[DiverDan]

Hi, folks,

Subject: Battery replacement, Group 51R for GT-R.

This concerns those of us who don't tweak all the time, but just enjoy the GT-R as the gods intended it... except for the HKS exhaust that gave me another 33 Hp at the wheel, of course. Those for whom it's a daily driver. Not everyone wants to squeeze out the last erg or shave the last gram. I'm happy with my first-delivered from the dealer on 29 Aug 2008. Daily driver, but only about 21,900 miles to date, as I'm retired and almost 71. Adding an HKS exhaust and warranty-detuning "launch" combined, gave me a before/after 33Hp at-the-wheel improvement on the Cobb dyno in Plano, TX. Good enough for an old fart.

Long story short, my battery died Monday at home. No start, nothing worked. A few hours charging on my digital-readout charger got it running, and I installed a new $100 Sears Diehard today. Diehard ain't just Bruce Willis flicks; it's also the best-rated overall battery by Consumer Reports.

So for anyone who has an early 2009 GT-R, check your battery and consider replacing it before it strands you in the middle of nowhere this winter. I had NO warning before it shut down.

Please note the fine print in the Owners Manual: Do NOT shut the doors while the battery is disconnected, or it will damage the windows. Pages 8-15/16 of the Owners' Manual. Wiith power on, you'll notice the slight lowering of the windows when you close the doors. This doesn't happen when the battery is disconnected, and can BREAK THE WINDOWS!

If everything is going to be done indoors the same day, lowering both windows first works just as well.

I gotta keep it in good shape for a spring 2012 trip from Texas to SW Virginia for my 50th reunion at VMI.

DiverDan

 

[shawnhayes]

Indoor or outdoor stored?

Shawn

 

[enshiu]

is there any gel battery for this issue?

 

[Ewilliams1570]

Optima makes a group 51R if you wanted to go with spiral cell technology. I am in the battery business working for Interstate Batteries. I personally would not recommend an Optima if you don't drive the car often, and we do carry their products for them. Once their batteries discharge, they are more difficult in operating at their full capacity and seem to have a difficult time taking a charge back to full charge. JCI manufactures many of the brands out there including Die Hard, Interstate, Duralast, Everstart, Kirkland for Costco etc etc. Weather plays a huge role in the longevity of your car battery. Heat is actually the biggest enemy of a flooded battery, as sulfation takes place in the plates of the battery in hot climates. Shortest battery life would be in FL, TX or AZ type climates. Feel free to PM if you have additional questions as I'm not overly active on the forum.

 

[shawnhayes]

JCI manufactures many of the brands out there including Die Hard, Interstate, Duralast, Everstart, Kirkland for Costco etc etc. Weather plays a huge role in the longevity of your car battery. Heat is actually the biggest enemy of a flooded battery, as sulfation takes place in the plates of the battery in hot climates. Shortest battery life would be in FL, TX or AZ type climates. Feel free to PM if you have additional questions as I'm not overly active on the forum.

And JCI uses powerframe technology in all those batteries. I buy Duralast's, myself.

Also, the source of my question as to where he stored it. I still want to know. OP?

Shawn

 

[dexterkatt]

I believe that when CU tests a particular battery and says it is the best, it only applies to that battery group not necessarily the entire line. At least that's the way I understand it.

 

[shawnhayes]

I believe that when CU tests a particular battery and says it is the best, it only applies to that battery group not necessarily the entire line. At least that's the way I understand it.

That's true. But, what one manufacturer uses for one line, the "downgrades" to other products are rarely significant. Especially when it comes to things with no moving parts, like batteries. Duralast's and DieHards are almost indistinguishable, internally.

Shwn

 

[Ewilliams1570]

Consumer report testing of batteries is a very poor process. They do not do a very good job of comparing apples to apples as far as rating of the battery goes. The biggest mistake you could make would be to put anything manufactured by Exide in your car.

 

[vir2L]

Don't they make lightweight racing batteries that net you a 50lb weight savings? I've been reading around about such a modification.

 

[Ewilliams1570]

The GT-R takes a group 51R I believe, which only weighs about 28 lbs probably so I don't think you will be finding a 50 lb weight savings in a different battery. Odyssey typically makes smaller lightweight batteries that would probably knock a few pounds off if you're worried about weight.