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Old Aug 22, 2009 | 02:20 PM
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My C6 auto has never had any battery issues. The battery is orriginal from Jan 2006. I was thinking of replacing the battery just to be safe seeing how it's 3.5 years old. Should I just let the dealer replace it, go somewhere else, or replace it myself? Thanks
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Old Aug 22, 2009 | 03:41 PM
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Probably close to time to repalce it - - you can always have it tested and wait until the car sounds like it's starting ahrd or until it quits - - but then you're inconvenienced.

Out here, running AC so much, and with the heat, 3 years is about all we get out of most batteries - -Optima and deep cycles maybe longer.

You know it'll need to be replaced so . . .not at all hard to do and an easy DIY effort in under 30 minutes. You can go to a local NAPA or auto parts retail store - - or a Sears auto center . . . some of them will help you right there . . but easy to do at home, then return the battery to the store for credit and proper disposal - -do not throw it in your rubbish for environmental reasons . .

Good luck -
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Old Aug 22, 2009 | 04:00 PM
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Advance auto had a very good battery(titanium) I used to use them in my snow plows and they will put one in for free, when you buy a battery buy the optional battery for your year, in other words buy a little more battery than you need it always pays in the end.

Most stock batterys if kept up, will last 6 or 7 years , I just sold my 02 Z which still had the origianl gel cell battery in it I kept that car on a maintainer charger whenever I wasn't useing the car. (cheap maintianer charger from harbor feright 10 bucks or less)
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Old Aug 22, 2009 | 04:34 PM
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Originally Posted by bob guzzy
Advance auto had a very good battery(titanium) I used to use them in my snow plows and they will put one in for free, when you buy a battery buy the optional battery for your year, in other words buy a little more battery than you need it always pays in the end.

Most stock batterys if kept up, will last 6 or 7 years , I just sold my 02 Z which still had the origianl gel cell battery in it I kept that car on a maintainer charger whenever I wasn't useing the car. (cheap maintianer charger from harbor feright 10 bucks or less)
What battery should I buy?
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Old Aug 22, 2009 | 04:35 PM
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The OE battery in my '96 Lexus LS400 hung in there from January 1996 until December 2008. No joke! The key fob battery quit a couple of months after that. Amazing.

If you are not having issues with your battery, it might be best to just leave it as is. When you do have to change it, DIY is the way to go if possible. The last two battery replacements I have had done by other folks both resulted in further repairs being required-both of which cost more than the battery replacement!
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Old Aug 22, 2009 | 04:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Array
The OE battery in my '96 Lexus LS400 hung in there from January 1996 until December 2008. No joke! The key fob battery quit a couple of months after that. Amazing.

If you are not having issues with your battery, it might be best to just leave it as is. When you do have to change it, DIY is the way to go if possible. The last two battery replacements I have had done by other folks both resulted in further repairs being required-both of which cost more than the battery replacement!
If they just changed the battery what other issues did you have as a result?
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Old Aug 22, 2009 | 05:41 PM
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You may want to look at the Optima bettery - -red top regular or yellow top deep cycle . . but a regular OEM battery should be just fine.

if the battery goes dead, you'll need to re-index the windows, but a quick switch without prolonged power loss may not require it. Directions are in your owners manual.
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Old Aug 22, 2009 | 06:06 PM
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Originally Posted by CQRT
if the battery goes dead, you'll need to re-index the windows
And re-indexing is very easy. With the window down, press and hold the "up" button until the window goes all the way up. Once up, release the button, and then press the "up" button again for 5 seconds. Voila, the window is reindexed! Be sure to have the door closed when you do this.
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Old Aug 22, 2009 | 06:23 PM
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It wouldn't hurt to replace it now. I would also replace it yourself. It's a very easy deal. Just remember to re-index your windows.

I was wondering the same thing actually. My 03 Dodge truck has the original battery. Wonder how much longer I should push it???
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Old Aug 22, 2009 | 06:34 PM
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Originally Posted by inthehunt2
And re-indexing is very easy. With the window down, press and hold the "up" button until the window goes all the way up. Once up, release the button, and then press the "up" button again for 5 seconds. Voila, the window is reindexed! Be sure to have the door closed when you do this.

Thanks everyone. Will do next week.
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Old Aug 22, 2009 | 07:39 PM
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Optima Red Top works great for me.
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Old Aug 22, 2009 | 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted by CV-4606
If they just changed the battery what other issues did you have as a result?
On a '98 Camaro, the battery hold down was broken. Cheap looking little plastic part, but the only way to repair it correctly was to replace the entire assembly, which included the windshield washer reservoir. And on a '98 LS400, the windshield washer reservoir sprung a leak shortly after the battery was replaced. That one *may* have been a coincidence, but I doubt it.
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Old Aug 22, 2009 | 10:36 PM
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Why are you replacing a battery that's not giving you any problem?
I still have my orig. battery in my '04 Z.
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Old Aug 23, 2009 | 09:04 AM
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Originally Posted by bob guzzy
Most stock batterys if kept up, will last 6 or 7 years , I just sold my 02 Z which still had the origianl gel cell battery in it I kept that car on a maintainer charger whenever I wasn't useing the car. (cheap maintianer charger from harbor feright 10 bucks or less)
GM never built them with gel cell batteries. They did build them with AGM and that is what you have. Gel cell is a regular battery with additives to make the acid thick. AGM is absorbed glass mat that stores the acid so that you don't have any free flowing acid.

You perception is very common and we get calls with that confusion almost everyday. We make about 115M car batteries a year including almost all those mentioned in this thread.
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Old Aug 23, 2009 | 09:42 AM
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If it were me I would get a new battery, especially before Winter. Once my 3 yr warranty is over I will be getting a new one. Will probaby put an Energizer.
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