I know it says the battery that comes with our cars are maintenance free, but I wondered if you guys knew that you can service the battery in your cars like any other battery.

Under the plastic sticker/label on the top of your battery, there are screw caps for each of the wet cells. the plastic label is even perforated where you can remove this portion of the label, if desired. Once you remove the cap to each cell, you can see the water level in the there. I fill mine up with distilled water till it reaches the bottom of the plastic looking insert in there. (don't overfill)

I checked mine due to the high number of failed battery posts I've seen in the past. A battery is a battery and it needs the proper amount of water to operate properly. When I checked mine, the water level was very low.

Just thought I'd post this as I can imagine you guys on the mainland needing that extra cranking power for those cold mornings.

Better to check it now before it decides to fail on you at the worst possible time.

 

Ah the irony of it...I just had to replace my 24 month factory battery after 25 months of use. It finally let go two weeks ago, on a cold 20 degree morning.

 

24month factory battery?

yshi - who thought most were good for about 5yrs *shrugs*

 

I had presumed the same thing. I called Acura all irritatred because what I thought was a 5 year battery had died after only two years. That's when I found out it was only good for two. I wonder if it would have lasted longer had I maintained it? Oh well, I replaced it with a 6 year battery, last me the life of the car for sure. BTW, you will need what is called a 'reverse terminal battery' should you need to replace it in the future. I had a heck of a time finding it. Most batteries have the positive on the left, neg on the right, but ours are reverse. And you can't rotate the battery 180 degrees because then the battery cables aren't long enough to fit onto the terminals, which are now closer to the firewall than before.

 

I've been using the stock battery for almost three years (bought the car on march 10th 2000) without a problem.. and without any maintainance.. though my neg battery terminal wont tighten anymore.. I removed it once

 

I never even touch mine.

 

Same here. I'm sure the problems will start with mine if I do touch it.