I bought a new battery for the '89 wagon. This was prompted by the fact that it would not start on Christmas Eve.

Usually, three or four cranks and it fires. That evening three or four cranks was about all it had to offer.

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. The old battery was nearly eight years in service and it was 20°F outside.

Just to be sure, on Christmas Day I borrowed the battery from the 242 long enough to confirm that the car would start which it did.

In the meantime I put the ailing battery on the trickle charger.

I checked online. Two of the local chain stores wanted over $100 for a replacement and another did not claim to have what I needed.

This morning I called a battery warehouse I hadn't been to in years and the guy I talked to said they had it and it was $69.95 plus tax.

After charging, the old battery started the car and was reading something in excess of 14v. I wondered if I should chance leaving it in there. Maybe I just need to tension the alternator belts. They seemed okay, though. But considering it's age, the weather and the fact that I don't want to get stuck somewhere other than my own driveway I decided it was time for a replacement.

I drove to the cheap battery place down in the boondocks, parked on the street and removed the old battery.

I told the guy at the customer desk it was a group 47 and I had called about it earlier. He writes up a ticket, collects $75.96 from me and proceeds to start a conversation with one of his co-workers.

So I'm standing there, receipt in hand, and I asked him, "What do I do next?"

He started saying something about five business days and I told him, "I need a battery now."

"Oh...why didn't you say so?"

"Why else would I be here?"

This was all quite civil. The guy was never less than courteous.

He tells me, "We have it in stock. I'll have to get it from our other building next door. Could you pull your car over there?"

"No. The car has no battery in it."

"Oh, okay. I'll get it for you." Which he did.

I installed it and that was the end of that.

I didn't ask him but I wonder, why the song and dance about five business days? They had the damn battery. What kind of way is that to run a business?

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'80 DL 2 door, '89 DL Wagon