Suggestions on Car Battery?

twopu said:
The battery is six years old and winter is coming. Should I change it in the winter or just hold off?
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It has been my experience that the corrosion increases as the battery nears the end of its life. I am also stunned you got six years out of a battery, I usually get 3 max, except for the Autozone Gold that got me 4.5 years.



If you get a new one go for the Gold. It never hurts to have a deeper reserve and more cold cranking amps.
 
Scottwax said:
If you get a new one go for the Gold. It never hurts to have a deeper reserve and more cold cranking amps.
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Actually, us guys in the south won't necessarily benefit from more CCA if staying with the same group size. The 'better' batteries are typically more packed in with lead plates which makes heat an issue, but it is somewhat confined to larger truck/suv batteries that are already trying to push 800CCA out of a relatively small package.
 
I've had my truck for four years now, I only drive 10,000 miles a year. How do I know when it should be replaced? I live in the San Francisco Bay Area if that makes a difference.
 
truzoom said:
Actually, us guys in the south won't necessarily benefit from more CCA if staying with the same group size. The 'better' batteries are typically more packed in with lead plates which makes heat an issue, but it is somewhat confined to larger truck/suv batteries that are already trying to push 800CCA out of a relatively small package.
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I also had underdrive pulleys...



;)
 
After cleaning the terminals and putting a protective spray, my car hesitated to turn over this morning. It was a pretty cool night but nothing extreme so I didn't expect the battery to hesitate after doing what the guys at Autozone told me. I went to Autozone after work and had another guy check it. The reading on his machine said that I had 188 CCA when the battery was labeled at 500 CCA. He said because my terminals were so corroded for such a long time the battery was never really getting a deep charge. He didn't think I needed a new battery and recommended taking it out and having them charge it. I explained to him that the battery was six years old and his jaw dropped. He stated, as many as you did, that most batteries only last 4-5 years and said to play it safe with the winter coming up.



After it was all said and done I bought the red top Duralast battery (600CCA, 2 year warranty prorated till 7 years). They had another red top Duralast battery that fit my car for $5 more with only 500 CCA. They couldn't tell me what the difference was so I went with the cheaper one with 100 more CCA. When I got home and tried to install the battery I realized the difference, the terminals were reversed. I was going to go back and get the other one but I decided to see if I could stretch the wires to reach the terminals. It's a tight fit but it seems fine. The wires are tight and are not moving. Should I be concerned or am I alright?
 
twopu said:
When I got home and tried to install the battery I realized the difference, the terminals were reversed. I was going to go back and get the other one but I decided to see if I could stretch the wires to reach the terminals. It's a tight fit but it seems fine. The wires are tight and are not moving. Should I be concerned or am I alright?
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Generally, there's "OK-tight" and then there's "uh-oh tight". If there's any question that you might be putting strain on things I'd go back to the store and see if you can work something out with them, something that doesn't involve spending more money ;)
 
The wires are not so tight that they can't move. There's still a little play when I move them not a lot just a little. I think I'm ok tight.
 
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