Battery Lifespan

[lloyd3]

Nice here today. Loaded my wife onto an airplane early this AM (headed to Buffalo to see her widowed sister) and have all the chores done so...I pulled the cover off of the car.

When I opened the door the dome light worked, which is a good sign (this is a cheap Walmart battery so my expectations were pretty low). Tried to roll it back enough to put a trickle charger on it but these "new" tires don't roll as easily as the last 20-year old set did. Out of curiosity, I shifted into reverse and turned the key.

This thing hasn't even been looked at since mid-November (& possibly earlier, like in August?) so I expected it to be totally-dead, but the starter engaged and backed the car away from the wall. I put my old NAPA trickle charger on it and it said it was "charged" in about 10-minutes (what?) so I switched it over to "deep-cycle". Headed for the shower next. Maybe it will even start today?

Snow here again Tuesday according to the weatherman but it's dry and mild now so, we'll see.  I need to be reminded as to why these cars always enchanted me.

I really want to drive it before I forget how that Tesla felt last week.

[Kern Dog]

I've had the battery in the trunk for 12 years.
Over the years, I've had 3 or 4 batteries in the car while my later model cars have batteries that last and last. The wife's '15 Challenger just barfed the battery last fall. It almost made it 10 years so I'm wondering why my car goes through batteries so fast. It isn't like I'm using Harbor Freight batteries or parts in the car. Sure, it sits most of the time so that may be part of it. I do have a slight electrical draw that is hard to track down. Wish me luck!

[charger500440]

I've found keeping a trickle charger connected makes a huge difference in keeping the battery fresh and extending its useful lifespan. Assuming you don't drive the vehicle often (once per week being often), the batteries made today just don't last. Add in the cold weather and it's even more of a problem...

[b5blue]

  I bought my Red Top Optima 4/17/16 and it's still working. I have a 120amp Denso ALT. keeping it charged and FL. while HOT has mild winters. I recently thought it failed but it was the crank position on my ignition switch.   

[lloyd3]

65 degrees here yesterday. It seemed like a heatwave, even with snow melting in every shaded spot in my yard.  The car did start and required very little to take it for a spin (it was low on power steering fluid, the steering box needs a rebuild). Considering that the points and condenser on this old Prestolite dual-point unit are now something like 15-years old (at a minimum) I'm always surprised by how good it still starts and runs. Keeping them "stock" seems to help with that somehow.

As far as comparing it to a new Tesla Model X...well, you really can't.  So different and in so-many ways (mostly in the safety, comfort and economy areas I fear).  However, this relic from a different century is still lots of fun, lots of nostalgia, and lots of looks and comments from wherever I end-up stopping with it.

More snow here has been confirmed for Monday and Tuesday now, sadly.  Maybe I'll even wipe it down before re-interring it back into the garage?

[b5blue]

Compare the 68 to a Model T is about the same. 

[lloyd3]

b5blue: my thoughts exactly.

These cars can't really compete on any level anymore, but they look darn good doing it.