice Grip Jay

[@jaykay18]

I got to, that's my goin' to town rig!

[@ItzYaBoyJesse]

@@jaykay18 I'll be dipped!