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Post by human on Jul 23, 2016 0:09:42 GMT -6
The subject line kind of says it all. I guess the summer heat is doing it in. I noticed yesterday that it sounded a little weak when I turned the key and today, it just went "ticka, ticka, ticka,,," and I had to jump it off using my battery charger. After that, it started twice just fine, then after sitting a few hours, it barely started. I had to make one stop on the way home, which couldn't be avoided, so when I got back in the car, I said a little prayer, turned the key, and it cranked right up although it sounded slightly weak as it had yesterday. The car is an early 2011 model, built in December 2010. It has the original Delco battery, which would likely be right at six years old. That's a good, long life for a car battery. Guess I'll be heading out battery shopping tomorrow. It takes a group 34 battery, which isn't nearly as esoteric as the one for the Aurora. Any suggestions?
Daily Driver: 2011 Impala LT Weekend Toy: 1995 Aurora
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Post by human on Jul 23, 2016 11:50:27 GMT -6
After a little online research, I ended up getting an Everstart Maxx battery from Walmart for 104.97. I could have gotten the regular Everstart for $99.97 but why bother when for an extra $5, I got 800 cca instead of 600 and more than double the warranty protection--five years (three year replacement plus two years prorated) instead of two. Pretty much of a no-brainer there. Plus, It was at least $30 cheaper than anything comparable from other retailers I checked. The only catch was I had to install it myself in the parking lot as the Walmart where I bought it doesn't have an auto center. That wasn't an issue for me as I've installed quite a few batteries in my time and have even installed one in that parking lot when I had my LSS. The hardest part was wrestling the old Delco battery out of the engine bay and of course today's 95-degree temperature didn't make the process any more enjoyable. I also went ahead and sprung for a pair of felt pads to minimize terminal corrosion. Figured it couldn't hurt for 97 cents, as I'd already cleaned the corrosion from the negative terminal connector before I left home. The positive connector is as shiny as the day it was new. Oh well, now I can put the 'DONE' stamp on that little project.
Daily Driver: 2011 Impala LT Weekend Toy: 1995 Aurora
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Post by sall on Jul 23, 2016 15:19:46 GMT -6
I personally have not had much luck with the walmart everstart maxx batteries. I stick with exide agm batteries now in everything.
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Post by Toronado3800 on Jul 23, 2016 19:49:54 GMT -6
Nice to be done with it!
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Post by human on Jul 24, 2016 11:23:25 GMT -6
Of course, I had a Homer Simpson moment "D'oh!" when I went to Costco later in the day and saw a display of Interstate batteries and one for my car was $85. I came very close to buying it and taking the Everstart back to Wally World but then I realized I no longer had the old battery to return, so I'd be out the $18 core deposit at Costco, which would have pretty much done away with the price advantage and the battery itself was only 600 cca with a three-year warranty. Besides, it's just too hot outside to even think of doing any more battery swaps. Had I spotted that battery first, I would most likely have bought it but given past experience, I'm really not worried about the Everstart battery. I put one in the last Olds LSS I had and it gave no trouble for the next two years that I owned the car. I didn't really have a choice with that particular purchase. My then-girlfriend was driving the car when the battery gave out in the parking lot of that same Walmart where I bought and installed the one yesterday. It was after 9:00 p.m. on a Sunday and nothing else was open, so it was a matter of getting the battery so we could get home. Her car was in the shop so we needed both of mine to get to our respective jobs in the morning. Ironically, I ended up getting rid of that car right after (but not necessarily because of) an alternator failure. If I could have gazed into a crystal ball to see the all trouble the Aurora was about to give me, I would have kept that LSS as a second car and gotten rid of the Aurora when I bought the Impala.
Daily Driver: 2011 Impala LT Weekend Toy: 1995 Aurora
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