Garage Queen Needs New Battery - Advice Needed!

[ColonelCash]

Alright MOL'ers,

My garage queen, a 1995 Pontiac Trans Am, is in need of a new battery. Here is the kicker, I don't drive it that often so I need a battery that can stand minimal usage, but won't leave me stranded in a parking lot.

It's a big V8, so it takes some juice to turn it over. I have used AC Delco in the past, but they never seem to last very long. I was told Interstate has good batteries, along with Optimum (red and yellow capped versions).

For you who have cars that don't see much action, can you enlighten me on how you keep the batteries charged up and what brands will hold the charge the longest?

Thanks.

[Rthario]

Re: Garage Queen Needs New Battery - Advice Needed!

Optima Yellow Top - Deep Cycle

OptimaBatteries.com

Had one in my Jeep. Totally loved it.

[tcope1]

Re: Garage Queen Needs New Battery - Advice Needed!

I think the key might not be a better battery, it's keeping it properly charged/maintained. A _good_ float charger is the key. From what I understand Battery Tender is a good one.

http://www.batterytender.com/

[gsxr310]

Re: Garage Queen Needs New Battery - Advice Needed!

I think the key might not be a better battery, it's keeping it properly charged/maintained. A _good_ float charger is the key. From what I understand Battery Tender is a good one.

http://www.batterytender.com/

i agree with the battery charger. although not for my car, i use the battery tender for my quads.

[Andy M.]

Re: Garage Queen Needs New Battery - Advice Needed!

The optimas aree great batteries, though my friend drives a 600 HP Grand National and has had issues with the housing cracking once and the battery being drained after about 1 month of use. Two seperate instances. We thought there might be a short and looked high and low, he is a GM master mechanic, to no avail. We concluded that there was just to much power being taken at turning the beast over was the reason.

Went back to Interstate, which I am a fan of anyway, and haven't had any issues. By the way, this is a weekend driven garage queen also so it does sit for a little while between start ups.

Just my 2 cents.

Andy

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Garage Queen Needs New Battery - Advice Needed!

Besides a battery, I think you should look into a good charger.

[jfelbab]

Re: Garage Queen Needs New Battery - Advice Needed!

i agree with the battery charger. although not for my car, i use the battery tender for my quads.

I also use the Battery Tender for my stored MR2. Works great and is easily connected and removed. Battery remains in top condition.

[cnfowler]

Re: Garage Queen Needs New Battery - Advice Needed!

Battery Tender. Easiest and best way to maintain your battery. Optima would be a good choice, but too expensive. You can pick up a Battery Tender for less than a third of an Optima battery.

Colin

[Jeepster04]

Re: Garage Queen Needs New Battery - Advice Needed!

Interstate=Optima.

Personally I have an optima red top and love it. Going on 5 years strong.

[JLMex]

Re: Garage Queen Needs New Battery - Advice Needed!

Whatever battery you choose, I would recommend to turn on your car at least once a week (or every other week) at least for a couple of minutes. That should keep the juice rolling!

[hacker-pschorr]

Re: Garage Queen Needs New Battery - Advice Needed!

I think the key might not be a better battery, it's keeping it properly charged/maintained. A _good_ float charger is the key. From what I understand Battery Tender is a good one.

http://www.batterytender.com/

+ 1

The clock in the car stereo draws enough juice to drain any battery if left sitting long enough. Get a charger.

Whatever battery you choose, I would recommend to turn on your car at least once a week (or every other week) at least for a couple of minutes. That should keep the juice rolling!

That's quite possibly the worst thing he could do.

Starting up a car, repeatedly, without letting it warm up is horrible. Letting a car idle for a 1/2 hour is not warming it up either. No, reving the engine for 1/2 hour doesn't cut it.
The only proper way to fully warm up a car is to drive it, putting the engine under load.

Oil builds up with condensation (water) that needs to be boiled off which means getting the oil up to 220 degrees. This isn't happening sitting in a garage.

The battery should be the least of concerns when storing a car. If one of my cars will be sitting for more than a few months, the battery is pulled and placed in my basement.

[zeegs]

Re: Garage Queen Needs New Battery - Advice Needed!

Stinger Batteries are the way to go.

http://www.stingerelectronics.com/productDetails.aspx?delineate=143&CategoryID=35&ParentID=1

[tcope1]

Re: Garage Queen Needs New Battery - Advice Needed!

Whatever battery you choose, I would recommend to turn on your car at least once a week (or every other week) at least for a couple of minutes. That should keep the juice rolling!

Good intentions but this can actually damage the battery. It's not a good idea to use the alternator occasionally to charge a battery that is low. Its much better to leave a float charger on the battery in order to maintain it.

[ColonelCash]

Re: Garage Queen Needs New Battery - Advice Needed!

For those of you who use a float charger, would it be better to get a battery that has 2 sets of terminals on it? I'm assuming the float charger could hookup to one set and the others (hooked to the engine) can remain connected? I'm new to the float charger thing.

Thanks!