I'm not usually known for these trivial threads, but I'm feeling quirky today.
So yesterday between the space of lunch-hour and home-time, without any previous warning, my 1997 Cavy's original AC Delco Freedom battery decided it could no longer produce enough current to start the car. Boosting the car worked fine, and the charging system voltage was good. Sure enough, it failed load testing. Seems like the summer day finally killed a cell in it. So $125 later I have a new battery.
My time-wasting question today, therefore, is who has the oldest still-working OEM battery? Are there some 1st-gen-ers out there still using theirs? I figured perhaps those who keep their car garaged, have warmer winters, and take fewer short trips than me might have done better than my battery's paltry 10-years. (Seriously, I'm told it was pretty ridiculous I even got that much time out of it.)
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I still have my Delco in my 98,had it tested once and has about half life left.
15.2@89mph 2.171 60ft. 9.830 1/8 R.I.P. "LULU"
Grumpy McGrumpster(BIGGSZ24) wrote:I still have my Delco in my 98,had it tested once and has about half life left.
Well, you've nearly got me matched. It could still go belly-up at a moments notice, as I discovered. I was still starting my car on -10F mornings last winter, so it's not like I saw this coming.
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Wow...I got 2.5 years out of mine. I seem to eat batteries every 2-3 years. I think I am on my 4th battery now on my '99?
well i know its not long, but mine lasted from 04 to just this past winter, kept the car on the charger, and the next morning when the charger said 100%, went to start in -10 F, gauges went crazy and then i got a spiral cell!!
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2267189
I still have the stock battery from mine in the garage and it's been jumping vehicles around my neighborhood since I took it out. I never plug it in to charge it either, just drop in back in the box my Optima came in.
Not the same as a daily used battery though. LOL.
I used to race cars, now I race myself.
5K PB: 24:50
10K PB: 54:26
So what we're saying is that I got at least twice the usual life span, and I should be happy as hell? Fair enough. I'm still open to challengers thought.
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battery's here in phx usually last the max of 2 years , i had a friend with a olds and his battery died about the 7-8 year mark
only 1s that last here are optima's
I only got a measly 5 years outta mine. One day it would start no problems, next day my car wouldn't even crank.
Borsty wrote:Geeky wrote:So $125 later I have a new battery.
you got screwed
That's after 14% taxes, for a Motomaster Eliminator battery. Canadians will recognize that as a house-brand from Canadian Tire hardware stores. They had a cheaper model, but I opted for a few more cold-cranking amps and a longer warranty. I know the bloody thing weighed almost twice what the stock battery did.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Thursday, July 26, 2007 10:43 AM
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Geeky wrote:I'm not usually known for these trivial threads, but I'm feeling quirky today.
So yesterday between the space of lunch-hour and home-time, without any previous warning, my 1997 Cavy's original AC Delco Freedom battery decided it could no longer produce enough current to start the car. Boosting the car worked fine, and the charging system voltage was good. Sure enough, it failed load testing. Seems like the summer day finally killed a cell in it. So $125 later I have a new battery.
My time-wasting question today, therefore, is who has the oldest still-working OEM battery? Are there some 1st-gen-ers out there still using theirs? I figured perhaps those who keep their car garaged, have warmer winters, and take fewer short trips than me might have done better than my battery's paltry 10-years. (Seriously, I'm told it was pretty ridiculous I even got that much time out of it.)
haha my 2000 crapped out on me yesterday night... almost 8 years outta that thing... it tested out like it was alright, but it couldnt start the car, nor anything else we tested it on... sucks. what kinda battery did you get? mine was 84.99 exide 75-72(Month) i would like to get another ac delco... that was a strong battery... the exide was just because thats all they had available and i needed something
I'm surprised the positive terminal didn't fall out. Seems to be a huge problem with most delco batteries. I replaced mine out of my 03 in august 05 with an optima. The battery still worked, i just got a really good deal on the optima.
Herb Wilson wrote:what kinda battery did you get?
(Canadian Tire) Motomaster Eliminator. 720 Cranking Amps at 0 degrees F, or 840 Amps at 32 F. Three year free replacement, Nine year partial coverage.
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Herb Wilson wrote:haha my 2000 crapped out on me yesterday night... almost 8 years outta that thing... it tested out like it was alright, but it couldnt start the car, nor anything else we tested it on... sucks. what kinda battery did you get? mine was 84.99 exide 75-72(Month) i would like to get another ac delco... that was a strong battery... the exide was just because thats all they had available and i needed something
I was just doing looking around the some opinions on the relative performance of these "Motomaster" batteries, and the consensus seems that they aren't very good. It turns out they're actually manufactured by Exide, so it's probably equivalent to one of their middle-upper range products.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Thursday, July 26, 2007 1:28 PM
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So far all my optimas have cost less then $50
Got one from Speedracer before i really knew him... It was used and lasted 5 years and started 4 diff cars
The one in my car was free.
The one i am about to get is free hehe
My old 1990 VL had the ORIGINAL battery until 2003..... 13 years of good quality service
We had the car in the family, and didn't ever have a problem with it. Then in 2003 I replaced the battery because it was seriously weak with a Optima Red top (when you could pick them up for less than $100).
I also had the same tires on my car for 5 years. Of course for a few years, the car was never driven. Just sat in the driveway with a blown head gasket. That was, until I bought it from my mom, and got it road worthy. The battery was unplugged, and just needed a good re-charge on it when I finished the head gasket.
I miss my 2nd gen.
...
My cavy has ate 2 Eliminator batteries in the last 3 years...
Hmmm, maybe i should look into that...
Was a no hassle warranty return twice tho
-----> Fast? I can beat a Camaro in a free fall... <-----
My 02 had the stock battery in for 4 years and 95Kmi.
The freaking electrode fell out of the thing as it was being eaten away by its own acid. I had to call my dad to come save my ass with his brand new Frontier. We put the old battery in the back, the acid spilled out and melted the bedliner. POS.
My 98's stock battery died shortly after I got it in high school in 2001. Ever since I've replaced with a heavy duty truck battery in the trunk and the thing cranks on to this day. 6 years later and the thing shows no signs of dying.
2002 Cavalier 2200 5spd
Wrong plat form (same drive train as a first gen jbody?), but my first car (1991 Chevy Lumina 3.1 V6) battery lasted 150,000 miles before it crapped out on me
Best quarter mile to date - 15.750 @ 85.82
**CHECK MY CAR PROFILE, I HAVE STUFF FOR SALE,
PLEASE PM ME WITH INTEREST IN ANYTHING
I'M SELLING. THANKS!**
poop... hopefully i didnt pick a lemon from exide...
