Cranking Amps?

[tmpafford]

I was working on the turn signal relay the other day and when I pulled the head light module out of the dash I left the head lights on. Well... the battery went dead. Got a jump start from a friend with a little Honda CRV and had trouble starting the car. It did the same thing it has been doing before the battery went dead. I was watching the voltage indicator and the Honda would only put out just a little over 12 volts. It took me a couple of tries to get the car started. It would just crank and crank, and almost fire.

Here is what I am thinking. I have had this problem for a while now. Could I have a battery with too low of cranking amps? Is there a spec I should follow? I think this is a WallyWorld special so it could just meet the bare minimum.

What do y'all think?

[Ranger]

A dead battery will usually not start right away with a jump. You have to leave the cables hooked up for a while to charge the dead battery. It may be time for a new one. Your owners manual will tell you how many CCA's (cold crank amps) you need. Proabably about 800 at least.

[tmpafford]

Looked through the owners manual and I could not find what the factory cold cranking amps should be for a 97 STS.

Anyone know?

[KHE]

I installed an AC Delco 78-7YR battery in my '96 Seville a couple of months ago. That is what the Delco catalog specified. It has 960 cranking amps, 770 cold cranking amps, and 380 load test amps. I paid $79 plus tax at a Delco battery dealer. Two days later, I saw an Exide 78 battery for $48 at Sams Club..... I'm not upset as $79 is a great price on a Delco battery but when the old Buick needs a battery, it will get the Exide.