[Rivergoer]

My negative terminal seems connected tightly. It does not wiggle or move in any way.

I believe tightness wasn't the issue, had to do with defective crimp or other aspect in the quality of the stock cable. Your cable should have a tag with mfg date. If it's around the date your car was built then replacement is a good place to start. Covered under warranty.

http://www.cruzetalk.com/forum/25-g...al-coverage-14311-negative-battery-cable.html

 

[Rivergoer]

Our small Sears store doesn't carry batteries, mainly just appliances. Our local Battery store dropped Interstate for Deka, anybody heard of Deka?

Used Interstate for decades in boats, cars, RVs with good results. However, I noticed the last few years Interstate longevity in our extreme desert heat really went downhill. Recently lost a couple of Interstate batteries after only 24-30 months.

The owner of our Battery store claims Deka is US made and superior quality vs Interstate. The parent company is East Penn Mfg in Pennsylvania.

Thoughts?

 

[Rivergoer]

You mean Deka / East Penn?
East Penn Manufacturing – The world's largest single site, family-owned lead-acid battery manufacturer

Deka, Daka, DACA...whatever...Yes, the car battery made by East Penn Mfg.

All car batteries, even the bad ones, last longer than DACA did.

 

[Rivergoer]

still on OG battery

tests perfect

Probably true of pretty much any other product. I'd love to have mil-spec but my pockets aren't that deep.

Never lived in cold climate before...how does cold affect battery longevity?

Here in the desert southwest the 115-120 degree summers are absolutely brutal on car batteries.