My car didn't start today. So, I need a new battery. My question is, which one? I am asking because this will be my third battery. I've had my car for almost four years now and I'm on my third battery.

Also I have acid build up on my battery on my negitive. If anyone knows what the heck is going on please inform me.

Fox

 

Get that alternator tested... A bad alt. will cause the battery to go dead alot quicker than expected. I used a Auto Zone battery in 2 other cars and no compliants! Batterys are batterys; unless you go sealed, like Optima.

 

Maybe switch to something like an Optima? And clean your terminals/wires then add grease. It helps stop the corroding.

 

What are the advantages of Optima over other batteries? I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it but I have a grounding kit on my car. I never leave my lights on, but have helped out several stranded people and given them jumps. Could that be why my batteries always seem to die out?

Fox

 

Nah, the jumps have little bearing on your situation. Have an auto parts place do it for free...and you don't have it remove it or anything.

BTW, a DIY battey cleanser = water mixed with baking soda.

 

So here is the deal: My car was doing the same clicking thing yesterday, so obviously I thought it was the battery. I got my car to start again with a jump from my portable jumper. I drove over to the local AutoZone, picked up a new battery. Borrowed some tools from them and went outside to put it on. They gave me an adjustable wrench that didn't hold its size so getting off the old and putting on the new was a pain.

When the new battery was on I go inside my car hoping to God it would turn over... nothing, not even the clicking now. I was pissed. I went back inside the AutoZone with the wrench and my old battery and asked them to test to see if it was the battery. They tested it and the guy comes back and tells me, "Your battery is in perfect condition." Ok, so that leaves the celinoid, the starter, perhaps the wires? So he tells me that I can return the new battery for a full refund and tells me to take it to a shop because he can't figure it out.

So after another painful session of trying to get the new battery off, in which I bash my middle finger, I hook up my portable jumper and my car starts, like the day it came off the lot. I'm stumped, pissed and now bleeding from my finger.

I drive down to the closest shop I see pull over and ask the technician for help. I explain my situation and he tells me in broken English, "Not your battery, not your starter, not your celinoid... let’s see car." I pop my hood and he takes a flathead and a wrench and looks at me, "start car, now." Vrooom.... son of a mother something something something...

The guy explains to me, "See..." Translation, the corrosion on the leads of the positive and the negative caused there to be just enough juice to run electronics in the car but not enough to turn the car over. The starter was fine but unable to turn because it requires more electricity.

I feel like a retarded spider monkey with a stuttering problem and bum left leg. This guy cleaned the hell out of my battery and took all of the corrosion off. Charged me 20 bucks and sent me on my way.

There are three things you need in life, a good woman, a good job and a good mechanic. I now have a good mechanic and on Monday he is installing my lightened under driven pulley. Thanks guys for the suggestions… I really do appreciate it.


Fox

 

DIY battery cleanser FTW... Thought you would've tried that first? But glad to hear that it wasn't something major! And BTW, this situation happened on my first car too. But lucky me, my father knew exactly what it was...

 

I have an Optima Redtop battery for about 3 years now.
While I was in school i use to listen to music in the car for 2 hours each day waiting for the next class. Till this day it still starts without any problems.