So last night my battery cheap ass battery I bought in a pinch finally crapped out on me after almost four years. It's kind of funny actually, I bought the battery after getting stranded after camping at Foster Falls in below freezing temps with my girlfriend. Now, I am getting ready to go camping with just my girlfriend for the first time since then and the battery dies again! I think somebody is looking out for me by having it die right before we set off for the weekend this time.

Anyway, I dropped the cabbage to get a Diehard Platinum Size 35 and put it in on my lunch break. All I can say is, wow I really needed a new battery. It cranked like never before, the windows roll up and down like new and the stereo even sounds more full.

I do have a question on making sure this battery lasts as long as it should though. Should I be worried about my alternator? I mean, I know the battery lasted a good while for the amount of times I discharged it listening to music and the amount of wires I have running off of it. But, the truck is a 97 with 220k miles on it now. Also, the battery I replaced couldn't charge on a trickle charge more than a few minutes before it reported as being fully charged. I have a multimeter, could I use it to find out if the alternator working as it should?

 

Check the battery voltage while the alternator is running and charging the battery:
- http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Proje...Alternator.htm

 

Thanks 4crawler, you are the man!

 

Thanks for the link 4Crawler. The voltage seemed to fall within spec for the Alternator test according to my cheapie analog Radio Shack multimeter. I did a camping trip this weekend and the battery seems just a strong today as when I bought it on Friday.

EDIT: I just noticed the title, whoops! Supposed to be battery died last night. I must be seeing things that aren't there..