Suggestions for Battery ( maintenance free or not)

[wave]

Ok, I think its high time I change my stock battery. During my 30k servicing, TC check the battery life was ok.. now at 35k mileage,,, i somehow feel that its dying soon....

1. I plug in a car vac without turning on engine and almost couldnt start my engine after wards  (then i realise must turn on engine to vacumn)
2. Couple of times when I turn on engine, need to do few times... and the sound like no strength no strength.

Please can anyone advise wats the cost for maintenance free batt and normal topup kind?
also whats the AH thing about? I wan a batt can last loooooong looooong... so which model/brand better?

Gam Sia

[tao]

Assuming that your car is <3yrs old, you can consider going back to Tan Chong to get the battery replaced. There is discount especially if you are under NPMP. Otherwise, for MF battery, I think that Amaron is very good, there is a posting in commercial thread for it to be installed at $110, which is a good price.

Better get it done soon, sounds like your battery is going to die anytime!

[jonpaul0104]

i have been using the AAS MF battery (same brand as what the bro mentioned) since Oct 06 till now...still going strong....

U can consider it....but in Yr 06, it cost only $90.....install at my MSCP...

[winxp]

dun go to Tan Chong if u want to change to MF battery. They do not have MF batt there....i asked them to change to MF batt for me when i did my 20K servicing and they told me they no longer carry MF battery.

[Ying]

I happen to have an external 12V battery for vacumn. Car battery are design more for short duration high start-up current, you can damage it if you always use till it flat. other type of battery can endure higher usage per charge.

[clarence]

dun go to Tan Chong if u want to change to MF battery. They do not have MF batt there....i asked them to change to MF batt for me when i did my 20K servicing and they told me they no longer carry MF battery.

But it is  a waste to forgo the 50% and 25% discount for 2nd yr and 3rd yr battery change.

[tao]

Guys, the stock battery in the Latio is much better than you guys give it credit for. Even my mechanic friend told me "this type of battery is very good! Made in Japan and can lasts longer than MF batteries!" 

[Ender]

My last stock battery has been pretty maintenance free. Not once had I top up water. Everytime during servicing, I guess TCM had top up the water for me. As long got do regular servicing, don't see the point of paying more for maintenance free battery.

[tao]

My last stock battery has been pretty maintenance free. Not once had I top up water. Everytime during servicing, I guess TCM had top up the water for me. As long got do regular servicing, don't see the point of paying more for maintenance free battery.

Hey, it is not true that you do not have to top up water. That was what I thought too. Recently I checked the water level when my ride reached 15K (last water top up was during 10K servicing), it went quite low! I top up with about 600ml which was what was lost. Also, when I read my TCM 10K service record, it advised to top up the water to keep the battery in tiptop condition.

[vortex]

My last stock battery has been pretty maintenance free. Not once had I top up water. Everytime during servicing, I guess TCM had top up the water for me. As long got do regular servicing, don't see the point of paying more for maintenance free battery.

I fully agreed. That goes the same for me, never have to top up the water. I also see no point to pay more for the MF battery, and yet doesn't last as long. Only plus point is look nicer and neater. Anyway, it is up to individual preferrance. 

My latio is coming to 3 years, will need to request for changing the battery just to enjoy the discount. Hope to last for another 3 years just like my current stock battery. 

Of course, it is still the owner to check up for the water level. I heard some comments for my friends that grounding draws the battery water faster. I had done a 4 pts grounding for my previous ride, but also no need to top up. Any comment for bros with such experience ? 

[Ender]

Hey, it is not true that you do not have to top up water. That was what I thought too. Recently I checked the water level when my ride reached 15K (last water top up was during 10K servicing), it went quite low! I top up with about 600ml which was what was lost. Also, when I read my TCM 10K service record, it advised to top up the water to keep the battery in tiptop condition.

Your battery cap probably wasn't tightened during servicing, for you to loose water so fast.  Maintenance free battery are nothing more than a wet lead acid battery, but sealed tighted to minimize evaporation. So the way I see it, is no matter how tight the seal is, it still gonna loose water, but you don't have the option to top up. Where else normal battery, topping up during servcing is good enough for me.

The advise to top battery up water by TCM is standard. It'll going to be in every of your servcing record. They will still check your battery water during servicing and top up when neccessary.

[beepbeep]

btw, if i want to change the battry myself, what is the procedure... remove -ve, remove +ve, plug in +ve and plug lastly -ve?? anything else to take note of or extra care as not to damage anything?..

[wave]

thanks for advise...

i went with ken's suggestion for the hankook MF batt.....
now have peace of mind...