I live in New Hampshre and it gets COLD up here like 18 degrees at night. Some times when it is that cold the battery "of unknow age" is a little weak car cranks a bit slower than usual. But always starts, also lights have been dimming when i hit the rear defrost or push the HVAC blower to max. What is the biggest highest CCA battery I can fit in amy '98 EX sedan, 5-speed? Is 35 the correct group size for this car? What is the cars CCA requirement?


Modified by shortlid at 3:29 AM 12/4/2007


Modified by shortlid at 11:07 AM 12/4/2007


Modified by shortlid at 3:27 PM 1/4/2008

 

Cool, you got one of those rare '98 Wagons! So rare that...

Anyway, you can always do what I did and just stop by autozone and say "I need a new battery", they'll have a few options. The OEM battery on my '99 (not a wagon) had 440 CCA, my new one has 500 CCA. It works.

 

It couldn't be a wagon.....

I would just hit up auto zone and make sure you get the highest CCA they have. Like heat said some of the "performance" batteries get up there - so long as they are a good brand.

Defrost may be related to the alternator?

 

Sorry just had a cool '94 Wagon on the brain!! Got it checked at Autozone and they say the battery is fine?? Why is it slow to crank with 5W-20 in the crank case at 16 degrees then?? Maybe I just need a replacement with MOre CCA. Founds Costco group 35 with 640 CCA!!!

 

OK, well battery is OK, as per Autozone drain test and still any day I cold start 20 degrees or under it cranks for awhile and has a high pitched whine for a few second after it does start???

 

Sounds to me like a starter going bad. The high pitched whine is probably the starter solenoid getting stuck on the flywheel. You know those old rip cord toys where you could launch a spinning disc out the top? It sounds like those.

When the motor is cold, it will crank a little slower. If it's getting to the point where it'll barely crank fast enough to start, it's possible your starter is going bad.

Also, if you are looking for a good battery, I put an Optima Red Top in each of the cars I own. 775 CCA or somewhere near there. I just sold my '86 Fiero GT with a V8 swap that drew ~220 amps on a cold start. The red top was about the only battery that could start the car.

 

So should I rebuild the original starter our buy a rebuilt one?

 

new battery or old, my car always cranks a little bit longer when it's cold.

 

Fixed it, it was the battery was low on distilled water! I pulled the caps, added distilled water up to the base of the cell cap. Now strarts right-up at 20 degrees out!