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<vicky7909@rediffmail.com> wrote in message
news:1169397144.506096.260190@a75g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Ray O wrote:[color=green]
>> <vicky7909@rediffmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1169357647.171326.254870@l53g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=darkred]
>> > Hi,
>> > I have a 2002 Toyota Corolla LE, 65K miles and took it for an oil
>> > change today. They did a courtesy battery check on the car and found it
>> > read 305/350(?) cca and said that the battery needs replacement. They
>> > mentioned the "ideal" value was 550 cca. I'd like to know what is the
>> > acceptable range and if my battery really needs to be replaced. I read
>> > somewhere on the net that 2005 Corolla's have battery rating 310 cca.
>> > In that case, my battery would be in great condition then!
>> >
>> > Weather: I am in Houston, Texas so cold weather is non-existent here.
>> > It is almost 60F in January!
>> >
>> > I bought this car used in 2004 and presumable this still has the
>> > original battery.
>> >
>> > I have been quoted a price of $100(battery + labor) which seems kind of
>> > high.
>> >
>> > Any help is appreciated.
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> > Vicky
>> >[/color]
>>
>> The original batteries installed in Toyotas have about a 5 year useful
>> life.
>> With the arrival of 2007 models, your 2002 battery is at or approaching 5
>> years. A hot climate will shorten a battery's life, and a cold climate
>> puts
>> more demand on the battery, so extreme hot and cold are tough on
>> batteries.
>>
>> I have not seen a specification from Toyota for minimum cold cranking
>> amps
>> ("CCA"). A battery's condition is generally checked by measuring the
>> specific gravity of the electrolyte in each cell or by performing a load
>> test. Another way to evaluate a battery's condition is to note if the
>> starter starts to crank more slowly than normal. While not very
>> objective,
>> a car owner who pays attention can tell when a battery needs replacement.
>>
>> Whether $100 for the battery plus labor is high or not depends on what
>> the
>> labor charge is. I like the Interstate batteries sold by Toyota dealers
>> and
>> Sears Die Hard batteries. Optima batteries are also good, but IMO, they
>> are
>> overkill and not worth the high cost for most people. I'm sure there are
>> other good batteries out there, but I do not have personal experience
>> with
>> them. When your starter starts to crank a little more slowly, I'd call
>> around to get installed prices for batteries.
>> --
>>
>> Ray O
>> (correct punctuation to reply)[/color]
>
> Actually, I just moved to Houston from DC, so for about 5 years I was
> in DC. Should have mentioned that![/color]

In terms of battery environment, Houston and DC are probably about the same,
with DC being slightly more battery-friendly.
[color=blue]
>
> I have not yet had a problem starting my car. Not once. I think they
> plan to install the interstate battery (MT35).
>
> "When your starter starts to crank a little more slowly" . You mean
> when the car won't start on the first attempt right? I'll keep that in
> mind. Again, as I mentioned I have had no issues in starting the
> car.... ever! The guy I spoke to on the phone had such an alarmed
> voice, I thought my car has some serious issues. He said it barely
> registered on their meter, but when I landed there showed me the meter
> reading on the paper with the recommended and actual values.[/color]

The starter is an electric motor that cranks, or turns the car's engine
until the engine runs on its own. A battery with diminished capacity will
crank the engine more slowly. The term "cranking" comes from the days when
you had to stick a handle into the front of the car and crank the handle to
get the engine to start. The invention of the electric starter eliminated
the need to stick a handle in, but the term "cranking" stuck. You are
probably unconsciously aware of the normal cranking speed of your starter,
and if the battery delivers less power to the starter, the starter will not
crank as quickly so it will take longer for the engine to start.
[color=blue]
>
> Also, he quoted me one price on the phone and the print out has a price
> that's $25 more.
>[/color]

To me, quoting a different price on the phone and in writing is a sign of
shadiness and I would find another place to get a battery installed. If the
car starts without any problem, don't get the battery changed, and when it
is time, find someplace else to get it installed.

Also, there is no specification for cold cranking amps (CCA's) for cars
because CCA's are a way to rate battery capacity. A battery with more CCA's
means that it will crank the starter for a longer time when it is cold.
Modern fuel-injected engines start pretty easily so lots of CCA's are not as
necessary as when cars had carburetors and chokes.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)