| On ML batteries, early ML's 98-most of 2000 by-in-large had better batteries identical to Interstate batteries (made by Johnson Controls US), those early batteries were winners...and I have seen 8 to 9 yr old batteries in '98+ ML's in moderate climates, 4yrs + seems the norm for those early years.
I always hesitate to say Johson Contorls, then everyone starts to think all Johnson Cotrol batteries are the same thing - Wal-Mart, Die Hard, etc. By saying Interstate (and same battery marketed by them) the quality on this style battery is above the normal retail pack (and you pay for that too).
Sometime in 2000 MB switched to the same style battery, but made by some other manufacturer, this was across many models, and quality went-to-shit. Earlyu failure's in the 1-2yr usage range became common, 4yrs out of the battery became rare.
Sometime mid-late 2004, MB went to same original style battery, now manufactured in Spain (where the Interstae battery now comes from too) - and quality has gone back to good again.
The point is, in modern cars you have little/no warning of battery failure - until generally a hot day in a parking lot somewhere, you turn the key and nothing..
Keep the beat ! |