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Just because you pay a lot for a battery from AAA doesn't make it a better battery. It costs money to have them deliver it and install it.
If you have an independent battery shop in your city, that's the best place to buy a high quality battery - but it'll be cash and carry, install it yourself.
Basically, AAA batteries are junk, regardless of what the AAA goober says. Always have been.
All batteries are made by three companies. Johnson Controls, which supplies more than half of the market; Exide; and East Penn.
Even with a name brand battery, there are going to be defective ones. Happens all the time.
Costco has good batteries at a good price, if you are a member there. Don't waste your money on an Optima battery. They used to be unbeatable, but since they are now made in a foreign country, the quality has taken a plunge.
Buy the biggest battery with the highest cold cranking amps and reserve capacity that will fit in your truck's battery compartment. Stay away from AAA's batteries.
I've been working on cars for a living, pushing 40 years now. Seen your problem come up countless times.
Best of luck.
Have you tested for parasitic draw on your vehicle? Do you know how many milliamps you pull with everything off?
You may have a small parasitic draw somewhere and the radio being on for 2 hours just puts it over the edge. That's the only way I can imagine a regular, no frills radio depleting a battery. I've gone 2+ hours with my radio on without issue when I was working on the car and wanted something to listen to. It would always crank right up afterwards. Only times I've had issue is when the battery is on it's way out.
Thanks. Yes. This is my theory as well. I think there must be one in the clock/radio/speaker wires somewhere. I have tried and tried to track it down - if it exists - but no luck so far. I guess I will go back and search some more. About 6 months ago, I started to get a phantom hiss from my rear speakers after everything was shut off. It lasts about 15 seconds after the radio/clock shuts off. So I think it must be getting added on top of or multiplying the amp draw from just the plain radio by itself while it is on that 2 hours. I didn't want to rip things apart if it was of little consequence but now that this battery thing has happened in such a short time, I guess I am going to have to.
As I stated, nothing else has changed. Every day for years and years is exactly the same routine. 50 miles of driving every day. The engine runs for at least 30 minutes between each point I stop and turn on the radio. I am not seeing anything in the replies that makes me think I am wrong about this battery dying and the AAA guy being wrong.
Thanks. Yes. This is my theory as well. I think there must be one in the clock/radio/speaker wires somewhere. I have tried and tried to track it down - if it exists - but no luck so far. I guess I will go back and search some more. About 6 months ago, I started to get a phantom hiss from my rear speakers after everything was shut off. It lasts about 15 seconds after the radio/clock shuts off. So I think it must be getting added on top of or multiplying the amp draw from just the plain radio by itself while it is on that 2 hours. I didn't want to rip things apart if it was of little consequence but now that this battery thing has happened in such a short time, I guess I am going to have to.
Thanks.
What make and model is your car? There are a few out there that are notorious for phantom electrical gremlins
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tickyul
OK then, check for a parasitic-draw.
It's simple to remove the negative cable from the battery, then touch it back onto the terminal. If it sparks, something is drawing power. Just a clock should not be enough to cause it to spark. Finding it can be tricky. I have several things do this on older (than yours) cars. For example, brake light switch sticks, backup light switch sticks, or dome light door switch sticks or is left on. There is also the possibility of a bad alternator not charging the battery fully, but that should cause a warning light.
Have you tested for parasitic draw on your vehicle? Do you know how many milliamps you pull with everything off?
You may have a small parasitic draw somewhere and the radio being on for 2 hours just puts it over the edge. That's the only way I can imagine a regular, no frills radio depleting a battery. I've gone 2+ hours with my radio on without issue when I was working on the car and wanted something to listen to. It would always crank right up afterwards. Only times I've had issue is when the battery is on it's way out.
absolutely. Hyundai's have a problem with parasitic draws. Mod cut.
Last edited by PJSaturn; 01-05-2021 at 11:12 PM..
Reason: Rude; off-topic.
Get a portable radio to use instead of the car radio.
Sometimes turning a problem around and looking at it from another angle opens a shut mind to more alternatives. This sounds like much less hassle than dealing with an inoperable vehicle that often...and replacing spent radio batteries will cost a heck of a lot less too! You could get even more use out of quality rechargeables. How about a solar charged radio? Mod cut.
Last edited by PJSaturn; 01-05-2021 at 11:13 PM..
Reason: Rude; off-topic.
Location: Was Midvalley Oregon; Now Eastside Seattle area
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A wet lead-antimony battery will last about 4 years, +/-, battery size and current draw. A good battery IIRC, should read 12.8 volts at the terminals. If the battery reads ~12.2 V or less, it's time to think about a new battery. Cold weather will slow the the chemical reaction this battery testing is done as "cold cranking".
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