Get a NAPA 5051. That $40 battery is a piece of junk.

PM me if you want me to bring you one if there's a meet this Thurs. My total cost is $51.49.

 

how much better is that napa battery? i haven't installed it yet so i guess i can still return it...

 

The NAPA 5051 is a 18 month free replacement battery. Total warranty is 65 months. Cranking amps at 32 degrees F is 530. Compare that to the info on the 51-4.

 

i actually went ahead and installed it after i got home from work today. took me about 25 minutes.

items used:
1 adjustable crescent wrench
1 new car battery
some old socks

steps:
- loosened nut on negative (no need to remove)
- removed negative cable, put an old sock around it (heard i could get electrocuted from the mechanics at work, ha)
- removed outer nut on positive
- loosened inside nut on positive
- removed positive cable, put it in sock (probably not necessary, but oh well)
- loosened the nuts (2) on the thing holding down the battery -- i actually had to remove the nut from the pole thing closest to the side of the car
- removed old battery
- put in new battery (this is where i lost time. new battery was in the trunk. no power to open up the trunk! i thought the trunk release button was for a mechanical latch, but it's electronic. had to hook up the old battery real fast and get the new battery out)
- put back everything in reverse order (finishing w/putting the negative back on)...i also had trouble getting that last nut back on, still doesn't seem that tight/secure. hope it doesn't work its way off.

i'm sure most of you know this stuff already, but for anyone like me that doesn't ever do anything with cars, it's real easy.

 

That $40 Walmart battery has a 24 month replacement and 84 month total warranty so I'd go with it over the Napa.

 

i didn't even read the amps or warranty info...i just didn't wanna go through the hassle of returning that one and getting another one from somewhere else.

s2kracka- thanks for the directions, by the way.

 

[QUOTE=benighted,Dec 14 2005, 10:13 PM] no power to open up the trunk!

 

I guess napa doesn't strong-arm their suppliers enough.

 

Good idea of using old socks to isolate both cables

Conedodger has another good idea too, replace battery at store parking then turn in the old battery for the core refund to save a round trip and time and dirty, acid covered old battery ride in the car.

 

yeah the next time i have to replace the battery i'll know what to do, and the parking lot would be fine. i decided to go back to the garage because it's pretty nasty in chicago right now (cold, snow, wind, etc.).

you can use the key to open the trunk? i must be blind...for some reason i thought i'd remembered looking for the keyhole before and didn't see one.