Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: Spinalguy on August 05, 2010, 09:02:19 AM

Title: QUICK opinions needed about buying a battery
Post by: Spinalguy on August 05, 2010, 09:02:19 AM
My wife's Skyline battery is toast. Well actually, the battery that looked like it was for a motorcycle went belly up last year. i replaced it with an old jeep battery i had lying around. It is now toast.

Where and what is the cheapest BEST battery i can buy this a.m.?

She thanks you! 8)
Title: Re: QUICK opinions needed about buying a battery
Post by: FiEND on August 05, 2010, 09:05:41 AM
costco
Title: Re: QUICK opinions needed about buying a battery
Post by: Spinalguy on August 05, 2010, 09:12:57 AM
costco
i thought so but their website does not show any as a reference. i don't want to drive there...
At CT, i see this battery for $85. i figured if the japanese could make the car come with a go cart battery, than this one would work for a couple years???

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/2/Batteries/AutoBatteries/PRDOVR~0102600P/Motomaster%252B72%252BMonth%252BBattery.jsp?locale=en (http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/2/Batteries/AutoBatteries/PRDOVR~0102600P/Motomaster%252B72%252BMonth%252BBattery.jsp?locale=en)

Title: Re: QUICK opinions needed about buying a battery
Post by: cLAY on August 05, 2010, 09:46:37 AM
Try Macell at 241-9270. They supply all our battereries at the airport.

Or drive by pick a part. They often have used batteries sitting on the shelf for sale cheap.
Title: Re: QUICK opinions needed about buying a battery
Post by: BlackAura on August 05, 2010, 12:29:52 PM
Sucks to hear that :(

My Skyline came with an optima red top, so I know you can make "north american sized" batteries fit (at least, that particular model), but you probably know this already since you tried your Jeep battery.  I haven't seen the tiny Japanese batteries in person, but based on the pictures...yeah...they must not have much in the cold cranking amps department.

Where and what is the cheapest BEST battery i can buy this a.m.?

...don't forget the triangle:

Cost, Reliability, Performance

Choose two. :P

Good luck!
Title: Re: QUICK opinions needed about buying a battery
Post by: Spinalguy on August 05, 2010, 05:54:59 PM
Well, i went to CT because i needed it now. i got some battery for 115 bucks and has 3 year free replacement and a further 6 year pro rated.
i stuffed it in the Skyline and used bungee cords to safely secure it. Looks great!

But, the park brake light will not go away. i remember some guys that had a fix for clearing jeep codes. Something about taking the positive terminal (maybe negative) and doing something...
Anyone remember?
Title: Re: QUICK opinions needed about buying a battery
Post by: frenchy on August 05, 2010, 06:18:12 PM
But, the park brake light will not go away. i remember some guys that had a fix for clearing jeep codes. Something about taking the positive terminal (maybe negative) and doing something...
Anyone remember?

Turn off the parking brake  ;D

Could also need brake fluid topped up, and check the back brakes, might be something worn out.

Disconnecting Neg. for 10 min. clears engine codes.
Title: Re: QUICK opinions needed about buying a battery
Post by: Spinalguy on August 05, 2010, 06:52:21 PM
Turn off the parking brake  ;D

Could also need brake fluid topped up, and check the back brakes, might be something worn out.

Disconnecting Neg. for 10 min. clears engine codes.

Thanks, i will check all of that.
Title: Re: QUICK opinions needed about buying a battery
Post by: Spinalguy on August 06, 2010, 08:09:50 PM
Thanks Serge.
This car is my wife's ride. When the original battery died (the tiny Japanese one), it coincided with her telling me that the emergency brake light would not go away. i put in another battery and emerg brake stayed on, that is why i thought the codes needed to be cleared.
i cleared codes tonight and checked fluid level. It was at the bare minimum allowed. i topped it up.
No more brake light shining.

i get to borrow it to go to Edmonton tomorrow. i put my radar detector in ;D
Title: Re: QUICK opinions needed about buying a battery
Post by: jpthing on August 08, 2010, 12:44:46 PM
The important point for people to take away from this is that what most people call an "ebrake" light is not always just that. On many cars the ebrake light also indicates a malfunction in the braking system which could be quite serious such as a leak or low fluid both of which can result in a loss of braking. So if your ebrake light stays on with the ebrake off you should check it out thoughoughly and not just assume that the switch is broken for the ebrake lever or assume that it's just a minor glitch.

Also Spinalguy it may not be a bad idea to poke around that little car and see if there's any weeping, seaping or leaking on the brake components...at least keep an eye on the fluid level and see if it  needs to be topped up any time soon which would obviously indicate a leak.
Title: Re: QUICK opinions needed about buying a battery
Post by: BlackAura on August 08, 2010, 05:35:49 PM
Also Spinalguy it may not be a bad idea to poke around that little car and see if there's any weeping, seaping or leaking on the brake components...at least keep an eye on the fluid level and see if it  needs to be topped up any time soon which would obviously indicate a leak.

I had to rebuild my brake master cylinder, it was leaking into the booster, may want to check there first, good luck!
Title: Re: QUICK opinions needed about buying a battery
Post by: Spinalguy on August 08, 2010, 05:38:47 PM
Thanks.
i will look into it. 8)