Burning Out Batteries --- Going back to Wet Cell

[linksep]

Originally Posted By: chefwong
And yes, $ for value, wet cells can go 7, maybe even 8 years easy if properly maintained...


I got a good one; 11 years next month and counting in my DD. Exposed to -30F or colder a couple times, drained to the point it wouldn't operate power door locks a few times, still kickin'.

I was going to replace it 3 years ago because I felt it was past time and didn't want to deal with replacing in the dead of winter... I never got around to replacing it and now it has become a challenge... How long will it live? Can I get 15 years? How about 20 years? I hate the car and hope I don't have it that long but I'm too cheap to waste money on a newer car as long as this one is running & driving with next to zero repair cost.

 

[chefwong]

I'm back on wet cell on this car - would have went AGM, but still unweary about diag/repair so the wet cell goes in (it's not as princess) as AGM. Has more CCA, more reserve, and it can take a burp or 2 in the face, whereas AGM's tend to be a bit more sensitive

It's been years since I've used a wet cell.
Dumb ?, but how often do ya'll pop open the caps and check the fluid levels...

Went with a East Penn Deka - my preferred brand on budget wet cell/AGM over JC.

 

[Ojustracing]

What yr X5?

 

[kc8adu]

were all 3 the same?
bad batch?
or was something running them too low for a smart charger to detect?
i have gotten several agm that were to be recycled and i charged then part way with a dumb charger.then they charged normally on the smart one.

 

[CT8]

Chef. are these batteries in a BMW? The computer regulated charging is just another can of worms the manufactures are dropping on the consumers for gaining the .001 mpgs to help with CAFE standards.