Yup, started like a champ off the Jeep's battery. The battery now reads 10.54 volts and drops to 8.81 when I turn the key. It's certainly dead, but did something cause it to die? I thought I'd get more than a year out of a battery.

ps. The '99 Jeep with 105k still has it's original battery.

 

its hard to say, sometimes they are just defective. when you get a new one first check and make sure it is charging. like i said after a 15 or 20 minute ride there is no reason it shouldnt be around 13.5 or higher running and settle around 12.8ish after you shut it off. and as soon as you start it they usually will drop to 10-11 volts or so while cranking and then go right back to 12.7 or so and climb pretty quick to 13.2 then a little slower up to 13.5. this stuff is the same for a car, a four wheeler or a lawn mower for that matter. usually the only thing that ruins batteries is just running them dead repeatedly.

 

and on the jeep battery i bet ya it dont have much left. i have a 99 f-150 it took a dive last winter on the original battery. i give ya 3 months tops. when it crapped out it started funny one time then the next time it was just deader than hell after it sat 2 hours and couldnt even jump it. batteries a kinda wierd like that

 

I'm telling you, mine was the same way. And if that battery gets dead once, it'll never hold a charge as good as it should after that. Make sure to get a battery tender when you get the new battery- I got one that runs on solar power from Northern Tool.

 

Thanks for all the help. I'll grab a new battery this weekend. The weather has been perfect here and hopefully it will hold out for the long weekend [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]