re: "batteries are basically all the same and will last years if you
drive the vehicle regularly"
I respectfully disagree.? Two Interstate batteries lasted 2 years (each)
in my Mustang although I was making a freeway commute of almost 80 miles
round trip 5 days a week.?? They were checked and serviced regularly.?
They both failed completely with no warning (hard starts, etc.).? Two
Motorcraft batteries--hecho en Mexico--also lasted about 2 years (I
suspect they were re-branded Interstates).? We've had 2 pairs of 6V
Interstates fail in a couple years in our BN2.?? The Deka in my
Mustang--made in the USA--has about 3 years of intermittent city/freeway
driving and is going strong.
Bob
On 4/22/2018 6:37 AM, Robert Begani wrote:
>
> Listeners:
>
> The solution for dead batteries has been discussed many times. In
> today?s world batteries are basically all the same and will last years
> if you drive the vehicle regularly.? We do not. Our vehicles and
> sitting in the garage or storage and, as many of us who know this have
> said, will reduce the life of the battery very quickly.? Use a battery
> maintainer or floater charger when it is sitting, take the car for a
> 20-30 mile drive once a month to give it a full charge or give it a
> full change while in storage. Oh yes, idling the engine will not give
> the battery life.
>
> I buy inexpensive batteries.? The current was purchased 4 years ago
> from Walmart.? It has been out of the vehicle for 2 years and has been
> on a Battery Tender with charger which only holds the charge, however,
> the storage charge will deteriorate over time.? So I put it on a
> charger at 10 amps for 15 minutes every few months.? Today it is rated
> as fully charged and ready to turn over the engine when I get it back
> together.? Nevertheless, I expect the battery will need to be replaced
> after I begin to drive my Healey again on long trips. I have an
> alternator on my BJ8.
>
> On the other hand, regarding batteries on today?s vehicles, my wife
> drives an 18 month old Honda CRV.? She called me because her car would
> not start at her friends home. I brought over the Starter cables
> jumped the car and drove it home.? Then I put the charger on the
> battery and suggested she drive the car longer distances once a week.?
> She was just driving around our small town visiting her friends etc.
> and not getting out on the road. An alternator will not fully charge a
> battery on short distances especially when you are operating many
> electronic items on the car while it is sitting overnight.? She has
> not had a battery problem since.? And, I remember to use her car when
> taking a 30 Plus mile trip on the interstate.
>
> Drive your cars gentlemen.
>
> Regards, battery a
>
> Bob Begani
>
> BJ8
>
>
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