[BB]

Thanks for the great info candyman!!

I've never had an Interstate car battery. Maybe I'll give them a try.

The current battery is from Sears and my experience with them is that they "die hard" leaving me stuck, usually at the most unopportune time. The battery has been in the car for 3 years; haven't checked the date code but I would imagine lots of product turnover at Sears so it shouldn't be much more than 3years old. In the few near freezing cold mornings we've had so far this winter, I've noticed that the crank speed is a little slower than usual so I'm figuring it might be time to go ahead and get a new battery. I'd rather get a new one than risk pushing the current one and having it die suddenly.

The battery shows right at 12V with the engine off. I get about 14V with the engine running but that was without much of a load.

I could probably get away with another year if it makes it through the cold weather but why risk it.
Bill