99three

My battery will not hold a charge longer than a week. After winning at the PCA Concours in Toronto this past weekend, I had to sheepishly ask for a boost because the battery had drained during the show. What is the recommended battery of choice?

dlambert

depends on many factors. me I like sealed (no spill no out gas) batteries like the Optima or others in that style. my preference is for an Optima yellow-top (deep cycle starting battery) because they last much longer in our garage kept queens. Sadly the yellow top won't fit due to the bend in the positive battery cable so use the red top. Go ahead and mount a tender to the battery terminals and run the power cord up into the trunk area. Then when you return from a show or driving event you can simply plug the tender up and cover until the next outing.

jdistefa

Odyssey 925T with a Rennline battery mount kit. Light, small, plenty o' cranking amps... put it on a trickle charger from time to time. My battery shop has had some "bad experiences" with Optima batteries, and I just had one get toasted in my BMW.

http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/ind...ct_detail&p=39

http://www.rennline.com/products.asp?dept=195

mkimber

I have had good luck with my Costco battery (standard Group 48 issue), and you can vent it. I have an Optima Red Top (bought at Costco) in my '87 Carrera, which also has performed well.

jimq

I have one from Advance Auto parts. Was about $60 w/72 month warranty and starts right up even after sitting 2 weeks or more.

993-C4S

I've found that by keeping the car unlocked when garaged at home, I don't even need my battery tender. The immobilizer/flashing LED seems to take a ton of juice. Unfortunately, my car can sit at times for weeks (three to four at a time) in between drives. It used to be that if I had the immobilizer on, the batter would be dead without a tender on it. Now, I can go three or four weeks and she starts right up as long as I've left the alarm off.

The way I figure it, the car is the the garage, the garage is alarmed, the keys are in the house (which is locked, alarmed and has two large dogs lounging/patrolling) the alarm on the car is just redundant and a battery drainer.

99three

All good points. I guess it's just a habit to lock the car doors, lock the doors leading into the house and the garage doors themselves. All equipped with a screaming alarm system and Shih-Tzu that will gnaw your ankles clean off if startled. I think leaving the P car unarmed will definitely save some battery life.

The Brewmeister

I replaced the Interstate that was in the car with another Interstate. The date stamp indicated that the
battery had been in the car for seven years which is pretty good for a low mileage car. I use a
BatteryMinder Plus when the car has not been driven in a couple weeks. With the Interstate the
vent tube must be re-attached to the new one.

JPS

Optima Red & tender here. I have to lock mine though.

Garth S

Living in TO, go to your local Canadian Tire and buy their best group 48 battery - mine has survived 2 winters of hibernation, and still measures full CCA rating, likely good for another 3+ years.