HHR Battery Too Weak for Winter
01-15-2015 | 12:20 AM
#11
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
Ed- a 'trickle charger' must not be left on too long or it can over charge it, & boil out the acid. Killing the battery..
I would suggest looking into a "Battery Maintainer" such as a Deltran Battery Tender Jr.
These are smart chargers & you just hook up & forget it.. Once they achieve full charge, they swtch to Float mode, maintaining your battery @ 100%.
Cost for one is about $24. on eBay
I have a couple of these that are old now but still working perfectly. They are .750mA ....
Another option is a Battery MINDer* which I have 1 as well.. 1.5mA
My HHR is still on the OEM battery installed 11/07 (build date)..
I would suggest looking into a "Battery Maintainer" such as a Deltran Battery Tender Jr.
These are smart chargers & you just hook up & forget it.. Once they achieve full charge, they swtch to Float mode, maintaining your battery @ 100%.
Cost for one is about $24. on eBay
I have a couple of these that are old now but still working perfectly. They are .750mA ....
Another option is a Battery MINDer* which I have 1 as well.. 1.5mA
My HHR is still on the OEM battery installed 11/07 (build date)..
01-15-2015 | 12:45 AM
#12
Platinum Member
Joined: 04-09-2006
Posts: 7,039
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
x2 - I use a similar "maintainer" on the M/C - got 6 or 7 years out of my last battery before I chickened out and got a new one.
The standard sized battery for the HHR is sufficient for most weather conditions one is likely to encounter. A battery heater may be needed in severe cold as per recommended to Britjoe a while ago - but most likely is overkill unless your vehicle is being left out in -10 to -20F temps.
A failing battery, or defective battery, or a fault in the electrical system is IMO the general cause of the similar issues we have seen on the forums here.
but I may be wrong
The standard sized battery for the HHR is sufficient for most weather conditions one is likely to encounter. A battery heater may be needed in severe cold as per recommended to Britjoe a while ago - but most likely is overkill unless your vehicle is being left out in -10 to -20F temps.
A failing battery, or defective battery, or a fault in the electrical system is IMO the general cause of the similar issues we have seen on the forums here.
but I may be wrong
01-17-2015 | 07:20 AM
#16
Senior Member
Joined: 06-29-2008
Posts: 119
From: Northern PA
I just replaced the factory battery in my '08. I could have done it last year, but it's been OK until now; it was starting to get sluggish on cold starts in single digit temps. Our winters get a few times where it's subzero for a few days, but mostly single digits or low teens in mid winter.
I got a Gold level battery from Advance; I've never been impressed by Walmart batteries. I had a $20 off coupon and timing was right, so now it's done.
I got a Gold level battery from Advance; I've never been impressed by Walmart batteries. I had a $20 off coupon and timing was right, so now it's done.
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