Do you guys know the specs. for the battery? Are you using a different brand or spec.? Any issues with size considering it's inside the well?
Here's a good thread on the subject. LINK: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=209813 IMHO, the Sears Platinum can't be beat.
I currently have an Odyssey PC1200 in my 348. PC 1200 Specs: 1200 cranking amps for 5 seconds 1090 cranking amps for 10 seconds 900 cranking amps for 20 seconds 825 cranking amps for 30 seconds Short circuit current over 2600A 44 amp hours 78 minute reserve capacity with 25amp load CCA - 550 Gets the job done just fine, and it only weighs 37 lbs. Think I paid $120 bucks for it.
Mine's in the front wheel well also on my 348 spider and I have a Optima red top. Could have put two of them in there!
It gave out today after only two years and one month use. I thought these batteries would have lasted longer.
I have it connected to a battery tender ALL the time when I'm not using it. I'm wondering if I just got a faulty battery.
Maybe you did. But even if you connect it to a tender but forget to now and then and the battery goes dead then its life is shorter. Every time a battery goes very low or dead, it shortens the life quite a bit. If your battery has gone dead 6 or 7 times then it will soon be toast. I had an interstate battery and when it died I bought a red top optima. No battery tender and they both lasted 5 years. I now have another interstate(MTP-91) but also have a CTECH battery tender. The MTP-91 seems to fit better and is a slightly better battery than the MTP-34R that it calls for. Although the MTP-91 posts are not reversed the cables are long enough to reach.
I have a the Optima Red Top model 34R in my 355. I purchased mine at Autozone for $190. They come with a 3 year free replacement.
I will take my battery to the shop I purchased it from and they are going to check it out. This was the first time the battery didn't turn over. I wonder if they will give me some kind of credit on this one for a new one? Otherwise, I think that optima battery that some of the other owners are using might be a better one.
Do you know the condition of your alternator? When they die they seem to die slowly (or at least mine did), without illuminating the dash light (yes my light actually works) since there was some output, just not 14 volts of output. Net result: new battery lasted 7-8 months then died just like the one it replaced. Alternator upgrade thanks to Ernie's how-to and it's all good again. My theory is the heat of the engine bay affects the alt so that it doesn't actually quit, it just gives a reduced output. The upgrade hopefully improves output at high temps, which our cars' engine bays definitely see. My 2 cents. John
I've had 3 Ferraris now - one 308 and two 348s, and put Wal-Mart batteries in each, with no problems.
I have installed the smaller Mercedes battery in a friend's 355. I like them also in the Testarossa because they have the roughly 3/8 inch locating and retaining tabs. The stock hardware works well with the battery and securely retains the battery. The interstate MT-34R does not lock into the bracket on my 348 or the 355 or the TR. The Optima battery is kinda a kludge job and they have had reliability problems lately , lasting less time than a wet battery and costing half again more. FWIW. Jeff Pintler 89 348tb, 86tr
I had my major done 6 months ago and as far as I know the alternator was fine. Today I had the battery shop check it out and they indicated it didn't pass thier load test. Since it was two years old, they just went and ahead and replaced it for free with the same battery type. I did consult others and I was told that if you don't drive your car regularly all you can expect is to get two years out of a battery. Also, in reference to previous thread having your battery on a tender when you are not using the car is necessarily going to prolong your battery life. The key here is to drive the car more. So, I am convinced a battery tender doesn't really buy you much.
The battery tender does exactly what driving does, it keeps the battery topped up. In fact it does a better job because it is continously doing so.
The Sears Platinum appears to be identical (with the exception of the color of the molded case) to the PC 1500.
The Diehard Platinum is a high-quality battery. We bought some early on for comparison and benchmarking to the batteries we are developing (no Group 34 reverse polarity yet). We bought more than a dozen in several sizes from the local Sears all at once, the salesman thought he had hit the lottery!
That is what I was always led to believe. Maybe I just got a bad battery to begin with. I've got a brand new one now so we'll see if I get more than two years out of the darn thing!
I believe you will. In general, Interstate works well. The Interstate 34R in my 355 was still working fine when I replaced it at about 5 years old. I have had the Sears Platinum for the past year or so.
FYI I spoke with Deltran today. They said it's ok to hook up two battery tender jrs. at one time to help with a battery that might need a little more juice.
If you expect the battery tender to prolong the life of your battery, you are correct. It is not designed to do that. Most batteries will last 2 - 4 years. The best application for a battery tender is to keep the battery at optimum capacity if you don't drive the car often. If you don't feel the battery tender does this well, then you are mistaken. I have first hand experience on how these little devices can make life much easier. Much easier to just keep a car battery conditioned then get stranded someplace because the battery has been drained.
