1) Since when is 2GNT back up? there was like a week like a month ago that I couldnt get on...unless...I was banned ? *Shakes fist in anger at theDawg *

2) Been busy with school and yes...for shame I got a parttime at pepboys to finish my 4 quarters of school that I have left...hey its paying for food and gas and I saved for school So F U DRIGGS...sorry your just the one that stands out of the bunch...

k end rant, send it to the pits if need be.

On to the prob.

1)screw the baking soda, use a good cleaner, This is why people should just buy the damn battery terminal protectors...

2) Make sure the grounds are ok, use an multimeter.

3) get the right battery for your car, also like they told you, a new battery CAN be defective.

The fact that you have to short it out makes me think there is something wrong with the batt dude. When you do this you are letting full current run through it.

Now in a conventional batt the plates can short each other out. ther are spaced like IIIIIIII. now with age they form a sort of "bridge" with "deposits" ( i use the terms loosely). What I like to do is run a high amperage through em to melt theese... I have the feeling you might be doing something similar.

This is dangerous, it can blow up on you, or at the very least heat it up enough to make vapors.

The think is, you dont have a conventional batt, you have one with rolled gell cells if im not mistaken... so I am stumped... What tester did they use and on what settings?

Swing by my house tomorrow morning if ya can, or ill call ya.