A Reminder About Batteries

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: A Reminder About Batteries
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Miller, Mostly in Dearborn on Monday, August 06, 2012 - 06:38 am:

Two identical four year old batteries in my car both gave up the ghost this month. Each has a cell that opens up shortly after recharging. So I cleverly searched the internet for discount codes and purchased two batteries with a $50 off coupon from a local chain after seeing they had five in stock.

When I went to pick them up, the gent placed two batteries with stickers that said M-8 and A-1 on them. Even though they were both obviously new, I balked at buying them.

Just a reminder, the -8, and -1 indicate the year in the decade these batteries were made. So the -8 battery was a December of 2008 model that was only a few months newer than the two dead ones in my cars. I mentioned this last night to a friend of mine and he had no knowledge of these codes. So I figured a reminder is in order. A-M equals the month of manufacture. The letter I is not used in the series. The number indicates the year. So -1 is either 2001 or 2011 or 2021 depending on when you buy the battery. Since 2018 isn't here yet, I safely assumed it was 2008. The funny thing about all this is the clerk pleaded ignorance to these codes. In addition to the stickers, this code should be heat stamped into the case itself.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill in Adelaida Calif on Monday, August 06, 2012 - 09:59 am:

I would have refused both of them.

A friend of mine is "at war" with a local tire dealer. He just bought 4 new tires for his SUV. He has had 2 blowouts since then and then he read the date codes on the remaining two. The tires are over 5 years old!! The store refuses to replace them until they fail and he won't drive the vehicle til they replace them with current dated tires.

Bill


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Monday, August 06, 2012 - 10:15 am:

The 8 and the 1 could mean 1998 and 1991. }


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Monday, August 06, 2012 - 10:59 am:

It depends upon when the acid was poured into the battery. I don't know whether they still do this, but a few years ago you could buy a "dry charged" battery and pour the acid in the day it was bought. That would give you a fresh battery even though it had been manufactured earlier.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Monday, August 06, 2012 - 11:27 am:

Dry batt is the only way to go. Especially with 6 volt ones that tend to sit for quite a while. A dry battery can sit indefinitely without any harm to it. Battery distributors or dealers in farm equipment might sell them that way. I have a Lee battery distributor near me that will get dry 6's on short notice.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Semprez-Templeton, CA on Monday, August 06, 2012 - 08:01 pm:

Bill,

Had a lady in our shop lately... All four tires had lumps in the tread area. We told her and she took the tires back to the tire dealer. They made her buy Four new tires although all Tires had more than 90% tread left. We Looked at the date codes when she had bought the tires... all past their dates. We called the tire dealer and suggested they refund her money. The Geek on the phone said no... so we contacted the state consumer dept. She recently received a check for the new tires! Some times good happens!

As for batteries, we deal with Interstate. They replace our "old" batteries weekly. Be aware of the codes and demand the vendors adhere to them!


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