Tegger wrote:
> Dillon Pyron <invaliddmpyron@austin.rr.com> wrote in
> news:qs2vc5t71q7kcpkvm17qgplqalqdfmdsg0@4ax.com:
>
>> Thus spake Joe <joe@spam.hits-spam-buffalo.com> :
>>
>>> On 2009-10-06, bootsie43 tim <bootsie@webtv.net> wrote:
>>>> i have not done anything to this car except change oil and air filter.
>>>> it is becoming harder to start. i mean rather than start in 2 seconds
>>>> now it takes 4. any thoughts
>>>>
>>> A 6yo battery is probably a tired battery, especially in certain
>>> climates.
>>
>> There are very few climates I can think of that would support a 6 yr
>> old battery. LA? Hawai'i?
>
>
>
> The North American Northeast climate is very kind to batteries. Properly
> cared for, a quality battery up here will last eight or nine years.
>
> My original Panasonic lasted eleven summers and ten winters. Cranking got
> noticeably slow towards the end, so I replaced it with an Interstate. I
> just replaced that Interstate after eight years with a second one.
>
> The 8-year-old Interstate could no longer hold a full charge, topping out
> at 12.54V. Plus the seal between the positive post and the case had become
> compromised, resulting in furry green corrosion, something I've not had
> since my '82 Corolla. The post/case break happened in the last few weeks.
>

I'm not sure about "very kind," but you can definitely get good
battery life up here. I average 7 years, as long as I don't do dumb
things like let them die from phantom loads in Winter. Basically, you
want to keep the battery as nearly charged as possible, with only slight
dips in charge to start, but without overcharging. You do that by
keeping the car in good enough tune to start quickly in all conditions.
This prolongs both battery and alternator life.


>
>>> You also might want to look into new plugs and wires.
>
>
>
> Plugs, definitely. Wires, no. I believe this model has a coil pack for each
> plug.
>
>

Yikes. Yes, plugs can fail as early as 60k miles. Wires last much
longer if they don't get baked by excessive heat.