mandyfig

I have bought 2 Harbor Freight Battery Charger - Starter. One was old and the newer one just died. It cost me a starter on my CRV. I misdiagnosed a failing battery and instead I suspected the starter.

One morning, the CRV (wife's daily) did not want to start, I pull out my HF Battery Starter and all I heard were click-click-click. So, I put in on charge, after a few hours, I started it up, still click-click-click. I measure the voltage on the battery, it read 13V. After going through checking the fuses, solenoids, I diagnosed it as a starter issue.

A day later after I install the new starter, I started the engine and it went click-click-click. Has to be the battery. Costco battery was under warranty and got a new one. Installed it and it started right up. Lessons learned: 1) Need a battery checker (not cheap) 2) Check the starter while it is still mounted 3) Get a reliable battery maintainer - charger. I did not need a starter because I bought a Lithium Ion battery starter a while back that I now carry everywhere I go (wish I can buy 3 more of them for each of the cars).

I finally bought a unit (Battery Charger -Maintainer) after doing some research and ended up with Platinum Die Hard Battery Charger/Maintainer, $50 @ Ace. I finally set it up. I came with a ring terminal quick connect and I have seen somewhere here where the quick connect is installed were you did not even have to open the hood, plug and play. I installed it on the SC and will get another one for the IS350.

OBP

Looks good there Mandy. I had to get a little Deltran trickle charger from Advance Auto last year for like $7 cos my interstate battery in the SC dates back to maybe 2013 or 2014, battery purchased at Big 10 over at Johnson Ferry in Marietta. It cannot handle a couple of weeks of winter up here without being on the charger. I also have a lithium ion battery jump starter purchased from Costco but never used so far touchwood. I should definitely bring it around with me on road trips though.

mandyfig

I came across a post here where somebody tried to jump somebody and in the process, the jumper's battery died.

Hence when traveling (and if I remember to to bring it), I can jump somebody's car using this portable one.

Harold57

Good idea.