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Siwsan

(26,263 posts)
Mon Mar 18, 2024, 09:04 AM Mar 18

My morning is starting off with a dead car battery. Not a good sign.

It's 7 years old. The last one lasted 9 years. I think life would be easier with a horse and buggy. Better for the environment and I would have fertilizer for the gardens.

My emergency back up sump pump battery has died, too. What's next???

16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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My morning is starting off with a dead car battery. Not a good sign. (Original Post) Siwsan Mar 18 OP
They do say things happen in 3's. Maybe check your flashlight batteries. Fla Dem Mar 18 #1
Maybe it isn't the smartest day to give the kidcats some catnip. Siwsan Mar 18 #12
Batteries, like most things, are suffering from shrinkflation... getagrip_already Mar 18 #2
You might invest in a cheap multigraincracker Mar 18 #3
Locusts. MOMFUDSKI Mar 18 #4
I measured my battery gab13by13 Mar 18 #5
7 years is excellent for a car battery. Niagara Mar 18 #6
Do you have a pacemaker? nt doc03 Mar 18 #7
Ours in Florida last two years if we're lucky. jimfields33 Mar 18 #8
Sorry about the batteries EYESORE 9001 Mar 18 #9
I've always been so lucky with introductions Siwsan Mar 18 #13
I have checked in on the home front EYESORE 9001 Mar 18 #14
That's a long time... 2naSalit Mar 18 #10
eek AllaN01Bear Mar 18 #11
So frustrating! SarahD Mar 18 #15
Two years ago I bought a new Interstate battery Emile Mar 18 #16

Fla Dem

(23,677 posts)
1. They do say things happen in 3's. Maybe check your flashlight batteries.
Mon Mar 18, 2024, 09:11 AM
Mar 18
Sorry that happened to you. Hope all goes well for you as the day goes on. At least you have your kits to give you some loving.

getagrip_already

(14,757 posts)
2. Batteries, like most things, are suffering from shrinkflation...
Mon Mar 18, 2024, 09:15 AM
Mar 18

You pay the same, there is just less inside.

And with deregulation, there isn't a lot of checking on what the labels say vs what the product ends up being.

Do your research before buying, and expect to pay a little more for one that will last. Also, if it is a maintenance required battery, make sure to keep it topped off and charged. Follow guidelines for charging no matter what kind of battery it is.

Sorry, it will be expensive, but you have to drive and you can't have a flooded basement. You have furry mouths to feed.

multigraincracker

(32,685 posts)
3. You might invest in a cheap
Mon Mar 18, 2024, 09:21 AM
Mar 18

12 volt tickle charger for the winter. During extreme cold and periods of little use, just plug it in.
Helps maintain battery life in cold climates.
Good luck.

gab13by13

(21,349 posts)
5. I measured my battery
Mon Mar 18, 2024, 09:29 AM
Mar 18

then bought one that would fit in the car with increased cold cranking amps. Keep the connections clean also.

Niagara

(7,620 posts)
6. 7 years is excellent for a car battery.
Mon Mar 18, 2024, 09:30 AM
Mar 18

I once had one less than a year old that died. It still had a warranty so I received a replacement for free.



I certainly hope that you're Monday gets better!

jimfields33

(15,808 posts)
8. Ours in Florida last two years if we're lucky.
Mon Mar 18, 2024, 09:35 AM
Mar 18

The heat gives them a beating. I get mine replaced every two years when I get my registration renewed which is every two years as well. I made the error when I moved here to not pay attention when the car wouldn’t start easily and ended up struck on the highway needing a jump. No more of that foolishness.

EYESORE 9001

(25,939 posts)
9. Sorry about the batteries
Mon Mar 18, 2024, 09:41 AM
Mar 18

Perhaps I can take your mind off it with a problem of my own. I consider you as an expert in such matters.

I adopted a fourth cat into my household yesterday. The three I had already consist of a Russian Blue and two black Manx - all female, all roughly 3 years old. They were raised to roughly 4-6 months of age when I adopted them all from the same foster mother.

The new guy is a black DSH about 1 year old. He was surrendered to the Humane Society due to moving where no cats were allowed. I don’t know whether that household had other cats or not. The staff at the shelter told me that they had seen no signs of aggressive behaviors on his part.

So now Max is cooped-up in a bedroom by himself, although I expect a granddaughter is keeping him company today. There is limited encounter with the newcomer through a gap at the bottom of the door. I had been warned against bringing a new female into the mix, but that a male was OK. So far, the three I already had don’t seem to care.

I was thinking about introducing the females one at a time into the room where Max is currently residing. Everyone is up-to-date on vaccinations, and I haven’t seen any sign of URI or other health issues.

I’m a bit apprehensive after observing Max in action, however. He’s agile and determined to get out of that room, making me wonder whether he led an indoor/outdoor life, which is not gonna happen at his new home. He’s quite rambunctious to boot. The room has Venetian blinds and before I could open the blinds, he had his head through the blinds and was going for it. There’s also apprehension about the initial encounters and the new equilibrium.

Any advice you may have is greatly appreciated

Siwsan

(26,263 posts)
13. I've always been so lucky with introductions
Mon Mar 18, 2024, 10:35 AM
Mar 18

The kittens were always in the spare room with an old storm window blocking the doorway when they were tiny. The older kidcats could see them and I'd hold them up for the sniff test. Of course, Gryff figured out he could jump OVER the barricade but he never tried to hurt any of the babies. He'd just hop up on the bed and observe.

I'd bring them out, for brief periods of time, and hold them so there could be most sniffing and soft swats but I could also stay between them and any aggression. Any reprimands were always spoken in a gentle voice. When the kittens were out of sight, I'd give the rest of the kidcats extra attention.

It was usually just a few days of soft hissing, paw swats and posturing, especially by Madoc, and then things just sort of fell in to place.

Of course, the window barricade won't work with an older cat. I'd bring things he's been in contact with to the others so they can get a sniff of his scent, and visa versa. I was lucky with Gryff. He was 4 months old when I brought him home. He and Madoc bonded within a day. Right now they are wrestling with each other, just playing and being felines. Admittedly, they are stoned on catnip.

EYESORE 9001

(25,939 posts)
14. I have checked in on the home front
Mon Mar 18, 2024, 10:59 AM
Mar 18

My wife tried the Russian Blue in the room with him, and she wasn’t having any of his gestures of friendship - just hissing and moderate growling. I remain optimistic, however. Thanks for the advice. Perhaps a catnip party is in order.

2naSalit

(86,636 posts)
10. That's a long time...
Mon Mar 18, 2024, 09:48 AM
Mar 18

For a car battery in cold country. I replace mine the first time there's any sign. After winters in some of the meanest winter places, I don't leave it to chance. What sucks is the cost of a new one.

I hope that the rest of the week is better.

SarahD

(1,185 posts)
15. So frustrating!
Mon Mar 18, 2024, 11:29 AM
Mar 18

I had a Subaru Forester with what they call parasitic battery drain. Leave it alone for three days and it was dead. Dealer just barked at me when I suggested they repair it.

Emile

(22,771 posts)
16. Two years ago I bought a new Interstate battery
Mon Mar 18, 2024, 12:14 PM
Mar 18

for my truck. This truck is always in my garage and rarely used. One day this winter and it wasn't by any means cold outside I went down to start it and the battery was too weak to turn over the motor. I put a battery charger on it and 15 minutes later I could start the motor.

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