Re: Batteries

[steveb@falcon.kla.com (Steven Buchholz)]

> The battery on my '90V8Q decided to go south this weekend.  It was very
> sudden.  One minute the cars started OK, then it just made the starter
> solenoid clatter.  Jumping the car, I was able to start it.  Prestige
> Imports gave me a price of $165 for the OEM battery.  The Interstate
> Mega-tron is only $99 and I have used them for years with good luck. 
> Question: Do the stock batteries die like that and does anyone else have
> experience with Interstate?
> 
I've used the interstate battery in the urq successfully, but then I've 
never been disappointed with the OEM either.  It turns out that in the 
quest to do whatever I can to keep from pulling the starter on the urq :-)
I went out and bought an Optima battery and installed it yesterday.  I
like the fact that it is a sealed battery (since the battery is under the 
seat), and the review in EC said that the 800 amp cranking really helped 
get the starter spinning.  Since I don't recall hearing about an install 
on the q-list I thought I'd post my experience.  The measurements of the 
Optima are similar to those of the OEM, with the Optima being a little 
taller.  Even though there wasn't a hold down "shelf" on the new battery, 
I did use the metal hold down bracket to keep the battery from sliding 
around too much ... it seems to fit in between the indentations between 
the cells.  The biggest problem is the fact that the terminals are swapped,
if I had a longer ground strap I could have made it work with the term-
inals closer to the front of the car, but I ended up having to install 
the battery with the terminals facing the rear of the car (standard).  
There was sufficient service loop on the + lead, and Ireoiented the 
ground braid to come up closer to the neg terminal.  The car fired up 
just fine, but I haven't had a chance to take it out to see if the solenoid
will pull in when the starter is hot.  I guess the normal price for the 
Optima 800U in the area is $149, I got it on sale for $119.  

HTH!
Steve Buchholz
s_buchho@kla.com
San Jose, CA (USA)