I was spending some quality time with my Max last night, and noticed the fluid level in my battery (original Hitachi '97 SE 5spd) was below the min mark. Opened the caps and saw dry plates. Picked up a jug of distilled water and filled all six. Put a 10 amp battery charger on, and it took 6 amps for about 3 hours til I went to bed. Was charged this morning. Battery label says periodic maintenance required. Will check my charging system, make sure it's not too high of voltage. Pretty good, I think, 4 years of extremes 100 to -25 in three hours here in MN. Check your battery guys before it's winter! Unless you've been eyeing the new Yellow Top!

 

Good idea. Damn, and I just bought a new battery.

 

Just got me a free red top... YEP..! YEP...!

 

hmmm Thats a good idea. I wonder whether my battery on my 1997 should be fine after 2 monthes away, I think its an AC Delco battery.

 

This may sound stupid but where do you get distilled/deionized water?

 

simple! at your aunts pharmacy store!

 

Yes I serviced the battery in my 96 GXE couple of times during the 5 years. Every time I start the engine I feel the battery is still strong like new.

 

At the grocery store...they have it Cub, but I thinks the stuff at Byerly's and Lunds is better...hehehe

 

My battery died on me about a month ago at work...I had about 50k on it and it was a 98....Recharged it and it died again in my driveway after a 25 minute ride home...

 

Definately a good thing to check. My alternator died recently (week and a half ago) and then my battery died yesterday. The shop that I bought the new battery from tested the old one (stock battery that came with the Max, 97 SE) and said it's probably the reason why the alternator burned up. They said the battery was really bad. Don't know if that's true but glad to have a new battery, although it's not a yellow top

 

i have a 99 max and the battery went dry. couldn't recover the battery. just bought a new one a few months back. good preventive maintenance.

 

I noticed that battery level was low about a year ago on my 97 GLE. I checked number of autoparts stores for distilled water and only 4th one had it in stock. Gallon was $0.99. I brought it back to the level and it still going strong. White original battery - Hitachi?

 

the texas weather got to mine earlier this summer, i had to replace it, once my car wouldnt start at a car wash, and it ended up just ran out of water from the heat, but that was when it was my dads car, i check the water here almost every month bc of heat

 

Yeah...that's what does it. The heat depleats it, then when you need the extra power in winter when @32 deg the battery has like only 60% it had at 72 deg, it won't start. Crap 32 deg...I'm looking at -32 deg in a few months! Burrrr!

 

The stock battery on my 95 went after 120,000 miles. I had never done any maintenance on it, and when it died the water mark was 2 inches below the low water mark...I just bought a new battery..

 

me too

 

ya, my hitachi finally ate it at 79k...so i just scrapped it and put in a Interstate....but i think im gonna take that one out and get a Red Top, cuz my engine is dressed up in red....don't ask me why i just didn't do that in the first place.....

 

hehehe how do you check battery level?

 

It is amazing how few people keep an eye on their battery level.

How about creating a reminder in your Email account. This is the only way I can remember.
I also did this to check my water meter to see if my house has any leaks. I caught a leak in my sprinkler system that way.

I also send myself an email to make sure I received all my credit card statements. These days they charge you a fortune if you are late with your payment. Well if you didn't receive a statement, it is very possible you may forget and be charge $30.00 for a late payment.