"DougW" > wrote in message
...
> Frank_v7.0 wrote:
>> On 06/19/2012 11:32 AM, ps56k wrote:
>>> Just replaced the battery in our 2001 Grand Cherokee.
>>> So, the orig battery was 2001, then replaced at 2006, now again at
>>> 2012. This would imply a general life of about 5 or 6 years.
>>>
>>> Since I was stranded in a Home Depot parking lot,
>>> and had a really hard time jumping the battery
>>> and then keeping the engine from stalling out... for some reason...
>>>
>>> Would it be better to be pro-active and just replace batteries every
>>> 5 years,
>>> or wait for the eventual internal failure and being stranded... even
>>> with always having jumper cables
>>>
>> I live in Arizona and batteries get worked pretty hard. I'll go 4
>> years and replace. It depends a lot on your "climate". Consider it
>> preventative maintenance.
>
> Roughly the same here.
>
> That's why I buy a high quality battery from Exide or Bosh with a 5-6 year
> warranty. (some times you can find them non pro-rated). About every four
> years I'm out another $30.
>
> Easy way to tell when the battery is going is to look at the sides.
> Batteries that are failing tend to swell and look "puffy".
>
> I take mine out to about 4 then start testing them every now and then
> for cranking amps and float. Fairly easy with the right tools and
> some places like PepBoys/Autozone/etc will test the battery they
> sell for free.
>
> --
> DougW

The yellow top Optima in my YJ is 10...

PaulinVA
>