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SShink


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They must make car batteries better than they used to...
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So after driving the vert Sunday, I went out to the cave last night and discovered I had left the drivers door open and the GPS on and still plugged in to the lighter.

I figured great... I drained the battery since the courtesy light in the footwell and the GPS were still on.

Hit the key and it started right up! 

I can remember in high school on my '71 Malibu leaving the park lights on once, then the dome light at a different time after a long night of cruising, and the battery was completely dead!  banghead

I guess they make them better now than they used to! 

Anybody else have any car battery stories...?



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Stan S.-Twin Cities 'South Metro'

1972 Malibu Convertible 2nd time around 

2001 Mustang GT Convertible 

Forum influenced terms: 'Link Paste', 'Stanitized', & 'Revolving garage door...' 

 
bowtie


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The original one in my 2000 Malibu finally crapped out in 2009.

The battery I bought to originally start my chevelle was finally replaced about a month ago. In the winter, I'd only unhook it. I only charged it when it drained from trying to start it 2 years ago when my ignition module died.

Both are AC Delco.

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Bryan-NW 'burbs
1972 Malibu
Vaguely stock appearing, and the opposite of restored.
1999 std bore 5.7, Vortec heads, Holley Stealth Ram, GM cam
700R4, Viking coilovers, 12 bolt 4.10 posi, and a whole bunch more
Chris R


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I have a die hard gold that I got for free in 1994 and used it in my 66 until I pulled it off the road in 06. I could have likely got several more years out of it too but its been sitting on the garage floor ever since and no way its worth trusting now



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Chris - Ramsey, MN.

Dear Optimist, Pessimist, and Realist.

While you guys were busy arguing about the glass of water. I drank it!

Sincerly,

The opportunist.
Lost in the 60s


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bowtie wrote:

The original one in my 2000 Malibu finally crapped out in 2009.

The battery I bought to originally start my chevelle was finally replaced about a month ago. In the winter, I'd only unhook it. I only charged it when it drained from trying to start it 2 years ago when my ignition module died.

Both are AC Delco.

 The original Delco battery in my 2000 K1500 sounded like it was getting weak about the same time ~ '08-09~ so I went to Stillwater Motors and bought a new one. I put the old one in my '70 Chevelle so I would have something to start it with to move it twice a year. It STILL turns the engine over long enough to pull fuel from the tank to the carb and start. I'm always amazed when I get in and it does that. I leave the battery in all winter too.



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

Lifetime member of the "Cars apart Club"

1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS/RS 350 M20
Scott Parkhurst


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I've had the same Optima in my wagon since 2004....

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Scott Parkhurst

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Derek69SS


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I have a 1998 Optima that was just showing signs of going bad when I took the Chevelle off the road 2 years ago... still have it, but haven't tried using it since then.

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Derek Kiefer - Mantorville, MN

69 Malibu Pro-Touring stroker LS1-383/T56 - 69 SS396-325/3spd project
Enganeer


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I must have the bad ones. My GTO battery lasted less than three years, deep cycle boat battery did not make it the 5 season (stored indoors during winter to boot) and two newer batteries were replaced due to a dead cell.



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John E - Rogers, MN

Instructions? All I need is the exploded view.
70 El Camino soon to be ls1/t56
64 Malibu SS
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Enganeer wrote:

I must have the bad ones. My GTO battery lasted less than three years, deep cycle boat battery did not make it the 5 season (stored indoors during winter to boot) and two newer batteries were replaced due to a dead cell.

 You gotta stop buying the cheap stuff, John....laughing



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

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1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

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67ss


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I have had terrible battery issues this year. They have all been Napa Legend batteries, seems like you kill them dead once and they never seem to recover. I am going back to Interstate batteries, I found out Nothern tool in forest lake stocks them and there prices are very good. Bought two from there so far this year and may need one more for my old crew cab before the year is done.



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Chris P
East Central, Mn

66 Chevelle 300 deluxe
Dan Williams


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Traded in our 97 Honda CRV (130K) a year ago with the origional battery still in it. My 99 S/10 (bought new) goes through a battery every 2 years or so since new. Bought Delco, Interstate, off brand. Now stick with NAPA's because they warranty it for me every 18 months or so. Go figure! cuckoo



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Forest City, IA
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67ss wrote:

I have had terrible battery issues this year. They have all been Napa Legend batteries, seems like you kill them dead once and they never seem to recover. I am going back to Interstate batteries, I found out Nothern tool in forest lake stocks them and there prices are very good. Bought two from there so far this year and may need one more for my old crew cab before the year is done.

 I hear ya on always needing a battery. I have 13 vehicles/toys with batteries and the Pete takes 3, so I buy at least one battery a year. A few years back I bought 5 in a couple  months...banghead



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

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1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

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1967 Camaro SS/RS 350 M20
dashboard


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Do you disconnect your batteries when not in use?



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Kevin

Northwestern Ohio
Lost in the 60s


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dashboard wrote:

 

Do you disconnect your batteries when not in use?

 Not during the summer. I sometimes remember to do that before winter, but that is about a 50/50 chance...rolleyes



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

Lifetime member of the "Cars apart Club"

1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS/RS 350 M20
Bungy L-76


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+1 for the Interstate batteries. There was one in my truck when I bought it and after it finally died, I looked at the date on it and it was 9 years old. It was a 72 month battery. I replaced it with another Interstate and that is what I put in all of my vehicles now.

I've had nothing but trouble with the Fleet Farm batteries. The only reason I have one is because the others keep dying before the warranty expires, so I take them back and get another. (last 4 in a row)

I always unhook the positive cable for the winter, but always keep them hooked up in the summer.



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bowtie


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I unhook mine when I'm not driving it, have a quick disconnect.

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Bryan-NW 'burbs
1972 Malibu
Vaguely stock appearing, and the opposite of restored.
1999 std bore 5.7, Vortec heads, Holley Stealth Ram, GM cam
700R4, Viking coilovers, 12 bolt 4.10 posi, and a whole bunch more
Lost in the 60s


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See what you started ?? I had to buy a battery for my New Holland today.....hyper



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

Lifetime member of the "Cars apart Club"

1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS/RS 350 M20
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I had a battery issue with my Chevelle just today.  Started Ok this morning as we were leaving Duluth to make the trek home.  As I got up the hill out of Duluth I noticed the Battery guage was in a discharge state?  Watched it and decided to pull off in Cloquet and top off the tank and make sure the belt was still on.  Belted looked Ok, topped off the tank, jumped in to start it and no go.  Was able to find someone at the station to jump start, and went straight across the street to NAPA.  I suspected the alternator so I pulled that off and had them check it.  Tested fine, so did a test on the battery and it failed.  Put in a new battery, fired right up and made the ride home with no issues from there.

Battery was an Super Start Gold only 2-3 years old?

Had problems in my Silverado with the battery as well, it too was an Super Start battery, which I had replaced 2 years earlier and had to warranty it after 1 year again.  This time I replaced it with a AC Delco and it has been perfect ever since?  With the old battery, my remote start would fire, but would not keep running.  As soon as I put in the new battery the remote start works everytime now.



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Loren B. - Princeton, MN

1969 Chevelle SS Convertible, Bright Torch Red, 396, 200-4R, 12 bolt 3.73 Posi

1969 Chevrolet C20, Orange/White, 350, 4-spd, 4.11

1980 Camaro, RS, Impulse Blue, 350, 200-4R, 3.73 Posi

1967 Chevelle Malibu 2-DR Hardtop.  In process
Lost in the 60s


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Glad you made it home without a major issue, Loren.

I dug my '70 out from under a mountain of cardboard today and the battery has finally called it quits. I can't even get it to take a charge now...dunno Hopefully it will serve to connect jumper cables to because it isn't worth buying a new one to use 2-3 times a year.



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

Lifetime member of the "Cars apart Club"

1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS/RS 350 M20
SShink


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Sorry about ticking off the battery gods for you guys!  cool



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Stan S.-Twin Cities 'South Metro'

1972 Malibu Convertible 2nd time around 

2001 Mustang GT Convertible 

Forum influenced terms: 'Link Paste', 'Stanitized', & 'Revolving garage door...' 

 
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