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Thread: Car battery

  1. #1
    ca.detailchick's Avatar
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    Car battery

    Whats the best?

    Im getting an Interstate put in .Anytime Ive used Pepboys batterys they sucked.

    I learned something new ,that alot of short trips shorten a batterys life. Most of my driving is within 10 miles.

    Mine has only lasted a bit over 4 years since new .I have been faithful about checking water levels and using only distilled water and keep the terminals are battery itself clean.

    But I have been bad and forgot to turn the key off after using accessories and had 2 dead batteries this year.Thats probably whats killed it.Good thing I paid my triple A bill!

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    Re: Car battery

    Quote Originally Posted by ca.detailchick View Post
    Whats the best?

    Im getting an Interstate put in .Anytime Ive used Pepboys batterys they sucked.

    I learned something new ,that alot of short trips shorten a batterys life. Most of my driving is within 10 miles.

    Mine has only lasted a bit over 4 years since new .I have been faithful about checking water levels and using only distilled water and keep the terminals are battery itself clean.

    But I have been bad and forgot to turn the key off after using accessories and had 2 dead batteries this year.Thats probably whats killed it.Good thing I paid my triple A bill!
    Interstate makes as good of a battery as any. 4 years is about all you can expect out of one unfortunately

    You say 2 dead in 5 months? Are these both Pepboys?

  3. #3
    ca.detailchick's Avatar
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    Re: Car battery

    Quote Originally Posted by Trouble View Post
    Interstate makes as good of a battery as any. 4 years is about all you can expect out of one unfortunately

    You say 2 dead in 5 months? Are these both Pepboys?
    I live in a pretty moderate climate so I think batterties should last longer here. Ive heard even some lasting 7 years.

    No ,this is the original battery that came with my van, not Pepboys.

  4. #4
    Detailing Gnosis Bunky's Avatar
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    Re: Car battery

    The problem with short trips usually is they battery never gets fully recharged. Lead Acid do not like to be left in a near discharged state. You need to get a battery charger to keep it topped off. It may on it every weekend you hook it up and it will get charged up over night. This is especially true if you run the accessories (lights, heat/ac) since this is extra load and slows recharge process.

    Al
    The Need to Bead


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    Detailers Workshop The Driver's Avatar
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    AspiringProductSpecialist Angus's Avatar
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    Re: Car battery

    +1 for Interstates. Consumer Reports recommends Interstates in all of the different battery "Groups". Picking up a battery tender is also a very good idea. I use two of them by Deltran - one on my garage queen and the other on my tractor. Super easy to use.

  7. #7
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    Re: Car battery

    +1 on the Interstate Battery AND the Deltran Battery Tender.

    I drive less than 25 miles/day, so I use the Battery Tender Jr. once a week to "top off" my battery at the recommendation of my mechanic.

    Be sure to check the Deltran website for details, there are certain models not available for sale in California if that`s a concern. Amazon has great prices so you can get the Autopia Store to price match.

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    Re: Car battery

    Quote Originally Posted by ca.detailchick View Post
    I live in a pretty moderate climate so I think batterties should last longer here. Ive heard even some lasting 7 years.

    No ,this is the original battery that came with my van, not Pepboys.
    7 years is unheard of IMO

    You said you`ve gone through 2 this year. I assume the 1st was OEM. Where did you get #2?

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    Re: Car battery

    definitely try a battery tender dc. I have used deltran battery tenders for years, but my next tender will be a pulsetech, a tender that actually fights battery sulfation which is the primary cause of battery failure. the manufacturer claims it can extend battery life 3-5x because of this. easy, plug in operation too. http://www.pulsetech.net/Content/App...nsumer-LP.aspx

  10. #10
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    Re: Car battery

    I would look into getting an optima brand battery. They are stronger, more maintance free, they won`t be compromised by being discharged like a lead acid battery, have more energy, there are other reasons I like them but you can look into them to see if they fit your needs. That said interstate is a good battery, and I also use them with good results.

  11. #11
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    Re: Car battery

    I am in a cold climate and 5 years is pushing it. Even the hot climate, batteries get warm when they charge, and heat takes its toll on batteries. So 5 years is usually about the normal life span. When the batteries were drained completely and if they sat for a few days that was hard on them to. Sometime when they go completely dead you may end up with one of the cells in the battery reversing polarity and then that cell won`t take charge.

    I bought a battery tender Jr for keeping my garden tractor and ATV batteries topped off through the winter. I take them out and bring them in the house to keep them from freezing and keep them topped off. The ones I bought is the cheapest one that Deltran sells($25 I think) and it comes with leads that can be bolted in and they have a quick disconnect on them. They also come with the alligator clips.
    Dean.

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    Re: Car battery

    When my car`s battery dies I buy a new car and donate the old one to charity

  13. #13
    Detailing Gnosis Bunky's Avatar
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    Re: Car battery

    Quote Originally Posted by Trouble View Post
    When my car`s battery dies I buy a new car and donate the old one to charity
    Maybe your dealer sticks defective batteries in your new car to generate sales?

    Al
    The Need to Bead


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    Re: Car battery

    Quote Originally Posted by Bunky View Post
    Maybe your dealer sticks defective batteries in your new car to generate sales?

  15. #15
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    Re: Car battery

    Years ago when I worked for Ernst & Young I did a consulting job for a battery company. I learned some interesting things. One is that Interstate does not manufacture batteries. They buy them from a company that does and they brand them as Interstate. I`m not implying Interstate batteries are not good, just saying they don`t make them. Same goes for many brands and companies like Sears. There are only a couple of manufacturers and they sell batteries to different companies. Most are manufactured in Mexico across the border as the environmental laws in the US are too stringent.

    To me, the key is to buy based on the warranty. All batteries will run down and if you live in a place like Texas with high heat, no battery is going to last the stated number of months. Last battery I bought was at Sam`s wholesale and so far it has been good.

    2015 Nissan Pathfinder, Platinum
    2012 Fiat 500 Sport
    2010 Mazda CX-7 iSport
    2000 Nissan Frontier XE

    "Life`ll Kill Ya" - Warren Zevon

 

 
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