Help! Won't start

[Dallas4u]

By the way, for you Optima folks out there (as I may be as soon as I need a new battery), AutoZone (at least the one close to me) carrys Optima batteries. I see the display all the time, but there are no prices on display, so I haven't paid much attention.

[Hiss]

I bought mine new and it came with a Delco Professional 6yr battery. Iwonder how long it will last?

[2K1 1K2]

hello, all.
thought i'd have a chance to pop in at the Schaumburg soiree (sp?) on sunday. unfortunately, the VX was under the weather. went to start it up and... no go! wouldn't turn over (very faint) - sounded as if it wasn't getting any fuel. checked the fuses and found all were ok. proceeded to check the battery eye and it appeared to be ok (blue - per the battery sticker pic). i was stunned and thought - alternator.
came in looked up search here and at club vmag and found that others have had bad batteries even if it showed ok w/ blue eye.
went out and jumped my battery w/ my wife's Xterra, let it run for awhile, shut off/on a few times (would start right up) and came back inside. went back outside to start the VX about 2 hours later and again the battery was weak (wouldn't turn over).

i've got the original battery w/ less than 13k miles. i know these weren't the best batteries, but..

-can i confidently rule out the alternator (or still treat it as suspect?) and head to costco simply to purchase the battery or should i just drive over to autozone for a test of the battery and alternator? any risk in them checking these and damaging anything on my baby?

thanks to all and sorry for the rambling.

-jose

[johnnyapollo]

Hey Jose,

Get it tested first. Mine went bad with the blue indicator (1 cell was dead). New battery and she was good as new.

-- John

[AREA 51]

If it ran on its own after jumping, it was probably running off the alternator then. Your alternator is most likely fine.

[2K1 1K2]

johnnyapollo and AREA 51 -

thanks for your replies. i'm hoping to get some free time w/in the next couple of days to drive over to Autozone and get battery/alternator checked out (no charge).
will keep you guys posted.

-jose

[2K1 1K2]

hello all.
good news - OEM battery replaced and the VX is as good as new.

VROOM, VROOM, VROOOOMMMMM!

i replaced it with a Kirkland battery (model# 12860) CA 1000 CCA 900 which cost $60. available at Costco. it's got a 100 month limited warranty. first 3 yrs have a free replacement. months of useage and percent refunded breakdown is as follows (in case anyone wants to know):

37-45 mth 60% 46-55 mth 50% 56-65 mth 40%
66-75 mth 30% 76-85 mth 20% 86-95 mth 10%
96-100 mth 5%

thanks, again, to those who responded to my post.

-jose