Arkette #2 has a dysfunctional auto, so I'll be away for awhile...

aarkieboy · 2012-07-12, 9:15

Be back ASAP, probably early afternoon. If you find something...post it.

Dinahmoehum · 2012-07-12, 12:46

Is it electrical? Both my cars alternators went out this week? Warrantied both at autozone so didn't cost anything, but strange as hell. I never even use my car.

RepoMan · 2012-07-12, 13:42

Possibly viral marketing for that upcoming Revolution show.

aarkieboy · 2012-07-12, 14:59

Close, Dinah. First thing I thought of was bad alternator from the symptoms she told me on the phone. I went over to her place and tested it, had great charge at the battery. Determined it was just the battery. So that wasn't that bad of a fix. Biggest thing is she lives 38 miles away, not a bad drive, just takes time to get there and back.

Dinahmoehum · 2012-07-12, 16:51

I'm guessing the heat, pushes everything just that much further over the edge. For the most part my shit never breaks because I've replaced everything already. Autozone really don't expect people to keep shitty cars for over 20 years!

b0rg9 · 2012-07-12, 19:06

I had to replace my battery a few months ago. I'm noticing between this car and the way the battery's crammed in right next to the engine block, the heat will continue to kill them regularly -- about every two years.

I wish the battery was in another section of the car besides where it gets barbequed all the time.

Chuck · 2012-07-13, 7:09

Any extreme in temp is a battery killer so yeah when they put one in a place hotter than hell it sure doesn't help matters. I always thought in a normal car the trunk is where a battery should be. No engine heat and somewhat protected from the cold.
Probably a deal between auto manufacturers and battery companies to make you replace them.

Dinahmoehum · 2012-07-13, 8:28

It never gets that hot in sweden! Bmw put them under the rear seat, vw too, but that is for balance more than space or heat. Miata is in the trunk, but really, I don't think they give a shit about placement or longevity. More about when ya goina buy a new car.

JangoFett · 2012-07-13, 11:55

The battery in a Mini is in the back, there's just not enough room under the ~~hood~~ bonnet.

AsMuch · 2012-07-13, 13:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dinahmoehum

It never gets that hot in sweden! Bmw put them under the rear seat, vw too, but that is for balance more than space or heat. Miata is in the trunk, but really, I don't think they give a shit about placement or longevity. More about when ya goina buy a new car.

We had a superbeetle ('72 I think) that had a battery under the rear seat. Decided we wanted to sell it, and a friend of the family wanted to test drive it to see if their son liked it. We received a call in the middle of the night with a sheepish friend saying that our car caught on fire at 3 AM.

Turns out, the compartment holding the battery was particularly susceptible to the rear seat springs wearing through the cushion and shorting out the battery.