Dealer told me I need a new battery. Independent mechanic said I don’t. Is there a way to check it or do I just get an opinion from a 3rd party? The Dealer drew a semi-circle and about half or it was shaded. Test code 4U62U-NHX_JO (Don’t know if this code is specific to the dealership. )
You can have the battery checked at auto parts stores in the US. Many will change them for you for free right there.
In your world there are only 2 answers, keep or change. A battery loses capacity over time. There are differing opinions as to how much capacity you can lose before it is time to replace. If you live where it gets very cold in the winter, you can’t lose much and still start your car.
That sounds like a Midtronics battery failure code used for warranty claims, if there is no warranty on your battery it does not apply.
Did you receive a copy of the battery test results?
Assuming that “half of semi-circle was shaded”, they estimate capacity around 50% of original.
If OP’s name tell us it happens in TX, this battery might have another year of its life left in relatively mild winter there.
I live in Texas where we have 2 climates: hot and hotter.
I replaced the battery either 1 or 2 years ago. I’m sure I have the receipt but can’t find it.
I’ll see if I can scan the picture. Problem is that I need a magnifying glass to even read it.
Heat kills batteries. (I live in Florida - hot and hotter) It kills them more quickly than cold. If you replaced the battery, take it back where you bought it, they should have a record with the warranty.
'Round here, Sam’s Club (and Costco and others) sell batteries with a 3 year full replacement warranty and pro-rated 6 years. Heat kills batteries in 18 to 30 months, free replacement battery. Install, drive, repeat!
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Pretty sure I bought it at AutoZine. Don’t remember warranty, etc. Hope they keep records.
Not sure how to attach the picture.
Don’t know if this means anything.
Flooded(FLA)
Voltage: 12.75V
Measured: 390 CCA
Rated: 460 CCA
Temperature: 111 F
Battery Replacement is highly recommended.
Yes it does . You need a battery because this one could fail at anytime . And whenever that is will not be convenient .
Well I certainly agree that it will not be convenient.
You should be still under a warranty.
Most batteries have peel off stickers on them to show the date of install.
Yes, they do.
When I went to AZ for a free battery replacement under the terms of the warranty, I was worried because my receipt was almost illegible. They had a record of my purchase in their data system, and they cheerfully installed a new battery for me, gratis.
That is very good news. AutoZone is maybe 3 miles from my house. And I’ve noticed that there’s now an O’Reilly’s nearby.
All I remember was that I had to get an alternator and the guy at AutoZone told me the best place to get one. Shortly after that the battery died. Couldn’t have been more than 2 years. Or maybe it could be.
I was hoping that there’s prob. something on the battery. But it’s going to wait until tomorrow. Still wet from rain plus I just drove to the store,
IF i were to have it charged, does that have a negative effect on the battery? I always thought having the battery charged is what one does when the battery is on its death bed and you need to get somewhere to replace it.
Charging a battery can work, unfortunately the more times a battery goes dead, it shortens it’s lifespan. It does not mean your battery is toast at this point, as stated previously a parts store can check your cranking amps, that is the power needed to start your car. Most batteries are at least 650, my daughters was down to 65 and it still started the car, but I got her a new one at autozone. They put it in for free nd used a memory minder as then you do not loose radio stations etc. I was impressed with that and they said we do it for all cars now after changing a battery in a honda, it would not start,needed new brains and cost us $1200. It sounded like it was cranking slow when she was starting the car. I was impressed as they even cleaned the battery terminal connectors.
Agree with @Barkydog You car charges the battery everytime you drive it. Deep discharge is the issue. Drain it dead and recharge shortens a car battery’s life.
The figures you posted from the dealer’s test would not make me change a battery since losing a few cold cranking amps isn’t a big deal in warm Texas nor Florida. The voltage was 12.75 volts. Even my V8 cars will still start with as low as 12.2 volts or so.
As a guess, if @TX_Flower_Child has a short commute (under 10-15 miles one way), it may simply be not enough charging to keep battery topped off.
If that’s the case, I would add a cheap HarborFreight solar charger, stick it to the always-on cigarette lighter port every time vehicle stands.