Q needs a new battery - any suggestions?

[tkd_q45]

Our 92 Q's battery is on the way out. Any suggestions on batteries? - What kind? How much?

[paintwgn]

Go to your local Sam's Club if possible. Great prices and a "no questions asked" 3 year free replacement guarantee. I'm on my third battery and only paid for the first one. You need size 24. Price is around $50.

[Q45tech]

The spec is 12@80 amp hours.

But this is a different measure from the way US batteries are rated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! which rarely exceed 55 amp hours{*Amp Hours = Amp output sustainable for 20 hours before dropping to 10.5 volt recharge level, multiplied by 20}

http://uuhome.de/william.darden/batbran ... /c...o.asp

[AZhitman]

I bit the bullet and bought the Nissan battery. Hope it pays off.

[DrewQ45]

Read consumer reports for battery comparisons.

Personally, I have a Sears Die-Hard gold (highly rated). Sears will charge your battery for free for as long as you own it... maybe even for other owners since they never asked me for a receipt everytime I took it there for a charge. They're pretty good about replacing it too.

Whatver you decide...Don't get a battery which also has sideposts since they tend to leak.

Why was I charging my battery so much? Alternator died in my Q last summer plus a few other recent events which are now resolved.

..Drew....

[Mayhem_J30]

Go to your local Sam's Club if possible. Great prices and a "no questions asked" 3 year free replacement guarantee. I'm on my third battery and only paid for the first one. You need size 24. Price is around $50.

i do the same at Sam's. Just keep that receipt and get yourself a new one when it dies. Heck they even installed it for me for whatever that's worht..$$=0.

what about those Optima red/yellow tops? they're expensive but apparently last a lot longer and "supposedly" prolong starter life by constantly supplying sufficient juice. (i have nothing to back that up and that's just what i heard)

[Sopdadope]

The Optima batteries are deep cycle meaning they're good if you have an aftermarket stereo that draws a lot of power. If you don't have any audio/video system, there's no need for it. Besides, I've had better luck with Stinger batteries. Cheaper too.

[tkd_q45]

Thanks for the info. Ended up going with AAA battery service. The tech was knowledgeable and courteous. Came up to $92 for a house call/install (5yr warrantee). Though it's definitely higher in price the convenience was worth it. Given my nutty job situation convenience is everything!

Optima batteries are supposed to be significantly lighter and more compact. Maybe one could mount one of these in the trunk and gain a slight edge in handling? The stock battery and it's location seem like a lot of weight to be stuck out so far forward.

[Q451990]

Optima batteries are supposed to be significantly lighter and more compact. Maybe one could mount one of these in the trunk and gain a slight edge in handling? The stock battery and it's location seem like a lot of weight to be stuck out so far forward.

That's an interesting thought... I'm not sure I'd want to be the one to run the massive wires back there that would be necessary to handle all of that current, but every pound counts.

A battery housecall - not bad! If you had to pay someone to come jumpstart the car, then drive it to Sams for a new battery, you'd be up to about the same price. If convenience allows you to make more $$ than the convenience costs - it's a deal!

Heath

[Mayhem_J30]

That's an interesting thought... I'm not sure I'd want to be the one to run the massive wires back there that would be necessary to handle all of that current, but every pound counts.

I've thought about it before, just for looks though. It would help clean up the engine bay. You would need massive 1 maybe 2 gauge wire and some good grounds as you will not be grounding it where the manufacturer intended it.

[DrewQ45]

If you go the route of putting the battery in the trunk, don't forget that you would need a heavy-duty fuse on the positive cable connected as close as possible to the terminal. Not to mention keeping the wires away from other wires (especially stereo wires, speakers etc) to lessen the chance of interference.

Hey, why not install a fire extinguisher under the hood where the old battery used to be? (snicker)

..Drew...

[Mayhem_J30]

i think the stereo interference a long with good starts is taken care of with a good ground. I would run the cable underneath the car anyway if i actually did do it. It was just a thought.

no fire extenguishers for me. we don't get a long well. i have a bad habit of wanting to use them when there's no fire.

[Sopdadope]

Optima batteries light and compact? Depends on which battery in question. After playing around with Optima's, I wouldn't describe "lightness" as being one of their qualities. The Optima Yellow Top, the battery I'd recommend you use in your case, weighs 48lbs. Because of the side terminals, they can and probably will rub against the fuse box in an early Q.

The battery tie-down will be an obstruction as well. Also keep in mind these batteries retail over $170 at most stereo merchants. They could be found cheaper online but expensive shipping nullifies any savings there. I did the stereo install on my Q and trying to find room for 0 gauge power wire is HARD. This is not something I would recommend you do. I ran inside the car because exposure to moisture, dirt, debris and salt chaps the insulation. If you could run it inside a conduit you should be ok, but I still prefer running power wire through the interior.

If lightness + compactness is a priority, try Hawker Genesis batteries. I've seen them used time and again in auto-x cars. Dimensions are 8x4x6' and weigh 15lbs.