RIP (N)EVER LAST battery Dec08-Jan13

[downhill]

Yesterday I drove 30 miles to town. I stopped for gas and when I went to start the car I had no battery power. I got someone to try and jump me but I could not even get a spark off of the positive side. I was able to borrow a battery from a friend nearby and low and behold, back in business. The Never Last came with the car and surprised me when it just died. I went to my favorite Napa and upgraded to a Legend battery and am good to go.
For the basic, if you cannot jump the car suspect the battery first!! We have had some real cold weather and it was enough to finish this one off. Of course my tools and cables were in my truck. Just glad I got it back on the road because it was close to zero most of the day and I had not really planned on breaking down.
Keep warm out there and slow charge your batteries at night this time of year.
The EVER LAST would not be my first choice if I buy the battery. 4 years was ok but I usually get 5-6 with the good ones. Sorry Wal-Mart, just the way it is~~

[TaurusDailyDriver]

Are you sure it is the battery and not the alternator? Normally if a battery is shot, it will give you a headache for quite a while, and it usually gives you the hardest time after the car sits over night. I feel like after you drove 30 miles, especially with a warm engine bay, it should have started. It seems that the alternator failed to charge your battery back up. So when you put the other battery in, of course it had enough CCA to turn the engine over and you were probably running off just the battery again.

[behlinla]

Batteries can and do just die suddenly. One day they're fine and the next—boom—completely dead.

One factor that's becoming more prevalent these days is the popularity of "wimpy" jumper cables. If you're going to jump a completely dead battery you need a set of heavy duty 2 or 4 gauge cables. Those 8 and even 10 gauge jumper cables are almost worthless unless you have a "slightly" discharged battery or have a half hour to wait for the battery to charge off the booster vehicle.

Not sure what kind of cables you have, but it's worth checking them to make sure they're up to the task.

[downhill]

Originally Posted by behlinla

Batteries can and do just die suddenly. One day they're fine and the next—boom—completely dead.

One factor that's becoming more prevalent these days is the popularity of "wimpy" jumper cables. If you're going to jump a completely dead battery you need a set of heavy duty 2 or 4 gauge cables. Those 8 and even 10 gauge jumper cables are almost worthless unless you have a "slightly" discharged battery or have a half hour to wait for the battery to charge off the booster vehicle.

Not sure what kind of cables you have, but it's worth checking them to make sure they're up to the task.

I used some big cables, could not even get a spark when scratching the + post. of the dead battery when trying to jump. WHEN i put new battery in alternator was 14.2V charging at the Napa. We tested all components before I took the loaner battery back to my friend.
The starting amps were normal in test. I think I just ended up with bad plates and sulfating of the Never Last~~It has been below zero for a long week during the night and even the day. Cold never helps old batteries~~

[Blkfordtaurusman]

Originally Posted by behlinla

One factor that's becoming more prevalent these days is the popularity of "wimpy" jumper cables. If you're going to jump a completely dead battery you need a set of heavy duty 2 or 4 gauge cables. Those 8 and even 10 gauge jumper cables are almost worthless unless you have a "slightly" discharged battery or have a half hour to wait for the battery to charge off the booster vehicle.

That's the truth. I thought this fad would fade away but apparently people like the gimmicky jumper cables that are worthless. They just get smaller and smaller. Only 4 gauge or larger gets the job done.

[behlinla]

Originally Posted by downhill

I used some big cables, could not even get a spark when scratching the + post. of the dead battery when trying to jump.

I bet it shorted out internally. Drained itself and sucked up all the booster current like a black hole.

[it'sthatcar]

Drove my bull 15 minutes to Wal Mart with some friends. No problem starting the car when we left. Came out of Wal Mart, key fob unlocked the doors, climbed in, no start. Got a guy in an Escort to try to jump me. Had sparks on my battery and had the cars hooked up for about 10 minutes and no luck. Went back into Wal Mart and bought a new battery. The Napa battery that was in my car when I bought it was the wrong size.

I was wondering why the battery space looked so roomy...

[peterf1992]

i got one better for you RIP (N)EVER LAST battery May 2011 - December 2012 yep it lasted that long on my 96 taurus brought a silvercraft battery from advance auto parts am good to go

[downhill]

@ Belina, Black Hole and money pit in one fell swoop. All I had when I tried to turn it over with the jump was a bouncing tach, flashing dash and solenoid clicking.
Black Hole made me think Battery quickly. The loaner just confirmed my thought.
Starter was almost new, no previous electrical gremlins. We tested the bad one when I took it to Napa and it was reading 3v. Lucky I did not have it quit in nowhere land.

[sheila]

......arc welding leads make good jumper cables.