Biggest killer of car batteries is heat. Since we are fortunate enough to have a non maintenance free unit originally, simply remove the caps of the battery and check the level, if low top off with distilled water. You simply want to have the lead metals inside the battery submerged, do not over fill!

Good idea! I noticed that the battery that I pulled out was almost low on distilled water!

Top it off, should last longer.

Gave up on my stock battery and replaced it this morning with a new Diehard Platinum. Mine is a 2010 Roadster, built 9/2009 (I bought used 12/2010), and just turned 60,000 mi...daily driver since 4/2011. While the stock battery still had some life in it, it had gotten VERY sluggish starting the car to the point of barely turning over in the mornings. Wasn't worth it to see how much further it would go before stranding me somewhere.

Now with the fresh battery, startup is fastest I think I've ever seen in the car! Thanks to the board members how-to's on the subject, swapping the batteries was a snap! :tup:

I'm looking to get a new battery. I haven't checked if my levels are low, but I will do so tomorrow. While I'm working on my car w/ the radio on, it drains the battery and voltage drops to 10 - 11v. I'm afraid to turn on demon eyes at meets because I'll be stranded, lol.

Anywho, I did some research and what is the general consensus for battery brands? It seems Optima is hit or miss. I've checked out Odyssey.

Yah, you need to keep a charger on the battery if the engine is not running while you work on your car.
That is a quick way to permanently kill your battery.

Almost 30K and Z will be 3 yrs on Turkey day 2014. Battery seems to be fine on this daily driver in Southern Calif. On second set of tires but this isn't a tire thread.

you should be able to easily do double that on a dd if taken care of.

get a dry cell battery, they last long long time. i had a yellow optima battery for 6 years on my 350z (traded in for 370z) never had problems. they are pricey, but i would go with a dry cell type battery again.

i had a yellow top on one of my earlier hobby cars and the cca was kinda weak vs regular batteries.

honestly those batteries including the red tops are overrated.
just get a decent car battery and maintain it. no need to pay premium price.

they are not overrated, dry cell batteries will last from 5-12 years as compared to a wet cell that will last from 3-5 years, have more power in cold temperatures, and can be stored longer will less loss of power. so yeah I dont mind paying 100-150 bucks more for a battery.

ps: yellow top optima battery is rated at 620cca, thats good enough for our cars.

I was referring to the optimas being over rated.
Dry cell like odyesse are different.

:icon18:

:wtf2:

I'm still on my original battery...little over 4 years and 190,000 miles. DD even in the winter.