🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <411@mhuxl.UUCP> david1@mhuxl.UUCP (Rick Nelson) writes:
>My 1983 Datsun MAXIMA's battery (30 months old, 26400 miles) has gone dead
>twice within the past 3 weeks....

I would first check that the fan belt on the alternator was tight
enough.  It could be that it is slipping somewhat so that the battery
is charging adequately most, but not all, of the time.  Then clean
both the battery terminals and the inside of the battery clamps.
Scrape them clean with a knife or some other type of scraper.  Wire
brushing doesn't always get all of the corrosion off.  Make sure
that you can't, in fact, check the electrolyte level of the battery.
Many of the maintenance-free batteries I've seen state on the battery
that although the battery is designed to be maintenance-free, in
unusual conditions some of the electrolyte may be lost and will
have to be replaced.  I've seen 3 maintenance-free batteries that
needed to have water added to them.  You can also have the battery
load tested at almost any auto service facility.  They test the
battery to see how it takes a charge and how well it responds to a
"starter" load.  This should be cheap.  They should also be able to
cheaply test your charging system.

-- 
Bill Svirsky
Citicorp/TTI
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405 Work phone: 213-450-9111 x2597
{philabs,randvax,trwrb,vortex}!ttidca!ttidcb!svirsky

"I love it when a plan comes together."
                        Hannibal Smith