WayupnorthMI
Contributing Member
I have a question about batteries. I own a 1995 Full size Chevrolet Sport Van. Late Spring of last year I figured it was due for a new battery. Wife drove it into town where she worked to get some brake work done on it, while there she mentioned that I was thinking about replacing the battery....... the guy offered the same price as what I had looked at while at Walmart and he would install it and dispose of the old one ..... so I gave him the "okay" to replace it.
Never had a problem 'til the cold weather set in up here. Now it almost never holds a charge. If I want to drive it, I have to jump it with wife's Dodge Caravan.
We have since moved several hours drive away from this shop
After it did this a few times I drove the several hours to his shop (we were going that way anyways to see family) and he supposedly replaced the battery with a similiar one figuring the 1st one was bad (I should of marked the old one somehow).
That solution did NOT work. If it sits more then a few days in our cold temps, it will not start back up again without a jump.
I called him and explained what's happening. His response was "Well you must have a short or something in your wiring, or something is wrongly connected drawing energy from the battery".
I don't agree. Since she took it into the shop for me, I'm the only one who has driven it, have had no passengers to mess with anything, thus nothing has changed. The stupid battery just won't hold a charge.
I've owned this van for three winters up here and never had this much problem!!
So I'm thinking that he put in a battery that is to small. My question is..... I don't remember what size the old battery is and I don't have an owners manual for my van.
I've done some reading on google and know that I need to look at the CCA (cold crank amps) but I haven't been able to figure out WHICH size I need.
Can anyone help me out? Your advice is much appreciated.
I'm thinking that I can just buy the correct battery I need for my full size van in this cold weather, and save the current battery for when my wife's mini-van needs a new one?? Does this sound right?
Thank you again for your assistance.
Never had a problem 'til the cold weather set in up here. Now it almost never holds a charge. If I want to drive it, I have to jump it with wife's Dodge Caravan.
We have since moved several hours drive away from this shop
After it did this a few times I drove the several hours to his shop (we were going that way anyways to see family) and he supposedly replaced the battery with a similiar one figuring the 1st one was bad (I should of marked the old one somehow).
That solution did NOT work. If it sits more then a few days in our cold temps, it will not start back up again without a jump.
I called him and explained what's happening. His response was "Well you must have a short or something in your wiring, or something is wrongly connected drawing energy from the battery".
I don't agree. Since she took it into the shop for me, I'm the only one who has driven it, have had no passengers to mess with anything, thus nothing has changed. The stupid battery just won't hold a charge.
I've owned this van for three winters up here and never had this much problem!!
So I'm thinking that he put in a battery that is to small. My question is..... I don't remember what size the old battery is and I don't have an owners manual for my van.
I've done some reading on google and know that I need to look at the CCA (cold crank amps) but I haven't been able to figure out WHICH size I need.
Can anyone help me out? Your advice is much appreciated.
I'm thinking that I can just buy the correct battery I need for my full size van in this cold weather, and save the current battery for when my wife's mini-van needs a new one?? Does this sound right?
Thank you again for your assistance.
