Battery question

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llmercll

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Sep 1, 2013
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ny
Hello!

My mechanic recently told me I would need a new battery soon. My car starts right up every time, though the first start of the day isn't instant like the others. I'm not sitting there cranking it for 10 seconds, but it does take a few rotations.

It's going to be wintertime soon, and I don't want to get stranded, but at the same time don't want to buy a new battery if mine can last another year or so. I don't know the age of the battery, but it's a Honda.

Is there any way I can test the battery for longevity? I have a battery tender, but I believe that only trickle charges.

thanks!
 
Auto parts stores usually have the equipment to test the battery. Look for a stamp indicating date of manufacture or a sticker indicating when it was installed.

What is the make, model, and year of the vehicle? How many miles are on it? When did you buy it?

If it was manufactured/installed 5+ years ago, I'd go ahead and replace it.
 
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If your mechanic says you need a new battery soon, he must have tested it. Not knowing the age and winter coming on, maybe be out of town a time or two.. ah what the heck. Get a good new battery and you might feel better.
 
Originally Posted By: llmercll
Hello!

My mechanic recently told me I would need a new battery soon. My car starts right up every time, though the first start of the day isn't instant like the others. I'm not sitting there cranking it for 10 seconds, but it does take a few rotations.

It's going to be wintertime soon, and I don't want to get stranded, but at the same time don't want to buy a new battery if mine can last another year or so. I don't know the age of the battery, but it's a Honda.

Is there any way I can test the battery for longevity? I have a battery tender, but I believe that only trickle charges.

thanks!


First, do you trust your mechanic? If not find another you do. Then listen to his advice.

The best test assuming the battery is fully charged is a carbon pile tester that puts a load of 1/2 the CCA of the battery for 15 seconds and then measures the voltage. Most shops cannot count on the battery being fully charged so they use a conductive battery tester (Midtronics makes the good ones).

Where are you in NY? I have both at my house.

Most shops cannot depend upon a battery
 
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Autozone & Sears will test batteries for free. I'm sure there are others. I've always had Sears Diehard or even better Sears Platinum. Sears has always been a pleasure to deal with. Its my personal opinion for what its worth. Good luck! I would buy a new one before winter........
 
My wife and I have had good luck with Wal-Mart Batteries.

I lived in Wisconsin at one time and with the harsh Winters a fresh battery was always a +.

Had an engine heater installed on every vehicle there too which was another + in helping to start in the mornings.
 
Do it! If you notice it dragging on starting the old battery is already falling off a cliff.

Modern gear-reduction starters only need around 150-200 amps so a 650 CCA battery has a lot of headroom before you start noticing issues.
 
Thanks guys, I'll bring it to AAP and probably pick up a new battery. Now whether or not to get a duralast or diehard...or everstart, haha

I'm in Orange County BTW
 
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get a silver series from advance auto parts
50$ off coupon with pickup in store = win.
 
Go get the battery tested for free at an auto parts store. They will tell you what the machine says and give you a print out.
 
Keep in mind some dishonest shops will enter a CCA higher than your battery really is and even a new battery might show up bad as it will not come up with enough CCA via the test. Saw this on some news reports of dishonest Jiffy Lubes.
 
Originally Posted By: Donald
Keep in mind some dishonest shops will enter a CCA higher than your battery really is and even a new battery might show up bad as it will not come up with enough CCA via the test. Saw this on some news reports of dishonest Jiffy Lubes.

That's true.

An easy way is to set up for DIN reading, and then enter SAE/CCA spec number.
The tester will fail even new battery.

I had one workshop that try to sell battery this way to one of my customers.
Unfortunately, that customer came to me to claim warranty and I showed him why the battery is still good.
 
Originally Posted By: kb27
Originally Posted By: Donald
Keep in mind some dishonest shops will enter a CCA higher than your battery really is and even a new battery might show up bad as it will not come up with enough CCA via the test. Saw this on some news reports of dishonest Jiffy Lubes.

That's true.

An easy way is to set up for DIN reading, and then enter SAE/CCA spec number.
The tester will fail even new battery.

I had one workshop that try to sell battery this way to one of my customers.
Unfortunately, that customer came to me to claim warranty and I showed him why the battery is still good.

What adds to the problem is that some Panasonic OEM batteries have no rating printed on them, so who knows exactly how much CCA it should have?
I find that many cars that were built in Japan have that kind of Panasonic battery.

As for the best battery, I use Deka/Carquest batteries, and have no problems.
 
Originally Posted By: Rand
get a silver series from advance auto parts
50$ off coupon with pickup in store = win.


+1. Pickup and free installation in store.
 
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