Dear Tom and Ray:

I have always checked the condition of my battery by checking the specific gravity with a hydrometer. I recently purchased an Exide battery. The specific gravity of the battery stays about 1.225 whether the battery is fully charged or completely discharged. How is this possible? Wade

Tom: It's possible with a broken hydrometer, Wade. It's time to buy a new one.

Ray: I'm sure you can find some mechanic who's dying to sell you his, since 99.9% of all batteries sold these days are maintenance-free and never need to be (and in most cases CAN'T be) checked.

Tom and Ray share secrets mechanics don't want you to know in their pamphlet Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It! To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1995 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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