i have a new(to me) 98 cab with a five year old battery . the car was driven 5k in 5 yrs.. i had it buffed out and they left the trunk open which ran down the battery.. after jumping it and driving for an hour the battery died again after sitting a week. should i tirickle charge it ,get a new battery now or wait until spring when i will start driving it more than the original owner? thanks for any suggestions..

 

Buy an optima battery....

 

Driving it for an hour wont charge up the battery - you need to trickle charge it for it to recover its full charge - oh and you risk damaging your alternator by attempting to use it to charge up a flat battery - buy a Ctek charger that can be left plugged in - it will charge up your battery and it will constantly keep it topped up.

 

Depends on the use of the car, the battery being used, and the care of the battery. The original battery in my '97 last 2.5 years, after being abused by the first owner who drove the car very little and let the battery discharge a number of times. I installed the proper Interstate battery, and never let it discharge significantly, using a battery tender in the times it will sit for more than two weeks in cold weather. The second battery is now 7 years old and going strong.

 

Buy a new Optima red top and don't worry about it.

 

My Costco battery is 7 years old and only about 3000 mile per year. I put it on an onboard charger if it sits for 2 weeks or longer...in fact I am going to go downstairs now and plug it in!

 

Every time a battery is discharged, it pulls life from it. I used to run a high powered stereo from a car battery and drain the battery on occasion. My batteries would only last 6 months with this abuse. I think most batteries only last between 4 and 5 years. I would get a new battery, since it will only get worse and possibly leave you stranded. On another forum, someone let it go and push starting it wouldn't even work because there wasn't enough juice to run the coil. Check into the Optima batteries - they are radically different from a standard battery. Also, try to be battery-conscience and not run your headlights, blowers, etc with the can off. It all adds up to decreased battery life.

 

About five years is my average for car batteries. Two years for UIPS batteries.

I use the porsche/tequipment trickle charger in the winter (daily driver, but less use in winter).

 

I the heat of South Florida 3 years is usually the max. Optima is the way to go.
Chris

 

Which Optima is recommended for our cars? Anybody got a part number?

 

Good Advice!..................ZP44

 

I went to the Optima site, and they say there is no appropriate Optima battery for our cars. So which one are you guys using?

 

Optima red top from Costco is what I have in my 993.

 

The correct Optima is the 75/35.

 

Ditto Jimbo... I have the 75/35 redtop too