Auto Parts: Jeep Liberty 2006 4wd, steam irons, vehicle jump


Question
The battery went dead on my jeep.  I charged it with another vehicle and put battery water in it.  Now, when I turn on my jeep, it makes a noise (like if the battery was dead) and then it turns on.  Do I need a new battery?  And if so, what is the ideal battery for my jeep?  

Answer
    First you should examine the battery cables.  Make sure that they are all tight, undamaged, and go where they're supposed to go.  It is a bad idea to try to charge a battery from another vehicle.  Jump start is OK, but charging should be done with a charger (and the battery disconnected from the vehicle).  And, if by "battery water" you mean battery acid as found in an auto parts store, you should never do that.  The only thing that is safe to add to any battery is distilled water (available at any grocery store, they use it in steam irons).  Once the initial charge of acid is placed in the battery when it is activated, water is the only safe thing to add.  Lastly, if this is the original battery in the vehicle (5 years old) you should replace it.  For a battery to last this long, especially the cheap-assed batteries that manufacturers install as original equipment, is unusual.  It's not a bad idea to just plan on changing the battery every four years, then you have one less thing to worry about.