re: new battery. is it defective?

[gramps]

I replaced the original panasonic battery on my hatch after 7 years and bought an everstart battery (johnson controls) 35n at walmart. been in the car for about 2 weeks.

I am noticing that in 0 degrees celcius weather, the car is having more trouble starting than the 7 year old battery. after the car starts, if i turn the wheel the lights dim.

can it be a dead battery? I have a volt meter. I wonder if that can help solve the problems
alternator? other component?
-g

[Flagrum_3]

I replaced the original panasonic battery on my hatch after 7 years and bought an everstart battery (johnson controls) 35n at walmart. been in the car for about 2 weeks.

I am noticing that in 0 degrees celcius weather, the car is having more trouble starting than the 7 year old battery. after the car starts, if i turn the wheel the lights dim.

can it be a dead battery? I have a volt meter. I wonder if that can help solve the problems
alternator? other component?
-g

You bought a Neverstart battery? ....just joking, could just be the battery was not sufficiently charged from the start hopefully, or a defective battery putting alot of strain on your alternator. I'd take the car in and have the charging system fully diagnosed to be on the safe side...You don't want it dying on you one night, in -25C temps, in the boonies somewhere.

_3

[Noisy Crow]

Make sure the battery clamps are on tight.

[Addison]

Before you go get a full diagnostic done, just go in to any NAPA, Carquest.. etc. They all do free battery checks. The places with better readers can give a print out of volts and CCA of the battery and the charging volts from the alternator. It's not unheard of for batteries ( especially ones from Walmart that probably sit on a skid for a while) to be faulty of have a bad cell.

[gramps]

There is a manufacture date on the battery, it was nov 2012. the thing was brand spanking new.

[silverstarmazda]

There is a manufacture date on the battery, it was nov 2012. the thing was brand spanking new.

just because its brand spanking new, doesnt mean its perfect. were talking about WALMART here....they dont exactly stock the best batteries in town... niether does canadian tire.... some people have better luck than others depending on what car. i would stick to the oem battery. i still have the oem battery in my 04 and it cranks strong.

[mParsonz]

I work at a Canadian Tire shop and you would be surprised (well some wouldnt be lol) how many batteries we install and they come back months later cause their car won't start. When that happens we do a full charging test and battery test, 9 times out of 10 the battery is just crap...... I'd get the battery tested first lol.

[TheMAN]

should've bought a Kirkland group 24F battery

[gramps]

should've bought a Kirkland group 24F battery
I thought group 35n is what was called for.

[TheMAN]

it is and isn't

[gramps]

it is and isn't

would you care to elaborate. i noticed that the battery looked small inside the battery box.

[TheMAN]

you just answered your own question lol

there's 3 factory approved sizes for this car
group 26R, 35, and 24F
unless you're trying to save weight for racing, you should always get the biggest battery you can for the car, which is a group 24F

[gramps]

you just answered your own question lol

there's 3 factory approved sizes for this car
group 26R, 35, and 24F
unless you're trying to save weight for racing, you should always get the biggest battery you can for the car, which is a group 24F

no i don't do that.

i did some searches using the optima/CT/interstate size checking
It seems as though depending on the year, the numbers are not the same
a 2007 is either 34/75 or 24F
2004-6 is labed at 35

is the 2007 really that different than the 2006 beside some cosmetics?

I wonder if it is hard to fit in the new battery.
or if there any detremental effects of using a 24f to the elec system.