<vicky7909@rediffmail.com> wrote in message
news:1169357647.171326.254870@l53g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> 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
>

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)

 

On 20 Jan 2007 21:34:07 -0800, vicky7909@rediffmail.com wrote:

>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!

Where did you take the car for the oil change that they did this
"Courtesy Check"? Because I never want to go there... Just like the
Grocer with his thumb on the scale, they can easily jigger the test
results to always say "You need a new battery!"

A 2002 car battery may well be going bad, it's quite possible just
on elapsed time in service.

But if you have never had a slow-cranking "Gee, it almost didn't
start that time" issue, 'the reports of your battery's demise may be
premature'. You'd be surprised how many people have someone tell them
the battery is about to go, and change it without a second thought.

>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.

No, actually that's about right, depending on how much of that is
labor and the quality of the battery used...

I'm using a (Johnson Controls) Kirkland Signature battery at Costco
for comparison, which might not be quite as good as the OEM battery,
but you can NOT buy an OEM-grade Panasonic or Yuasa car battery at a
reasonable price in the USA. Johnson Controls makes private-label
batteries for about 50 different chains, solid quality that'll give
you 4 to 6 years of service.

A KS battery will cost between $38 and $60 (plus tax) depending on
the size, and it takes at least a half hour of actual work to do a
decent battery change job:

Remove old battery, swab out the tray and environs with baking soda
and water paste to neutralize the small amount of battery acid that
inevitably gets out and settles on surfaces in the area, rinse the
area with clean water, dry off the battery tray, wire-brush and paint
any bare spots as needed...

After going off to do something else while the paint dries install
and connect the new battery, using NoCo treated felt washers on the
posts and a contact enhancer (Kop-R-Kote or Dielectric Grease) on the
posts to keep the acid out of the post to terminal interface.

Even a quick and dirty battery swap (no cleaning or neutralizing the
battery acid, no cleaning or treating the posts) is going to take
fifteen minutes.

--<< Bruce >>--

 

50 to 75 dollars for a battery some places will install it for free.

<vicky7909@rediffmail.com> wrote in message
news:1169357647.171326.254870@l53g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> 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
>

 

"BigJim" <bigjim@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:tNmdnenIUM4Aqy7YnZ2dnUVZ_qWvnZ2d@comcast.com...
> 50 to 75 dollars for a battery some places will install it for free.

NOTHING is free. The cost of the installation is suckered into the price of
the battery.

>
> <vicky7909@rediffmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1169357647.171326.254870@l53g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>> 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
>>
>
>

 

vicky7909@rediffmail.com wrote:
> 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
>
As your vehicle ages the electrical system will normally build
resistance which in turn will sap the battery of more energy. I read you
are in a warm climate but if you live in a cold climate more cca is
definitely a plus, so IMHO, bigger (more cca) is better. If you plan on
keeping your vehicle, purchase the biggest battery you can afford that
will fit. I know very well that it's a really bad feeling to turn that
key when it's many minus degrees outside at two AM and experience that
slow or non start event and you are the only person left in the parking
ramp. Have the installer liberally coat all clean terminals (both cables
and battery) with di-electric grease compound before hook up. It is a
silicone type paste that will eliminate any corrosion. Good luck.

 

Ray O wrote:
> <vicky7909@rediffmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1169357647.171326.254870@l53g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> > 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
> >
>
> 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)

Actually, I just moved to Houston from DC, so for about 5 years I was
in DC. Should have mentioned that!

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.

Also, he quoted me one price on the phone and the print out has a price
that's $25 more.

 

Bruce L. Bergman wrote:
> On 20 Jan 2007 21:34:07 -0800, vicky7909@rediffmail.com wrote:
>
> >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!
>
> Where did you take the car for the oil change that they did this
> "Courtesy Check"? Because I never want to go there... Just like the
> Grocer with his thumb on the scale, they can easily jigger the test
> results to always say "You need a new battery!"
>
> A 2002 car battery may well be going bad, it's quite possible just
> on elapsed time in service.
>
> But if you have never had a slow-cranking "Gee, it almost didn't
> start that time" issue, 'the reports of your battery's demise may be
> premature'. You'd be surprised how many people have someone tell them
> the battery is about to go, and change it without a second thought.
>
> >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.
>
> No, actually that's about right, depending on how much of that is
> labor and the quality of the battery used...
>
> I'm using a (Johnson Controls) Kirkland Signature battery at Costco
> for comparison, which might not be quite as good as the OEM battery,
> but you can NOT buy an OEM-grade Panasonic or Yuasa car battery at a
> reasonable price in the USA. Johnson Controls makes private-label
> batteries for about 50 different chains, solid quality that'll give
> you 4 to 6 years of service.
>
> A KS battery will cost between $38 and $60 (plus tax) depending on
> the size, and it takes at least a half hour of actual work to do a
> decent battery change job:
>
> Remove old battery, swab out the tray and environs with baking soda
> and water paste to neutralize the small amount of battery acid that
> inevitably gets out and settles on surfaces in the area, rinse the
> area with clean water, dry off the battery tray, wire-brush and paint
> any bare spots as needed...
>
> After going off to do something else while the paint dries install
> and connect the new battery, using NoCo treated felt washers on the
> posts and a contact enhancer (Kop-R-Kote or Dielectric Grease) on the
> posts to keep the acid out of the post to terminal interface.
>
> Even a quick and dirty battery swap (no cleaning or neutralizing the
> battery acid, no cleaning or treating the posts) is going to take
> fifteen minutes.
>
> --<< Bruce >>--


I have never had a problem starting my car and yes the tests may be
manipulated but who knows. I took it to a local Firestone. As I said,
my gripe is that he quoted me one price on the phone and another on the
sheet. I asked him about it, but he said the one on the sheet was the
"correct" one.

Do you know what is the acceptable range for cca's? I look at my
owner's manual but nothing there.

 

Just checked the links and they need a postal code -- sorry about that.


use R3K 2G6


"homepc" <wiebe08@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3gLsh.1344$rZ2.1316@newsfe14.lga...
>I don't drive much because I commute to work by bus now, so my car just
>sits in the driveway during the week My car battery died three years ago
>because it wasn't getting charged up enough. I ended getting a solar
>trickle charger.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/2mmlgt
>
> I'm using it in my new car now.
>
> The charger also comes in a 2.2 watt version now.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/378zok
>
> Just something to keep in mind if you want to extend the battery life. I
> leave it on the dash behind the back seats, and plug it in the lighter
> outlet after I turn off the car.
>
>
>
>
> "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote in message
> news:3d522$45b30b95$47c2b532$22929@msgid.meganewsservers.com...
>>
>> <vicky7909@rediffmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1169357647.171326.254870@l53g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>>> 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
>>>
>>
>> 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)
>>
>
>

 

<vicky7909@rediffmail.com> wrote in message
news:1169397144.506096.260190@a75g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
> Ray O wrote:
>> <vicky7909@rediffmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1169357647.171326.254870@l53g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>> > 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
>> >
>>
>> 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)
>
> Actually, I just moved to Houston from DC, so for about 5 years I was
> in DC. Should have mentioned that!

In terms of battery environment, Houston and DC are probably about the same,
with DC being slightly more battery-friendly.

>
> 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.

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.

>
> Also, he quoted me one price on the phone and the print out has a price
> that's $25 more.
>

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)

 

vicky7909@rediffmail.com wrote:
>
> I have not yet had a problem starting my car. Not once.
> I think they plan to install the interstate battery (MT35).

Aside from saving your money, think of the environment.
The more lead-acid batteries you replace unnecessarily,
the more garbage gets added to a toxic waste site somewhere.

Check with Sears -- most DieHard batteries are very good
and replacement cost should be more like $70.

 

<vicky7909@rediffmail.com> wrote in message
news:1169357647.171326.254870@l53g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> 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
>

I have a 2000 V6 Camry and the Toyota dealer tested the battery and told me
I needed a new one. That was two years ago and the original 2000 battery
still fires up the car engine just like when it was new. So much for battery
testing.

If you really need a new battery, try Costco. It's not the best or strongest
but they back up the full money refund within 3 years and prorated
thereafter. I have couple of Acuras that eats up batteries like there's no
tomorrow - doesn't matter if its a Honda battery or anyone else's. Within
three years the Costco battery on the Acura died. Costco refunded me in full
including sales tax and the disposable fee. Needless to say, I bought
another Costo battery. It was about $60.

 

"# Fred #" <noemail@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:x6mdneXtl5ODdS7YnZ2dnUVZ_t6qnZ2d@comcast.com...
>
> <vicky7909@rediffmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1169357647.171326.254870@l53g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>> 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
>>
>
> I have a 2000 V6 Camry and the Toyota dealer tested the battery and told
> me I needed a new one. That was two years ago and the original 2000
> battery still fires up the car engine just like when it was new. So much
> for battery testing.
>
> If you really need a new battery, try Costco. It's not the best or
> strongest but they back up the full money refund within 3 years and
> prorated thereafter. I have couple of Acuras that eats up batteries like
> there's no tomorrow - doesn't matter if its a Honda battery or anyone
> else's. Within three years the Costco battery on the Acura died. Costco
> refunded me in full including sales tax and the disposable fee. Needless
> to say, I bought another Costo battery. It was about $60.

That sounds like a great deal. I'll have to keep Costco in mind when it is
time for the next battery.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

 

Okay, I can't adress the points about what the CCA should be, or what the
spec might be.

But, Ohm's Law says that Voltage, Resistance, and Current are all
interrelated. And, it goes on to say that Current (watts) and Power (amps)
are different expressions of the same thing, sorta.

If the voltage is a constant -- as in the battery circuit -- then the power
applied to the circuit will lower the voltage as the power goes up.
Conversely, if the voltage lowers -- as in a battery circuit -- then the
current will cause the circuit to drop below wha tis needed for proper
circuit operation.

I am not concerned that you need a new battery in an '02 vehicle. A battery
that has 60 months of service has done you well. A hundred bucks for an
installed battery seems reasonable. I can't see that they are treating you
badly.

Your current battery should have a sticker on the top that defines its life
and the amperage it can deliver. Typically, the life is in multiples of 12
months, with 72 months at about the maximum life.



<vicky7909@rediffmail.com> wrote in message
news:1169357647.171326.254870@l53g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> 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
>

 

"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:ZuTsh.5360$U81.727@trnddc06...
> Okay, I can't adress the points about what the CCA should be, or what the
> spec might be.
>
> But, Ohm's Law says that Voltage, Resistance, and Current are all
> interrelated. And, it goes on to say that Current (watts) and Power (amps)
> are different expressions of the same thing, sorta.

Current is measured in amperes, power consumed is watts.

>
> If the voltage is a constant -- as in the battery circuit -- then the
> power applied to the circuit will lower the voltage as the power goes up.
> Conversely, if the voltage lowers -- as in a battery circuit -- then the
> current will cause the circuit to drop below wha tis needed for proper
> circuit operation.

Better re-think the logic in this paragraph ;-)

--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

 

I'll keep that in mind. Thank you.

On Jan 21, 12:37 pm, Bill Tuthill <ccree...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> vicky7...@rediffmail.com wrote:
>
> > I have not yet had a problem starting my car. Not once.
> > I think they plan to install the interstate battery (MT35).Aside from saving your money, think of the environment.
> The more lead-acid batteries you replace unnecessarily,
> the more garbage gets added to a toxic waste site somewhere.
>
> Check with Sears -- most DieHard batteries are very good
> and replacement cost should be more like $70.

 

Nice story, but one could say you got lucky. It could have died the
very next day! It seems it's hard to say when a battery is close to
finished.

On Jan 21, 4:24 pm, "# Fred #" <noem...@nowhere.net> wrote:
> <vicky7...@rediffmail.com> wrote in messagenews:1169357647.171326.254870@l53g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > 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,
> > VickyI have a 2000 V6 Camry and the Toyota dealer tested the battery and told me
> I needed a new one. That was two years ago and the original 2000 battery
> still fires up the car engine just like when it was new. So much for battery
> testing.
>
> If you really need a new battery, try Costco. It's not the best or strongest
> but they back up the full money refund within 3 years and prorated
> thereafter. I have couple of Acuras that eats up batteries like there's no
> tomorrow - doesn't matter if its a Honda battery or anyone else's. Within
> three years the Costco battery on the Acura died. Costco refunded me in full
> including sales tax and the disposable fee. Needless to say, I bought
> another Costo battery. It was about $60.

 

In article <ZuTsh.5360$U81.727@trnddc06>
crwlr@verizon.net "Jeff Strickland" writes:

> But, Ohm's Law says that Voltage, Resistance, and Current are
> all interrelated. And, it goes on to say that Current (watts)
> and Power (amps) are different expressions of the same thing,
> sorta.

<polite_cough> Erm, try this grossly simplified summary...
* Voltage Volt (V) Pressure; potential to push current
* Current Ampere/amp (A) Flow rate; moving electric charge
* Power Watt (W) Rate of doing work
* Energy Joule (J) Quantity of energy, often stored
(eg, charge stored in a battery)
* Watts == Joules/sec == Volts * Amps (if in phase or DC)
* V and A changing out of phase (eg AC) ==> Volt-Amps (VA)
--
Andrew Stephenson

 

"larry moe 'n curly" <larrymoencurly@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:1170069336.467443.14280@j27g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...
>
> vicky7909@rediffmail.com wrote:
>
>> Delphi Freedom 55D23??, can't see the rest since it is covered.
>>
>> The values are
>> CCA Load Test ...
>> 310 150
>>
>> Now, does this mean that the CCA rating is 310. So when it was tested
>> by the mechanic and it showed 305 CCA, it would mean that the battery
>> is almost fully charged? I wonder why he said it should be around 550
>> CCA.
>
> I've never seen a Delphi/Delco car battery that was rated for less
> than about 525 CCA, and I used to buy the cheaper ones (60-month
> warranty, some Wal-mart brand for $30). But it's normal for the load
> test to be done at less than the CCA rating of the battery.
>
> You can check the state of charge of a sealed battery by measuring its
> no-load voltage with a digital multimeter. 12.6V means full charge,
> but it will read higher if the engine ran only an hour or two ago. I
> was told that turning on the headlights for 30 seconds will prevent
> false high readings.
>

According to this chart, Delphi batteries with as little as 300 CCA are
available: http://www.jmbltd.co.uk/prod_delphi/content_sales_delphi_p01.htm


--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

 

On Jan 29, 10:27 am, "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom>
wrote:
> "larry moe 'n curly" <larrymoencu...@my-deja.com> wrote in messagenews:1170069336.467443.14280@j27g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...

> > I've never seen a Delphi/Delco car battery that was rated for less
> > than about 525 CCA, and I used to buy the cheaper ones (60-month
> > warranty, some Wal-mart brand for $30). But it's normal for the load
> > test to be done at less than the CCA rating of the battery.

> According to this chart, Delphi batteries with as little as 300 CCA are
> available:http://www.jmbltd.co.uk/prod_delphi/content_sales_delphi_p01.htm

I did not know that. I've never seen even a cheapo group 24 or 35
rated for less than about 420 CCA.

 

"larry moe 'n curly" <larrymoencurly@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:1170112149.105372.113440@h3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>
>
> On Jan 29, 10:27 am, "Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom>
> wrote:
>> "larry moe 'n curly" <larrymoencu...@my-deja.com> wrote in
>> messagenews:1170069336.467443.14280@j27g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...
>
>> > I've never seen a Delphi/Delco car battery that was rated for less
>> > than about 525 CCA, and I used to buy the cheaper ones (60-month
>> > warranty, some Wal-mart brand for $30). But it's normal for the load
>> > test to be done at less than the CCA rating of the battery.
>
>> According to this chart, Delphi batteries with as little as 300 CCA are
>> available:http://www.jmbltd.co.uk/prod_delphi/content_sales_delphi_p01.htm
>
> I did not know that. I've never seen even a cheapo group 24 or 35
> rated for less than about 420 CCA.
>

LOL! That is because you buy quality and whoever bought the battery for the
OP's car did not! My guess is that the original battery failed just before
it was sold to the OP and so the seller put in the least expensive battery
that would fit in the car.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)