Dog-Gone, dead car battery

[surferdude2]

It's hard to beat a high CCA rated battery for starting a car under adverse conditions. It's equally hard to find a true deep cycle battery that has a high CCA capability and still fit in the same space. I'll be interested in what you decide to use. It matters if you live where it gets very cold.

[justMongo]

It's hard to beat a high CCA rated battery for starting a car under adverse conditions. It's equally hard to find a true deep cycle battery that has a high CCA capability and still fit in the same space. I'll be interested in what you decide to use. It matters if you live where it gets very cold.

DM04wd

[surferdude2]

Then your cold morning starts aren't going to be much of an issue.

We hit -10° F. on some mornings here in Mousetown, USA. brr.. EM58mh

[Homerec130]

I end up replacing a battery every 3 years (whether it needs it or not) here in AZ. Found from experience that is about how long they last no matter what you buy. I have it checked when I have something else done (like oil change) and they usually tell me it is time for a new one. Rather replace it when it is convenient. Both of my vehicles are Saturn Vues. Had an 89 Ford Taurus that would fry the battery. Used to get about a year out of it before the heat got to it. There was no airflow around the battery. Ford had a special tool to loosen the bolt on the clamp on the base of the battery. Battery would die, call Ford and say it's dead, they would come and take it in, give me a new battery at no charge. I was always within the free portion of the warranty.

Homer

[surferdude2]

The temperature range matters a lot. Also gentle use and care make lots of difference. My sis lives in Wis. and her '98 Lincoln has the original battery that came with the car when she bought it new. She winters in Texas and leaves the car garaged in WI with a trickle charger hooked to it. Even when she's in WI she rarely uses the car and keeps the trickle charger attached most of the time. If it wasn't my sister telling it, I would have a hard time believing a battery would last that long.

Granted keeping a trickle charger hooked up would be a nuisance for most people, it does seem that batteries can last a lot longer if you baby them.

[archangle]

I've used the Schumacher SE-1-12S trickle charger for many years to maintain batteries. It's the one charger I trust to not eat batteries. Many other chargers, including "trickle" or "smart" chargers, will eventually damage the battery if you leave them on the battery full time.

You can mount it permanently inside the car and dangle the plug where you can plug it in. You could probably use it with a cigarette lighter adapter, too.

If you want to be extra careful to not eat your battery, you can use one of those mechanical weekly on/off timers you plug into a socket to only run the charger 8 hours a week or some such.

[justMongo]

I just had AAA come out and put a battery in the Merc. $118 is not bad for service at my home.
The Merc doesn't require a special tool; but, a long 1/4 drive extension is required to remove that bolt in the wedge that clamps the battery in place.

I am going to put it on a battery minder. Easiest hookup for me is through the AUX power socket.

Back in the 1980s, I did a lot of work related travel; I would leave my car on a 2 Amp charger (non-smart.)
That cost me two Delco batteries.

Homer: I've been to Tucson in August. Only place hotter in CONUS was Lackland AFB in July.

[PaytonA]

Calexico may actually be hotter.

[Peter_C]

Too much work Ghost. My back isn't going to like me lifting a car battery; let alone shaking it.
Plus, around here, there's no place to dump battery acid.

My life philosophy on car batteries has been to put a new one in the first time it cranks slow.

Since I've retired; and driving very little, it seems a shame to toss a nearly new battery.

I think the best solution now is a new battery and a Smart Tender.

I have a 'two battery' smart tender, and I simply love it~! Solid state, no moving parts or mechanical switches to stick. It's how I'm still using my seven year old boat battery, and how I keep the tractor battery in great shape in the winter.

If using the 12v plug inside the car, just make sure it is still *live* with the keys off, as some will kill the connection to the battery when you pull the keys.

[Peter_C]

DM04wd

Is this code?