Car Battery Recommendations

RevDevil

RevDevil

Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
44,314
According to the Midas Service Center, and Jiffy Lube Service Center my car battery is not holding the 260 CCA that it needs. It was recommended that I replace the battery and soon. I've already had to jump start the car a couple times in the last year. My battery is around 6 years old, for Arizona that is incredible.:eek:
I have used the Sears Die Hard battery in the past in another vehicle and it was junk. The battery didn't hold a charge at all. I swapped it with a new battery same model, and the same thing happened. The alternator and belts were fine according to their mechanics (defective batteries were the diagnosis).
I was looking at Optima batteries. Specifically the yellow top sealed battery. Does any one have any experience with these, good, bad or indifferent? Or maybe another alternate recommendation? I'd like to get a new battery by this next payday if possible.;)
 
I've never had trouble with the Duralast batteries sold at Autozone.

I also never dork around when it comes replacing a bad battery, even if it means putting it on the credit card. Saving $5 in interest isn't worth the risk of being stuck fifty miles in the mountains in sub-freezing temperatures or being stuck in a 100-degree desert twenty miles from water. Heck, it's not even worth being stranded at the grocery two miles away. ;)
 
First the yellow top is a deep cycle battery.Not necessary unless you have a lot of aftermarket electrical add ons.I have 2 red top batteries.two and a half years and no problems.If you are a Costco member you might be able to get one at a reasonable price. They were at least 35 cheaper than others that carried the red top batteries.
 
I use Optima Red Tops, and only Optima Red Tops.
My dad has my old truck, and the Optima in it is probably 10 years old(maybe more, just not sure when I changed batteries-bought that truck ~13 years ago), and the one in my current truck is ~5 years old.
 
Optimas are garbage if you let the vehicle they're installed in sit for any length of time. Any gel cell/ AGM style battery doesn't fare well when put to use for anything other than a battery for a daily driver. They're overpriced unless you need the additional shock resistance offered by a gel cell, just get a standard lead-acid style from Interstate, they typically tend to offer the highest CCA ratings for the group size of battery you need, and are much cheaper than the Optima's. My boss advocates the Optima batteries, but I replace them almost weekly, and our Interstate battery rep (who also sells us Optimas) has told us he warranties nearly 50% of the Optima batteries he sells. That's my two cents, good luck.
 
The Optima is appealling since it is no maintenance, but I surely would not want to get stranded as Bob mentioend in the various scenarios. Autozone batteries are decent enough, a couple bad experiences ruined it for me. That was years ago, and I suppose things would change with time (at least you would hope right?).
Interstate batteries have gotten some decent reviews and overall praise from many people. Seems like I've narrows it down a bit. :thumbup:


ridgeline said:
Optimas are garbage if you let the vehicle they're
installed in sit for any length of time. Any gel cell/ AGM style battery doesn't fare well when put to use for anything other than a battery for a daily driver. They're overpriced unless you need the additional shock resistance offered by a gel cell, just get a standard lead-acid style from Interstate, they typically tend to offer the highest CCA ratings for the group size of battery you need, and are much cheaper than the Optima's. My boss advocates the Optima batteries, but I replace them almost weekly, and our Interstate battery rep (who also sells us Optimas) has told us he warranties nearly 50% of the Optima batteries he sells. That's my two cents, good luck.
Click to expand...

That is interesting, I had also heard some negative reviews on Optima. Mostly that they were being exchanged with increased frequency. I was not sure why, but I suppose your explanation would be a compelling reason.
 
Here in SoCal, I've always bought my batteries for the last 23 years from Kragen Autoparts. All of them, have lasted for 3-4 years each without difficulty. I've now adopted a practice of replacing car batteries after 3 years whether they need it or not. I also always have a back up battery fully charged for my truck with a 12 volt female plug on it for general powering of miscellaneous 12 volt electronics (ham radios, scanners, etc).
 
If you really don't want to get stranded, in addition to a good battery (I like Autozone's Duralast), get one of these and keep it in your trunk. That how I ride. Makes it easier to help damsels in distress too.
 
I bought a Bosch from Pep boys when mine went down in 2008.It is the only battery I have had no trouble at all with in years,except for a gel cell I had but I am not sure they still make them.
I have swapped out the Advance battery that was on my wives old van twice,went 3 months the first time and 5 months the second,traded vans before I could see how long that one would make it.
http://c2c.activant.com/ctoc/index.jsp?ID=dAi1oFiopEU50LyZ_CUdGM2xCVF86BVMUUHFTO00A
 
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ridgeline said:
Optimas are garbage if you let the vehicle they're installed in sit for any length of time. Any gel cell/ AGM style battery doesn't fare well when put to use for anything other than a battery for a daily driver. They're overpriced unless you need the additional shock resistance offered by a gel cell, just get a standard lead-acid style from Interstate, they typically tend to offer the highest CCA ratings for the group size of battery you need, and are much cheaper than the Optima's. My boss advocates the Optima batteries, but I replace them almost weekly, and our Interstate battery rep (who also sells us Optimas) has told us he warranties nearly 50% of the Optima batteries he sells. That's my two cents, good luck.
Click to expand...

interstate batteries are good,i got 4 redtop and i have replaced 2 of them in the 3 years i got lucky and withen a few days of the warranty i was good.
 
powernoodle said:
If you really don't want to get stranded, in addition to a good battery (I like Autozone's Duralast), get one of these and keep it in your trunk. That how I ride. Makes it easier to help damsels in distress too.
Click to expand...

Excellent suggestion and sound advice. I'll be picking one of these up post haste. Looks like Optima only makes a yellow top, the red top for my ride does not fit/exist. Interstate or Duralast it is.
I haven't checked the Interstate warranty, but looks like Duralast offers 8 years prorated, 3 year free replacement (standard I guess).
 
Autozones Duralast I have had mine for year never had a problem and they are always a fair price.
 
I've had good luck with Interstate batteries. They seem to last as well or better than all the others I've tried over the years.
 
I have always found it funny when someone talks about the good old yellow top. Yes they are crap for cars and audio systems....why? because they are DEEP CYCLE and made for holding a charge for long periods without electrical strain.

Any decent name brand should do, +1 duralast





Displacement Cu in. X 2= min. CCA
 
I changed my post.It was what ever brand Advance sells not Autozone.
 
There are several different types of Die Hard batteries. Consumer Reports did a "stress test" of most of the different batteries sold nationwide a few years ago. The winner? Sears Die Hard Winter. Not Gold or Platinum. Some places it is sold as the Silver Winter.

That said, if you still are dead set against Sears, my vote is Interstate. The big ones just last and last. One time I left my lights on for two hours. The dome light wouldn't even glow. I just shut off the light switch, went back inside, had a drink, and 15 minutes later, the battery had recovered itself enough to start the car.
 
Trouble with Die Hard is that you never know who is making them from year to year.As far as I know Sears contracts most Sears brand items out to the lowest bidder.
 
optima is overpriced and overrated...

both of our trucks and cars have the advance auto brand (the highest warranty they have) and have worked very well for the past few years..
 
ACDelco professional batteries are the best you can buy for a lead acid. Optimas and other AGM batteries sound nice but aren't worth the price for a daily driver.
ACDelco batteries are affordable and superior to any Interstate, Duralast, Die-Hard, TV advertised brand. With those you pay for the NASCAR sponsorship and advertisement, with ACDelco you pay for the quality.
 
So I often source Alaska in posts. This will not be an exception.

It is cold in Alaska and a battery must work at all times. Up until 2 years ago I only used Optima red top batteries. I never had issues. When I bought a newer used vehicle I went to purchase a new Optima and the local starter/alternator/battery shop told me he quit selling them because they were now made in Mexico and the quality had gone downhill. He also said they were not always honoring warranties. He personally was exchanging the batteries for customers but Optima refused to pay him. I went to the local Napa to confirm this because they sell Optima along with the exide/napa optima gel cell. They had the same opinion. When I am not focused on knives. I frequent toyota forums. They all have the same opinion of Optima batteries these days. It is really a bummer because they were without question the best for a long time.

I ended up buying a plane jane lead acid Exide battery with the highest CCA I could find. It has worked flawlessly in temps this summer over 100 and temps as low last winter as -40!!!

http://www.exide.com/portal/server.pt/community/transportation_na/221/automotive_nascar_select

My truck has moose lights and all of the bulbs are overwattage. No problems at all. I now have this battery in all of my vehicles.
 
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