On 3/27/04 6:45 PM, in article
abbcc372.0403271645.5834d2d7@posting.google.com, "News Reader"
<newsreader@midsouth.rr.com> wrote:

I've gotten at least 6 years out of all my Nissan OEM batteries.  Contrast
that with never more than two years from any Honda battery.  The trick is to
keep an eye on the acid level in the cells and top it off up to the split
line when necessary.

One thing that -will- kill a battery is if it's ever left discharged for any
length of time. Cars that don't get driven much seem to have shorter
battery lives than ones that get used a lot as well. It's hard to predict
what the life will be given the variable environment it's subjected to and
the service it sees.

Generally, hot weather is what is bad for a battery. A lot of batteries will
suddenly die when cold weather comes on as the unit can't get a charge up in
the cold. The battery was already on it's last legs though. On average in
Canadian weather we get about 4 to 5 years from a battery. I always replace
with a battery from a firm here called Total Battery. I usually end up with
something that is $30 to $50 cheaper than a Nissan battery, in the same
physical size and with 50 to 80 more cranking amps than the stock unit.

rtt

The battery in my 95 SE 5-spd (purchased May 94) lasted 5.5 yrs, and it
had a bad loping starter that needed to replaced soon after that.  
Replacement battery (BatteriesPlus) lasted 3 yrs.  Strangely a 95 Ford
truck purchased 6 months later at work followed this same 5.5/3 yr battery
pattern.  But its second battery may have failed from leaving the lights
on too many times.

Maybe southern heat is harder on a battery than northern Illinois winters.

The battery in my 99 Maxima died after 3 years in the SW suburbs of
Chicago..

You might  click over to www.uuhome.de/william.darden/ to read up on
batteries.

Cold kills a battery and heat weakens it so it is easy to kill.  There
is a lot you can do to extend the life of your battey if you want. It
starts with buying the right battery and the right battery does not
mean it has to be the more expensive battery.

Start with making sure the battery you get is meant for your climate
since some mfr's have designs peculiar to cold or hot (north or south)
climates.  Also, some designs are better for off-road vehicles that
see high vibration on rough roads.

If you buy the right battery and maintain it properly (mainly
cleaning, maintaining electrolyte levels and periodicaly removing
surface charge) it should last 5 years or more. Conversely, you can
get what's on sale at Walmart and count on replacing it every 2 years
in the fall.  Either strategy will probably cost much the same in the
long run with the latter causing some degree less bother if you plan
correctly.

BuddyWh