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After getting the charging rate down to 3.6amps (The charger says the battery is 75% charged.) it started the car. after a 15 min drive (To the car wash.) it almost didn't start. voltage was down to 6.1 volts. Went back up to charging at 6 amps when I put it back on the charger. in 20 mins it was back down to 3.8 amps. drove her two 20 min trips with an hour charging in between and when I got home it would not start the car. I am gonna leave it on the charger ( Its charging at 5.9 amps) till I go to bed tonight. I am thinking I need a new battery. Maybe it just needs more charging. Maybe the next 6 hours will tell the tale. Brian, Bye the way ,since I wrote this the rate is about 5.2Amps

I have four antique vehicles with four Optima batteries. I have noticed with these batteries that if they are not in consistent use they will run down, sometimes they will take a new charge, hold it, and sometimes would get the same symptoms you you are experiencing. Fortunately I believe these have a three year warranty. Over they years have always purchased through Auto Zone, so they have a record of the purchases, and if under warranty, immediately get a new one. Also sometimes there is a small round white date sticker on the side of the battery, and if that is still within warranty, sometimes the seller will not ask questions and just do the exchange.

Might want to check if the car is charging the battery. You should read about 7.2 volts across the battery while the engine is running at a fast idle. With the trips you describe, the battery should have been able to easily start the car.

Thank you for the tip. I will try that in the morning. I thought the car should have finished off the charge as well. The battery is now charging at 3.6 amps

Checkout the Service Manual on this WEB sitehttps://www.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/EngineDiagnosis.pdf

Charging starts on page 17, maybe you can find your problem with this, also at the end of the manual is a troubleshoot guide.
Good luck.
Wes

With the car running at fast idle, voltage is any where from 7.1 to 7.8 depending on engine rpm. (Its hard to hold both contacts on the terminals and rev the car up without dropping the meter into the fan blades.)(Just missed!) I am pretty sure its the battery. My fading memory recalls that this battery is not all that new. not sure how old but surely over 3 years. My guess it does not owe me a thing. Seems to me it was a tad sluggish on restart last year. Brian

Just take the battery to the auto parts store in get it load tested. That really is the quickest way to see if a battery is going bad. Most stores will do this for free.

Yeah, Did that today. New battery, problem solved. Thank you everyone. Brian