BoatBanter.com - Car batteries

"Mr. Luddite" wrote:
On 7/26/2014 8:49 PM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Sat, 26 Jul 2014 18:23:46 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

I was at the store this afternoon and she called me. Said, "On your way
home could you pick up a starter for my car?"

Obviously I asked her why she thinks she needs a "starter".

Her reply: "Isn't that what starts the car? All it does right now is
click."

===

That's what I call "woman logic". My wife is always coming up with
stuff like that.

Since 4 years is a little on the short side for battery life, it's
possible that there is a secondary issue like the alternator. If you
have a digital voltmeter it is easy to check the alternator yourself.
Start the car and let it warm up for a few minutes. Check the
battery voltage. It should read somewhere between 13.8 and 14.4
volts if the alternator is working properly. Next, turn on the
headlights and/or the rear window defroster. Battery voltage should
still read somewhere between 13.8 and 14.4 with the engine at a fast
idle.

Average life for a battery in normal service seems to be around 5
years or so, less if they have been deep discharged (run down) a few
times. In my experience the very best car batteries are the Sears
Platinum Diehards. They cost more but are great batts. I've just
finished replacing all of the 170 pound 8Ds on our boat with pairs of
Platinum Diehard 31Ms. Each 31M is around 75 pounds or so, much
easier on the back, better cranking power, and hopefully better
longevity.

I should have known to check the charging voltage after I replaced the
battery. I knew that from checking cars (and boats) in the past but it
didn't even cross my mind this time. Early Alzheimer's probably. :-)

I think Mrs.E's shorter than normal battery life is probably due in large
part to her driving habits. She starts the car, drives 150 feet to the
barn, then shuts it off to check her horses. Then starts the car and
drives 2.5 miles to a local convenience store, shuts it off again. Then
drives another 2 miles to my daughter's house for coffee. Then back to
the house. She does this about 5 or 6 times a day. Her car never runs
long enough to fully recharge from each start.

As for Sears Diehard batteries, I thought as you do for many years until
I found out that Sears routinely changes to whom they contract for
battery manufacturers and/or suppliers. The same battery may be name
branded "Diehard" for them and something else for another retailer. For
example, at one time (maybe even now) the same battery manufacturer who
supplies Sears and Kmart as a "Diehard" supplies the same battery to
Walmart as an "Everstart".

It may be that Sears specifies the criteria and performance that the
battery must meet but it may come from China for all we know.

I heard somewhere that there are only two or three US manufacturers of
lead acid batteries. Exide is one, not sure who the other one or two are.

Diehards have a good reputation but I am not sure how much of that is
based on actual performance or on good marketing.

Johnson Controls makes most of the Walmart, etc batteries.