Batteries

Warning! The OE routing of the positive battery cable is at best poorly done in many Fiero. As a result, the pulleys and belts can easily damage the cable. This cable MUST be physically inspected and replaced if there is any damage. (See Wire Service for details.)

Some Battery Terms

CA: Output Amps at 32°F
CCA: Output Amps at 0°F
Reserve Capacity (in Minutes): How long battery will last at 80°F with 25A load before the charge is below 10.5 volts.

Difference in CA and CCA mean a big amp drop in 32°F, a 150+A loss in most cars.

Reserve Capacity means... If you left HL etc on then will come back to dead battery or not depending on Reserve Cap spec. If Alt goes dead... you might have a short time to drive the cars before battery is dead. Having 60+ minutes of Reserve Time is very good when alt is dead... I can drive home w/o any problems and did so when alt died.

More see my Watt Story and Automotive battery from Wikipedia.

What's the Difference?

Standard vehicle starting batteries are designed to flow huge currents for short periods. They don't like things like trolling motors on a fishing boat or running lights in a parked RV. Discharging a vehicle starting battery below 10-11V can damage them. Discharging them completely can ruin them. Starting batteries are built using Wet Cell or AGM designs. (I don't know of any Gel Cell starting batteries.)

Deep Cycle batteries are just the opposite. They are made for sustained loads of moderate current draw. You can quickly ruin them by repeatedly starting an engine. Deep Cycle batteries will accept being drawn down more than a starting battery but they don't like being run flat. Deep Cycle batteries can be constructed using Wet Cell, Gel Cell, or AGM designs.

Differences from brand to brand often don't mean very much. Typical wet cell batteries last anywhere from 2-5 years depending on environmental and vehicle conditions. (Wet Cell as the name implies use liquid electrolyte that sloshes pretty freely in each cell.)

The new AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries are supposed to last twice as long or more than regular batteries. They can also be constructed for greatly increased resistance to vibration. Optima and Orbital are the two best-known AGM batteries. Delphi also makes one that is original equipment in some GM cars.

AGM batteries are NOT Gel Cells! Where Gel batteries contain a gelling agent in the electrolyte, AGM batteries use liquid that has been soaked into glass mats between the plates. The electrolyte still has some flow thru the mats and plates. Like Gel Cell they are virtually spill proof.

Gel Cells are not normally used in motor vehicle applications. These deep cycle batteries are used in emergency lighting, backup power systems, children's toys, and many others.

Charge!

A 12V lead acid battery is fully charged at 12.6-13V. The general formula for a Lead Acid battery is 2.1 volts per cell. A 12V battery has 6 cells. A cell is fully charged at 2.1-2.2 volts. Trying to charge a cell much over that will kill it just as easily as discharging it too far.

If you deep discharge a starting battery or run any battery flat then DO NOT fast/boost charge it! You'll have much better odds of salvaging the battery with a regular slow charger and letting it work over night. (Not a "trickle charger.")

Fast charging should be avoided whenever possible. It may get you going short term but will likely result in greatly shortened battery life. (Some batteries take fast charging better than others. If in doubt, go slow.)

The best chargers are "taper" or "smart" units that automatically adjust charge rate according to battery needs. These will reduce current as the battery builds up, finally cutting off or switching to "trickle" mode at full charge.

Note: Don't assume an alternator is dead! Many modern Alternators will not turn on if the battery is below some set value. For CS alternators, that means the battery has to be over about 12V or the alternator will not turn on. This is done to protect the alternator from overload.

Determining State-Of-Charge
12.75 & Above	100% Charged
12.60 to 12.74	85% to 100% Charged
12.40 to 12.59	75% to 85% Charged
12.20 to 12.39	50% to 75% Charged
12.00 to 12.19	25% to 50% Charged
11.99 & Below	Fully Discharged

Source: Exide

Notes:
This table's voltage is with battery has some time to rest after engine's run or charger in use.
The state of charge listed is an approximation. The relationship between state of charge and voltage vary by CCA rating, Temperature, and case size.

My Battery Died... Again.

Note: 84-86 model use Generation 1 Headlight Motors. First check the motor is not bad. Bad Gen 1 motor(s) is likely a problem.

If your battery keeps going dead after a day or three, have it fully charged and then load tested. This is a common symptom of a bad battery. A load test will quickly confirm the problem.

Better yet, there is a new type of computerized tester available at a growing number of shops and parts stores. These testers can often find problems with a battery before traditional load testing can. Many of these units can even test discharged batteries. That saves time and avoids safety issues of trying to charge a fried battery.

Once you are sure the battery is good, read this page on tracking parasitic power problems.

Battery Cables

Replace, at least test, battery cables at same time when you replace the battery. Weak cables are high on the list of screwing up starters. See Battery Cables in Wire Service.

Storage

When storing a vehicle, disconnect the battery. If the vehicle will be stored outside, bring the battery indoors.

The battery will last much better if kept at stable temperatures. Anything from around 40F to "Room temperature" is good.

You should also check the charge every couple weeks, once a month at least. If the charge drops put the battery on an automatic charger that will shut off or switch to "trickle." Don't leave the battery on the charger all the time. Don't use a "fast" or "boost" mode to charge it.

Who made it?

Before you buy one, it's nice to know who made it.

There are three main auto battery makers in North America. Whatever brand is on it, most retail batteries are made by these three.

Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls markets under Optima, Diehard (Sears, NTB), EverStart (Wal-Mart), Interstate, Motorcraft and a bunch of other brands. (They also made the battery with anti-theft protection for Sears.)

Note that there are at least 4 (Four) types of Optima! If you use the wrong one you will kill it. Consult the Optima web site to determine which battery is right for you!

Top Color	Service
Red	Vehicle Starting
Yellow on Dk Gray case	Vehicle Starting
Yellow on Lt Gray case	Deep Cycle
Blue	Marine

Optima batteries are not gell cells!

Johnson Controls has developed absorbent glass mat (AGM) technologies in both spiral and flat plate configurations. The spiral wound Optima and Inspira product lines are produced in North America, while the flat plate products are developed and produced in Europe.

Source: Johnson Controls

Exide

Orbital is an Exide product. Their product is sold mainly under Exide and Champion brands. I think K-mart currently carries Exide. (They also make NASCAR Select batteries.)

Orbital batteries are not gell cells!

Exide's Orbital Grid design and absorbent glass-mat (AGM) separator virtually eliminate damage and capacity loss by resisting vibration.

Source: Exide

Delphi

Delphi sold battery line to Johnson Controls.

Are there other Brands?

Yes, there are other brands that aren't well know even though they may have been around a long time. One is Douglas, a brand sold thru many parts stores. Another is Deka, who is better known for specialty batteries used to run electric forklifts and other comercial/industrial power systems

Recycling

There is no excuse for dumping dead car batteries in the what ever hole you find! Car batteries are considered hazardous waste and you can be fined for dumping them illegally. Most residential and commercial trash haulers won't take them.

It's not hard to find a place to unload them properly. I believe all places in the U.S. that sell automotive batteries are legally required to accept the dead ones. Many places even have core charges on the used batteries so they will get them back.

In many cases the chain stores will accept all dead batteries, regardless of where they came from. I've dropped off dead batteries at K-Mart, Wal-Mart, and other places. Even K-Mart stores without an auto center will take them; simply drop them off at the customer service desk. (You might even get a buck for them.)

There is also scrap value in them. If you have a bunch of dead ones around there are places that will buy them.