2003 Battery Question

[Buffalo]

Hi! I have a 2003 H. O. The batteries have "Maintainance Free. Do Not Open or Pry Vents" printed on them. I live in Arizona (Phoenix), very dry and hot. I, also, have a 1991 W-250, which, I bought new. That battery also said "Maintainance Free", on it. A wiser man than me told me that that battery was NOT maintainance free. They had put a piece of tape over the six fill holes, to hide them. If you ran your finger over the tape you could see where the caps were. Needless to say, I went home, pulled the tape off and filled the battery, probably extending it's life. I am somewhat reluctant to believe the "maintainance free" warning on my 2003, from my previous experience with the 1991. Do any of you guy's know whether or not we need to take these warnings seriously? Can we top-off these batteries? Thanks for your input. Joe Fihn.

 

[Tony T.]

Batteries

Joe: I added some (just a little) distilled water to each cell back last summer, whether it needed it, or not it looked a little low to me, but still had the green dot (preventive maintenance it's my disease). Like Pandora's Box I guess I had to check it out. :-laf

 

[ThomasCook]

My experience has been if you do add water and it's ALWAYS distilled, you'd be ok. Plain or even filtered tap water has too many minerals for batteries.

 

[rbattelle]

Joe: I added some (just a little) distilled water to each cell back last summer, whether it needed it, or not it looked a little low to me, but still had the green dot (preventive maintenance it's my disease). Like Pandora's Box I guess I had to check it out. :-laf

Anyone know how to get the battery vent caps off? I've tried prying, but don't want to break anything.



I suspect mine are badly in need of water.



-Ryan

 

[JJPage]

I have no idea about our factory batteries, I still have my OEM's, and are still performing great.



I do have several maintenance free Caterpillar batteries on standby generators, Caterpillar says "do not remove caps" for any kind of maintenance. Something about disturbing a one-way valve that allows the valve regulated cells to discharge, but keeps the seal intact.



I believe I would leave our batteries alone, after all, they have lasted this long... .

 

[Prairie Dog]

I just pried them off and added distilled water as needed (they were low a couple of times). They are a bit tight but like anything, you just have to force it! Never had any problem with leakage after opening them.

 

[rbattelle]

I just pried them off and added distilled water as needed (they were low a couple of times). They are a bit tight but like anything, you just have to force it! Never had any problem with leakage after opening them.

I tried last night to pry up the vents and couldn't. I pried so hard on one of the little screwdriver slots that I snapped the plastic.



Seems like if I pry any harder I'm going to break them. Or maybe I'm a limp-wristed panzy.



-Ryan

 

[Prairie Dog]

If that were the case then I wouldn't have gotten them off either

There may have been more than one vendor so maybe ours aren't the same.

 

[EEdmondson]

Leave 'em alone. You've got about 8 years out of them... that's really good! Mine are going on 7 years and it's good to hear I might have another year or more. My old F250 went thru batteries about every 3 years. What are you going to replace them with when they finally die?

 

[rbattelle]

Leave 'em alone. You've got about 8 years out of them... that's really good! Mine are going on 7 years and it's good to hear I might have another year or more. My old F250 went thru batteries about every 3 years. What are you going to replace them with when they finally die?

You're right, I know. There's just something about tossing out batteries that only need a little water.

I'm planning to replace them with Odyssey PC-1750s with Die Hard labels. Unless the local Batteries Plus will sell me the Odyssey-brand at the Sears price.

-Ryan

 

[TimothyLong]

You're right, I know. There's just something about tossing out batteries that only need a little water.



I'm planning to replace them with Odyssey PC-1750s with Die Hard labels. Unless the local Batteries Plus will sell me the Odyssey-brand at the Sears price.



-Ryan

I just put a set of those Die Hard Platinums in my truck about 3 weeks ago. They are definitely the s**t!!

 

[Edgemann55]

I just put a set of those Die Hard Platinums in my truck about 3 weeks ago. They are definitely the s**t!!

Ditto-I have been running the Platinums for a year now and the cranking power is awsome even in sub zero temps.