[96SNAKE]

I tried seaching and would like to know this general information. I believe my battery is starting to go..

I will be buying a battery within the next couple of days and wondering what is the normal idle rpms and normal voltage for a 1996 Cobra with headlights, foglights, and radio on in neutral with car fully warmed up?

My car is reading 514-650 rpms, and around 11-12.5 volts.

Also what battery should I get? Will a autozone duralast battery do just fine? I was going to get the most expensive one from them.

Also does anyone know the STOCK CCA/CA for a 1996 Cobra?

Here is the link.

AutoZone.com | Vehicle Selection | Year

Thanks again.

[96SNAKE]

TTT

Anyone?

[Cricket]

thats too low. Should be up around 13.4-14.4. Might want to have your alternator checked out if it's reading that low with all your accessories on. Like soon. I'm using the Optima Yellowtop, but mostly because of the sound system I have.

[Lefty]

An alternator should be charging around what JP said. If it's below 13.5 amps, then your alternator may be going on you.

Also, the CCA's (Cold Cranking Amps) are not controlled by the car. They are determined by the battery. I.E. you can buy a battery with a CCA of 500 or one like an Optimum Red Top w/ CCA of like 800-1000.

[96SNAKE]

So will the $92.00 Duralast battery be fine for my car? Is it better than OEM CCA specifications? Also anyone still have the normal idle rpm for my car?

[Cricket]

about 600-700 is about normal for an idle after start up. I don't know what the stock battery ca's or cca's are. I never had a stock battery when I got the car. You should be fine with some duralast battery.

[96SNAKE]

Okay, thanks, man.

[Cricket]

no problem

[stevo56]

Have the same problem with mine. I attribute mine to the pulley kit mostly. The system doesn't help either. If its stock then definately do what the others suggested. I would check the alt output and if it isn't could be you just need a new battery.

['97'Cobra]

Dont trust the testers at the parts store for your alternator because they dont put a load on it. So of course it will pass unless its just K.O'd. Get your battery tested first.

[acidtonic]

Originally Posted by '97'Cobra Dont trust the testers at the parts store for your alternator because they dont put a load on it. So of course it will pass unless its just K.O'd. Get your battery tested first.

The one my store used did put a load on it. Dimmed my lights and stressed it almost to where it wanted to kill the car.

And it passed every test until the load test where it failed. I had a battery going bad which wasnt accepting a charge.

['97'Cobra]

i had to take my alternator out for my stores tester. What auto store did you go to?

[acidtonic]

Originally Posted by '97'Cobra i had to take my alternator out for my stores tester. What auto store did you go to?

Local Murrays, but I think they were recently bought by Oreillys.

They hooked this big honkin think up to my battery, did some tests, had me start it, reporting how hard it struggled to start, then watched the voltage on the alt. Then he hit a button and it stressed it and I could hear it struggling to keep running, a few seconds later it went back to normal and he said it passed everything but the load test. Said my alt was fine but the battery was toast.

Since I'm friends with all those guys (I go there for everything I need) he hooked me up with a nice new one for $20 that was 850CCA and almost 1000CA. My lights dont dim anymore when rolling the windows up/down and my car starts 100 times easier. Only thing is the battery is slightly bigger than the stock holder, I just made something to house it.