How old is *your* battery?

[Paulbeard]

In the prep work for a couple of projects, I had cause to pull my battery from its lair under the passenger seat. Getting it out was a bear, since some vandals stole the handle. Had to hoist it carefully by the terminals. It's very snug: the positive terminal gets in the way which made things a little sketchy. I have a nice thick webbed strap to go under it when I put it back.

This is the state of the battery box. Not too bad, just dusty.

I had been wondering how old this battery is, as there are no date stamps I can see from the top.

Wow. That's most likely from when the PO, once removed, had the van refitted — TiiCo swap and various bits of cleanup. So my PO never put a new battery in it in his tenure.

It still cranks hard so I guess it stays.
_________________
Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[vwjetboat]

I have a very very old battery terminal lift strap.. has two metal round ends that fit on terminals and leather strap joining them.. its how you lift them in and out..
And .. being 14 years old.. I would replace it before long.. even tho its doing its job.. that is pretty old..

[Paulbeard]

[djkeev]

Some battery manufacturers put a date stamp on top of the battery terminal, some "brand" it into the top of the case.

But yes, 14 years is mighty old!

Dave
_________________
Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[vwjetboat]

this kind of lift strap.. is what I am talking about. Something in ya keep in tool box ..

http://offroaddownunder.com.au/product/projecta-battery-carrying-strap/

[Paulbeard]

I'll use this piece of strapping and leave it looped under the battery for now. It will make a heckuva lot easier to reinstall and when the time comes to replace it, I'll be glad to have it.
_________________
Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[jimf909]

A pair of vice grips on the terminals works super-good for removing a battery where the strap has gone missing.

As for a 14 year-old battery: well done keeping it in good condition but it will fail soon, possibly this winter. It's a matter of choosing to replace it when it's convenient or possibly having it fail when it's inconvenient or unsafe. These are the gambles we make.
_________________
- Jim

[Wildthings]

I wouldn't bother to reinstall a 14 year old battery as it is long past its normal life. Years ago I had a 13 year old classic Sears Diehart battery fail on a hot summer's day, it's life just done. I would feel real happy today if I could be 8 years out of any available battery.

Finding a new battery can take a while these days as the size VW used is not available just anywhere any more.

[Ahwahnee]

Last replacement I got a size T5 from Wal*Mart:

Quite a bit smaller than what I had before, esp in the length - used a piece of wood to fill the space.

650 CCA seems to work for me.

[Paulbeard]

[greebly]

I bought a "lifetime" battery from Canadian Tire in 1987. It is on it's fifth replacement in my Jetta TDI. Well worth the $140.00 I spent on it.

[Paulbeard]

BatteriesPlus carries a Group 41 500 CCA battery for $115.

FLAPS has this one (650CCA) for $125.

Walmart is out…we don't have them here. Costco, if I was a member…?
_________________
Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[jimf909]

[Abscate]

My stock T4 battery ran 13 years, in New England.
_________________
.ssS!

[Love My Westy]

I just bought a group 41 from PepBoys. It is a 650 CCA from Bosch. It was $118 but they gave me a promo code which was good for $25 off.

The bad news is that it didn't have straps either, I had to fashion some from a couple of cheap battery terminal connectors and a strap cut from another old battery.

[bobbyblack]

I replaced my battery in 2016, found an exact match from Napa, and the only gripe I have is that it did not have a strap handle. I cut several lengths of webbing that I used to lower it and leave in place for when I need to pull it. I didn't think the price was that bad, and they had it for me in about 2 days.
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[theadventureneverends]

I had no luck at Costco's in the Tacoma/Seattle area. I found this at a Baxter in Tacoma and was happy with the warranty, cca, and reserve 25 more cca and 5 more ca than the exide Group 41 that lasted ridiculously long pictured on the left and with a 110 reserve. Left the homemade straps on. 40 month free replacement. I checked mutiple Costco's, multiple WMs, every auto parts store, a few tire shops, Sears, and Batteries plus in the Tac/Sea area this was the best one I could find for a great price as well.

700 CCA 840 CA 110 Reserve 40RX and I think I had a $20 rebate!
Fits perfectly in the battery box under the swivel passenger seat 91 Westfalia

Now seeing these exides more and more places as well.

[Waldemar Sikorski]

I have mine since 2006.

[MayorMcCheese]

Mine is more than 10 years old