Nissan Maxima: Battery Question

CW wrote:
 

The 12.3 is fine. I wouldn't put much stock in the cheap specific
gravity tester. You say it takes longer cranking. Does it crank slower?
How old it the battery? If it is cranking slower and the batt is >3 yrs
old, I'd change it.

Get your battery tested with a tester that puts a load on it. Most of the
chain type (and independent) auto parts places will test it for free,
hoping you'll spring for a battery if it's needed. A no load test means
little and a cheap battery tester is likely not calibrated all that
accurately anyway.

As a battery ages its internal resistance increases and the terminal
voltage under heavy load, like the starter, will go way, way down and when
it gets too low, the starter doesn't turn over very fast and the engine is
apt to have a harder time starting. Once the internal resistance of the
battery increases too much it's a lost cause and you're better off putting
your $$$ into a new battery and not get yourself stuck unable to start
when it's very inconvenient to get a jump start to get you home.

I replaced my original battery in my '99 Maxima at about 4 years and it
was beginning to show its age even though I live in a relatively warm
climate. There was a sale on and I figured it was a good time to keep
from being stuck somewhere when I couldn't easily get home with the car.

CW wrote:
 

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http://www.batterystuff.com/battery/battery_tutorial.htm

This site says it, hot weather is hardwer on a battery than cold weather. A
battery standing in hot weather will discharge faster than a battery
standing in cold weather. A discharged battery ends up in sulfication, the
sulphur attaches itslef to the plates and this leads to early failure.

rtt