NAPA BATTERIES

[CaptNoize]

I bought a NAPA battery for my car back on 08/2020.I chose NAPA, because their part store is right near my home,and the luck I've had over the years,has been excellent. On a 5 year warranty, I always exceeded the life of the battery and warranty. Not so, this time. I started having problems with my car starting about a month ago. Slow,sluggish starts. Then, Sunday afternoon, the infamous turn of the key, and click,click.HATE..! I was able to to charge it, and got it started. I have alot of tools, but no battery checker. Not a good one,at least. So I took it to NAPA yesterday,after leaving it on the charger all night. It said it needed charged. That right there told me it had a bad cell. I was able to acquire a new one this morning. Even with the pro rate warranty, it still cost me $80.00 . These Pro Rate Warranties are a ripoff. I always thought they were. Nevertheless, I urge everyone to check their car battery. Nothing sucks worse, than when your car won't start in the Winter....! Ugh..!

[crosscourt]

NAPA batteries have never done well for me as I have on of their stores near me. Diehard and Interstate have been much better always exceeding their warranteed life. If you indeed had a bad cell, have you checked your electrical system, alternator in particular that can lead to issues such as that.

[CaptNoize]

I talked with my mechanic,and he said it was probably the battery. If it acts up again,then I will have the alternator checked. The alternator isn't running hot, a telltale sign of a bad or overcharging alternator. Sometimes a voltage regulator can go bad,but the dash gauge will show a discharge. I checked all the relays in the main fuse panel, and none were warm or hot. Let's hope that solved the problem...

[crosscourt]

Typically its usually a bad diode in the alternator but other forms of electrical system issues can affect batteries. Assuming distilled water was used its pretty uncommon to see just one cell die.

[CaptNoize]

My car is old... So tomorrow,what I 'll do is start it up, take the Negative battery cable off the battery, and if it keeps running, the alternator is good. If it dies, the alternator is bad. I forgot that old trick. You can't do it with newer cars, it will mess up the computer. This car has an OBD 1 port. A rudimentary computer. Not like these ones today. These ones today suck. Unless you have a scanner, you can't diagnose any electrical system problems on new vehicles.

[crosscourt]

Even testing that way the alternator diodes could be bad and causing issues. Resistance is as much a problem as not producing enough current. A very slight steady strain due to the alternator can take a toll on the battery. Check all your cable connections including the starter and make sure they are clean and tight.

[CaptNoize]

Checked the cables, and unplugged the Negative wire from the battery. Car still ran. Everything seems ok. I will keep an eye on it for awhile, just to be sure.