battery question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JenTay · #1 10-27-2004, 08:09 PM

with winter coming, i took the car to the local autozone to have the battery checked out.

the machine on wheels said it was a good battery.

is that all there is to it? does a 'good' battery have the same potency as a new one? i guess what i am asking is...is it as simple as 'good or bad'?
or are there different grades of good?

is there a better test? i just don't want to be stranded because of this 'good' battery. thanks in advance.

whunter · #2 10-27-2004, 08:18 PM

is generally the prime killer.
How old is it?
If it is over four years, I replace mine.
It is a question of cost and risk.
I hate walking in winter.

tangofox007 · #3 10-27-2004, 08:23 PM

No, it is not that simple. As the battery ages, its ability to be charged and hold that charge diminishes. Plus the older the battery, the more prone it is to a catastrophic failure. In theory, a week-old battery is not as good as a new battery. Is the battery one of the sealed, maintenance free varieties? If not, you can check the specific gravity of each cell with a battery hydrometer. That would give you a bit better indication of the overall health of the battery.

mpolli · #4 10-27-2004, 08:28 PM

I have found batteries have an amazing tendancy to last as long as the warrenty length. I don't mean to be funny but most of my batteries have failed on or about when they reached the 60 months, 72 months etc. The battery test they do is a load test and if it passed and is still 12 months away from "retirement" then I would say it is fine (easy for me to say in Seattle where it rarely gets below 25 degrees (F) even on the cold days). The only thing that will kill a lead acid battery sooner is if it is completely discharged to nearly 0 volts. This doesn't mean you left the lights on one morning. It means the thing sat for 6 months and wasn't charged at all and drained down to nothing. If that never happened and all else is good then I would say it is fine. And to try to answer your actual question, I don't think there is a lot in between "good" and "bad". Batteries that are good do everything well. Once they go over the edge to the "bad" side they are basically walking wounded, they can squeak by but the end is near.

Basically the same as what whunter said.

Mike

BrierS · #5 10-27-2004, 08:29 PM

Though I am far from an authority on this . . . I would guess they load tested the battery. If so, and if they put a high enough load on it, the test should at least give you an indication of how good it is. Given the chance to sell you a new battery I would expect they would have taken the opportunity to convince you that yours was bad (big assumption in thinking they would know). The age factor is very pertinent as are several other factors.

rg2098 · #6 10-27-2004, 09:37 PM

For these diesels I would not skimp on batterys. If it appears to lose any starting ability or such I would go out and buy the biggest battery that will fit in the car.

boneheaddoctor · #7 10-28-2004, 09:06 AM

I would avoid EXIDE batteries, if only because of the hell I went through trying to get a warranty replacement on a 10 month old battery that was bought many states away.

Finally got the fifth exide dealer I was at to replace it. But he had to replace an 84 month model with a 60 month modle because they didn't carry the 84 moth variety in the series my 300SD needed.

Next one will be an Interstate,

tomm9298 · #8 10-28-2004, 09:50 AM

I run only Interstate batteries. I have been running them for over 23 years and have had good service from them and the dealer. As a side note, don't know for sure, but the load test was probrably for a gas engine, not a diesel. A diesel tends to require a bit more umph to get her up and running. Never skimp on a battery, buy the best you can afford.

boneheaddoctor · #9 10-28-2004, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomm9298

I run only Interstate batteries. I have been running them for over 23 years and have had good service from them and the dealer. As a side note, don't know for sure, but the load test was probrably for a gas engine, not a diesel. A diesel tends to require a bit more umph to get her up and running. Never skimp on a battery, buy the best you can afford.

Truer words have rarely been spoken.

I stand by interstate batteries. Have used them for 26 years.

I know what killed my Exide would have killed any other too, (intermittant regulator stone cold flatlined battery 4 times and was overcharging at times once I saw it get to 17.9 volts) my problem was the excuses and dodges I got on the warranty claim by exide people.

Never had this trouble with Interstate.

TimFreeh · #10 10-28-2004, 10:10 AM

I think you should consider where you live - in North Carolina I'd be willing to take a chance on a sub-optimal battery - in Detroit it would be another matter entirely. Same deal with glow-plugs...

Whunter needs a great battery/glow plug system to start his car when its -10 outside and he has to do it many times over the course of a winter, it's quite a bit warmer in North Carolina.

For some reason I've been having my batteries last much longer than they did in the past. I've not yet replaced the OEM batteries in my Dodge truck since I bought it new in 1997 and the current battery in my 300D is over six years/140K miles old. I also know of a battery in a 1993 BMW that still has the factory installed battery - at last count that car had over 255K miles on it.

#11 10-28-2004, 10:12 AM

Stay as far as you can get away from EXIDE batteries. Farther than that even.

P.E.Haiges · #12 10-28-2004, 10:55 AM

I have had good luck with AutoZone (AZ) batteries and they have a reasonable price: $65 for a 1000 amp/hour series 49 to fit MB, the last I looked. AZ batteries are made by Johnson Controls, a reputable manufacturer. And you can find an AZ store nationwide.

All you need at AZ for a warranty replacement is your phone number. You don't need the sales papers papers like at Pep Boys and when you can't find the papers, no warranty replacement.

You can do a battery load test yourself: Wait for a cold day and remove the GP cable from the GP relay. Then crank the engine with the starter. If the battery cranks the engine for less than 1 min, your battery is getting weak.

P E H

dlssmith · #13 10-28-2004, 11:01 AM

21 years with Interstate batteries in lots of vehicles and no problems. The dealer is a good egg too. They make other branded batteries too.

DS
87 300D

#14 10-28-2004, 11:29 AM

I've been having good luck so far with a Trojan group 93/49 inustrial battery...

Hatterasguy · #15 10-28-2004, 01:13 PM

My oe battery is cranking real well now that it is getting colder. I don't know who makes MB batterys but they are awsome! I pulled one from my parts car that had been stone dead. I have no idea how old it is or how long it had been dead for but it charged right up and holds it! It will run are little Minn Kota trolling motor all day long. Their a little more money but I like the oe batterys.