yes, original battery. 69k kms (43k mi). no problems so far...

 

i can't see the distilled water level.. can anyone see it?
i see the lines for MIN/MAX.. can't see "through" it.

 

Yep, you've been lucky.
You would be fortunate to observe this. Many batteries fail *without warning*.
Then you must not mind getting stuck in need of a boost or tow at some random moment! I can't afford that. We know that batteries have a finite life expectancy of 4-6 years, depending on climate (hotter is worse). So why not preemptively replace? You'll end up buying the same number of batteries in the car's lifetime anyway, but you'll avoid that nasty surprise one frosty morning, or that steamy hot afternoon, or that miserable rainy day when your starter goes, "click click...".

Maybe. It takes a little extra time, and you're probably in the shop for a money-losing oil change. How thorough are they, afterall?

 

You need to remove the 6 cell plugs located on top of the battery to see the level of the distilled water (flashlight would be helpful too).

 

Hi joedaddy1. Batteries are usually good for about 5 years and after that you are on borrowed time. There aren't too many sounds more disheartening than to turn the key and hear that dreaded, "click", sound and you're stranded somewhere with a dead battery.

Considering the hassle and potential expense of a tow truck to get you out of a fix, as a regular preventative maintenance policy I suggest replacing any battery that has 5 years or more of wear/tear on it, if not a little less just to be on the safe side.

Most automotive batteries these days are the maintenance free type, which means there is no way to add distilled water , (tap water will damage the battery), to the battery, (if needed). For the non-maintenance free batteries where you can remove the battery caps to check the battery water level, safety first. The hydrogen gas that is released from a battery is highly explosive, (remember the Hindenburg disaster?!), so I would recommend using a pair of safety goggles over your eyes before removing the battery caps and a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands from the very corrosive sulphuric acid inside the battery. Both of these items can be obtained from virtually any auto parts store for minimal cost. In my 25+ years in the automotive tire/repair/maintenance business, I have seen a battery explode more than once, (one that was just sitting on a shelf and suddenly went, "Boom!"), and needless to say sulphuric acid sprayed into your eyes and face can really ruin your day. Thank God the auto centers I've worked for complied with O.S.H.A. regulations and had functioning eye-wash stations, or there would have been a few blinded people from battery explosions. We only have one pair of eyes. It pays to be safe. Any time you work with a vehicles battery, do so in a well ventilated area to disperse the hydrogen gas coming from the battery and reduce the risk of an explosion occurring. Of course, don't smoke or cause any sparks to occurr. When removing the battery caps to check the water level in the battery, the water level inside the fill holes should have a puckered look to it, just barely touching the rim. If the water level is below that, carefully refill with distilled water only. Again, regular tap water, or even spring water, will damage the battery and shorten its life.

Below are a few websites showing photographs of what happens when a battery explodes. The pictures aren't pretty! BE SAFE!

http://geradio.com/battery_safety.htm

http://www.vinland.com/Car-Battery.html

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/tec...5/article.html

I hope this has been of help.

 

ok.. I just changed my battery.. The car sounded weak on startup for the past week...
Went to Costco. Bought their battery for $59.99 + $9 fee (for something, i forget..).. The ratings were higher than OEM ( ~200 higher on respective ratings, not sure if its a good thing)
36 month Free/100 month prorated warranty..
get home to install.. was time consuming.. maybe 45 mins (i work slow in my apt garage)
All the dimension of the battery is same as OEM except for side to side (the long side).. costco battery is about a inch shorter.. maybe it means it's lighter.. (now my car is faster, j/k)DOMO
Car doesn't have that "please kill me" sound when starting up anymore.

OEM lasted at LEAST 5.5yrs/81k miles.. but I didn't wanna test it.

 

^ Glad to hear you've finally sucked up and changed the battery. The extreme heat of the summer weather is definitely one factor for why batteries die all of a sudden. During my recent trip to Texas, I can't recall how many times I've seen numerous cars pull over on the freeway for battery problems. I've been very happy with my Optima Red ever since I replaced with it in July

 

just to add to my post... You get the $9 back if you bring the ORIGINAL RECEIPT AND THE OLD BATTERY..
so it's $59.99 for 36month Free/ 100 month prorated battery...
the similar battery was $90 @ autozone!!

 

replaced my battery 2 weekends ago now when i try to start my car it cranks and dies instantly. never happened till i replaced the oem battery. any ideas y this happens.

 

maybe u didn't tighten the cable on the battery?
or alternator?

i have no idea.

 

weird thing is it doesnt happen all the time. cables are on real tight.

 

I have a June 02 production 03.0 sedan, and I had to replace the battery just last month. Can't complain!

 

I bought mine back in the spring of '03, still have the original battery. It has about 39K miles on the odometer.

 

For those whom don't know, if even one of those wells is pretty much dried up when you open the caps, go buy a new battery... that one is as good as dead.

 

I just replaced my battery at 3.75 years with 42K miles. Sux, I thought it would last longer. I guess it maybe the quad projectors and pioneer navigation unit I am running. I picked one up with more cranking amps, hopefully this will help.