Got a battery red light on. I own 98 3.0CL. Took it in to the garage the mechanic checked out on the machine had 60% battery life ..... @ 5AMPs. They wanted to change the alternator with a new Unknown brand. Got a BOSCH alternator rebuilt put on. I told the mechanic to fully charge the battery but he said don't need to only when if it was totally dead he would do it.

Which makes me mad, i know that if the alternator has to charge the battery. It has to work harder which lessens the life of the alternator.
I'm paranoid that driving in stop in go traffic that the battery is not 100% charged and when the weather gets cold the battery will die on me sometime this cold winter. Not sure how old is the battery but 6 years is probably a life span which i would expect from it.
So does anyone know if car batteries are running at 85% or 100% charged normally? I understand with AC on and the stereo on and heated seats on lights at night might reduce the batteries charge.
So paranoid i drove during the day with my window opened for a week and stereo off.
Can anyone tell me if i should not worry or is it my battery on its last legs? Should i expect another surprise one cold day that my battery has died.

 

6 years? Most batteries should be changed at around the 60 month (5 year) point. Though I had batteries that last much longer, I hate getting stuck somewhere due to a battery issue. I say change that before winter, or invest in some jump cables. I would even advise you to get a cheap battery if money is hard to come by. Even my $30 maintenance free costco battery is still kick ass going on to it's 4th year.

 

i dont think it takes a week to charge a batt in the car when they can charge it on a machine in like 10 minutes.