Steve, do you know or have suggestions as for a different new battery? James mentions something to me about a lighter battery that you may know something about. Basically I think my battery is going to be toast when I get the car going. I noticed at the end of the season last year that it was barely keeping chrage and sometimes I would even go for gas I almost needed a jump. Aso, the fact that I neglect it in the winters probably doesn't help. The thing is however 5 years old and not going through regular recharging cycles.

Any advice would be of great help.

thanks

 

I might need one too Yesterday, the car made the click, click sound of a dead battery. It was probably my fault, since I used an electric air pump on the tires before starting the car after winter storage.

The battery that James is talking about is probrably a Hawker or Odessey brand battery. It is essentially a motorcycle battery. There are the JDM ones too, like Spoon and T1R, which are the same thing. These small batteries trade weight loss for smaller capacity. Their smaller so you might have to modify the battery tie down. They're not recommended if you have a lot of electronics and a big stereo. And they won't have the cold cranking amps for cold weather.

 

My battery died this winter and last winter, trickle charging it kept it up all winter though. I unplugged the charger yesterday we'll see if it holds the charge.

On a pump related note, I picked up a hand pump at cdn tire, I was fed up with those little plug in things they take forever.

 

Steve,

The only downside like you mentioned is that for running electronics and other sundry items you don't have much juice to power them up. I'm probably just going to get a regular battery for it. I have no need to save 5 pounds or whatever the weight savings is.

 

Well my battery seems OK after recharging.

I don't think a hand pump is going to be any faster, and it's going to be definitely more work. Just wait until you get to the fourth tire.

If you want fast, you want a air tank. you can get air tools too for the impact driver for changing wheels, etc. I saw that post about the electric impact gun you were looking at. In the long run, if you want "real" tools to make a lot of car jobs easirer, its going to be cheaper and more convienent to get air tools. Its going to be more expensive to get equivalent quality portable electric tools.

 

A compressor would be ideal. My uncle for his next house is putting a hoist in the garage and getting a compressor. I was thinking...must be nice!

 

The Hand Pump is WAY faster, more work for sure, but faster.

I thought about getting an airtank rather than the pump but the air tank won't fit in the trunk of the S with much else like my basket full of auto-x junk like water and such.

For sure air tools are cheaper if you get a good compressor though, those small compressors don't drive the tools very much though, when they do they don't last long.

I ordered a cordless impact driver from Harbor Freight hopefully I get it some time soon it's on back order until April 4th or 5th, but they keep pushing it back 2 weeks when I ask. For $69 though it was a steal.

 

+/- $70.00 at "Crappy tire";it gets the job done.

 

nice!

Emil, when did you nned to replace yours after 5 years?

 

MyOEM one,lasted something like 3 years;but I don't drive it in the winter,so it went flat a few times,did'nt help.