Battery about to die? Preventive MX?

rjirvine · May 4, 2006

My 2000 Silverado battery doesn't have the green light in the charge status window anymore even though I slap a charger on it about once a month. I think it is the original battery. So far so good and it starts every time though even with 100k miles. What batteries would you guys recommend as far as changing (optima or wal-mart ?). I dunno if I should change it now or wait until it dies. Also, do you think the foam "battery wrap" thing is worth a crap?

asepgrad98 · May 4, 2006

1. that light doesnt mean anything

2. Johnson controls makes the best batteries

C. that foam wrapper is there to protect the battery from the heat of the engine and should not be discarded.

az'03Silverado · May 5, 2006

Change it before it dies! It will crap a load of acid all over your truck. I have a DieHard Gold and it works great. By the way, summer kills batteries.

ZE5 · May 5, 2006

As much as i hate wal-mart(not for the political reasons that most do... i was a past employee and got rearended by them, continuously and my g/f works there and she does too) the batteries they sell are great, well in canada anyways. I beleive they're johnston controls batteries, and they have pretty good waranties. And that little battery minder only gives you the electrolyte status on one cell, not the whole battery.

Nice rig · May 5, 2006

1: Does your voltmeter ever show a undervolt or overcharging condition?

2: Does the starter sound like it's weak when you crank it up?

If the answer is NO to both questions, I wouldn't touch it. As far as charging it up every month...does it need the charge or are you doing it to make sure it doesn't die? Bottom line is it's your dime, if you feel like it's going to leave you stranded somewhere go ahead and swap it.

Draenor · May 5, 2006

The Wal-mart Everstarts not bad, Ive never had a problem with one. Just dont wait till your stuck somewhere and have to buy one. My battery in my 98 sierra went out on me. Thinking I'm a parking lot away from O'reilly's, I'd be ok getting one there. Since then , Ive gone to them 3 times to swap it out(under its warranty). WORST battery ever.

Jasonsupafly · May 5, 2006

My OReillys battery sucks too..something about it..got the one recommended for my truck and doesnt seem to be packing enough juice..near about have to crank the truck to get the window up if its down...may just be how it is but ive never had a window roll up as slow as i do now...

willfxp · May 5, 2006

I change out my battery every two to three years. Die Hard Gold (maybe getting the truck version next time). It's not worth it to have a dead battery.

rjirvine · May 5, 2006

My starter is strong and the my voltmeter is fine. I throw my charger on there about once a month to keep everything okay, since I commute only about 7 miles each way to work.