Battery recomendations?

[88Racing]

My great battery tender idea lost its charge last night. I went to go start the truck and nothing!
I proceeded to keep calm due to the kids watching.
Told everyone we were going to take mom's ride instead.
Upon getting back from the errand checked out the battery tender. It was ok BUT the 12v side of the cord was chewed on. Well we still have the pets thanks to my wife's intervention. I know which one it was and he is now on his last life!

See guys, $hit does happen to everyone!
I should have posted it in the emergency section but I thought that isn't fair.

I estimate the battery is about 4.5 years old. So its on its last leg.

So?
Any suggestions?
I mean for a good battery?
Some good ones I know of:
Optima
Interstate
Exide

I have wally world, sams, sears, dealers, and auto parts stores. Sorry Jack no costcos up here.

Thanx in advance!

Lars:2thumbs:

[Jackpine]

Oh Lars - you anticipated me!

Find one with the best guarantee and no-hassle return policy. (That's why I like Costco). Maybe Sams is a good bet?

I still think Optima is way overpriced.

- Jack

[JWBFX4]

Well I personally have always used Diehard batterys (sears) and they have been outstanding for me. I have 3 for the boat and one in each vehicle. The cranking battery in the boat will be starting its tenth year here soon and its been a great. ( ofcourse I probably have got pretty lucky with it) But all of they others have a good bit of years on them and doing good.

I actually had to buy an interstate battery for our tractor a couple of years ago for lack of another choice, I was skeptical at first, but now I am real pleased with the purchase and the price. Dont really think you could go wrong with this option.

I have never liked optima ones. I hear too much bad about them. As you know they have the red top and yellow top. I have heard one is junk and the other is decent, but I am not gone to take the 50% chance pick on a overpriced battery.

[Gator 68]

I used to sell exide in the partstore I ran. I have always had good service with them. They all have giving me over 4 yrs of service without any problems. I was told by several battery manf., anything after 4 yrs is just buying time.
:thumbs up yellow:

[88Racing]

Called the place where I do part time work and guess what they said?

AC Delco!

Hmmmm

Wonder how my garage queen would like a GM battery?

Course I would get a discounted price!

My tech buddy told me to stay away from optima. He said they aren't like they used to be.

Called 3 other places. Guess what?

AC Delco again!

Oh well I will do some more calling.
Lars

[Sburn]

Called the place where I do part time work and guess what they said?

AC Delco!


Called 3 other places. Guess what?

AC Delco again!




Seems kinda "unatural" to have an AC Delco-anything in a Ford, but I have to agree with your two data points above. I had an AC Delco in my 1990 F150 for 5+ years and it never missed a beat. Was the "Pro" model, FWIW.

[88Racing]

Here's a interesting little link fom interstate that I just came across:
http://www.interstatebatteries.com/cs_estore/DealerLocator/Default.aspx?ZipCode=57201

Check out the battery life/expectancy map. The way it looks to me the upper portion of the US gets the most battery life and those in the south or canada the life goes away.

Lars

[soutthpaw]

I have good luck with Maxx everstart batteries from WM good price with 3 year free replacement... Consumer reports actually rates them very highly too. Plus if your battery craps out there is a walmart pretty much on every corner. Also check the manufacturer date and ship date sticker on the batteries.. walmart generally sells lots of batteries so they don sit on the shelf for a long time before being sold. plus if you loose receipt their warranty is based on manufacture date on the battery.
I don't care for AC delco but all the others mentioned above are good... Optima are great batteries but $$$$$

[08F150]

I sell Ac Delco batteries at my shop and have never any issues with them. I had one go bad in one of my customers cars in the last 5 years and there was no hassle for a free replacement. We also have cold winters here. Just be carefull if you do purchase an ac delco because they have a professional series battery and a 2nd line which you would find at Walmart. Be sure you get the professional series. Maybe you could find a motorcraft cover for it:D

[kansasboy]

Optima is a good choice if you are drawing alot of current. Lights, stereo system, winch. Hold up real well under rough conditions. Only last a couple years. That's what I don't like. I've had good luck with ac delco. After 5-6 years the battery terminals will come out. Overall very good battery. I run walmart's maxx marine in my boat and have had great results with them. I'd say for the price walmarts hard to beat. JMO

[88Racing]

Well ended up with an interstate. Couldn't beat the specs and warranty.
I was going to put a motorcraft in but the dealership I stopped in at was out of the 650's. So the parts guy offered me the interstate for the same price.
The battery has 850cca and 1000ca. Not to bad for $90. Saved $10 overall.
Got home and did the install in about 20mintes. Made sure everything was nice and clean. As for the old one, I charged it up and did a load test and it didn't pass. Repaired the battery tender cord still going to give it another shot.
Anything learned here?
Yes, a battery that is 4 years or older your living on borrowed time.

btw Found some more stuff the cat chewed on. He's banned now from the garage.

Lars:2thumbs:

[Jackpine]

You're lucky it's just your cat. Here in Tucson (thankfully not where we live) there is a pretty good population of packrats. Those little buggers will make nests up in your nice warm engine bay. And, they really enjoy munching on any exposed wiring they find in there. They cause all sorts of electrical problems.

There are two "fixes" for the critters - one is to leave your hood open at night, they don't think the space is so cosy then. The other is to install underhood lighting that's always on, because they seem to prefer dark spaces. Fortunately, LEDs have made that option very viable now, and I've helped some friends with that installation.

- Jack

[Gator 68]

I have good luck with Maxx everstart batteries from WM good price with 3 year free replacement... Consumer reports actually rates them very highly too. Plus if your battery craps out there is a walmart pretty much on every corner. Also check the manufacturer date and ship date sticker on the batteries.. walmart generally sells lots of batteries so they don sit on the shelf for a long time before being sold. plus if you loose receipt their warranty is based on manufacture date on the battery.
I don't care for AC delco but all the others mentioned above are good... Optima are great batteries but $$$$$

If you look at the manuf. of Maxx everstart most are made by Exide. Some are Johnson.

[88Racing]

You're lucky it's just your cat. Here in Tucson (thankfully not where we live) there is a pretty good population of packrats. Those little buggers will make nests up in your nice warm engine bay. And, they really enjoy munching on any exposed wiring they find in there. They cause all sorts of electrical problems.

There are two "fixes" for the critters - one is to leave your hood open at night, they don't think the space is so cosy then. The other is to install underhood lighting that's always on, because they seem to prefer dark spaces. Fortunately, LEDs have made that option very viable now, and I've helped some friends with that installation.

- Jack

I have found that using drier sheets like bounty. That stuffing them were the vermin like to get in is a good deterant. Also moth balls but mainly the drier sheet cause they just smell better.

But the led light idea? Now that just may work if they don't like the light!

Lars:2thumbs:

[Jackpine]

I have found that using drier sheets like bounty. That stuffing them were the vermin like to get in is a good deterant. Also moth balls but mainly the drier sheet cause they just smell better.

But the led light idea? Now that just may work if they don't like the light!

Lars:2thumbs:

I didn't mean to hijack a battery thread, but it seemed a good opportunity to relate a cure for rodents in the engine bay.

Our yard also has numerous cute little round-tailed ground squirrels. They look a bit like chipmunks, but no stripes and their tails are thinner. A proposed deterrent is dryer sheets in their holes - doesn't work. Also, cat poop (from the cat litter box) is supposed to discourage them - doesn't work. The only thing I've found that DOES work is to physically trap and remove them (we use Have-A-Heart traps and take them a couple of miles away). One summer we moved over 100 out of the backyard alone!

Maybe I ought to figure out a way to put LEDs into their homes! :giggle: That DOES seem to protect engine bays.

- Jack

[goracer]

Interstate were rated the best out of all the regular batteries, better then Sears. I don't like regular though, so I am using an Optima (Yellowtop). I was going to use Odyssey but they come in weird shapes. I have an aluminum bracket I had riveted in and holds it solid when off roading.

[88Racing]

Interstate were rated the best out of all the regular batteries, better then Sears. I don't like regular though, so I am using an Optima (Yellowtop). I was going to use Odyssey but they come in weird shapes. I have an aluminum bracket I had riveted in and holds it solid when off roading.

Optima was an option:drool2: but wasn't in my price range.
Ran the yellow top in my jeep and f100, never had any problems.
But they have really gone up in price the last few years. :yikes2:

Lars:2thumbs:

[Buckeyes903]

I have a yellow top Optima in my Ranger and I know I have abused it and it just keeps on working. It is about 5-6 years old and still works just like new even with a 2000 watt stereo and 9 off-road lights 7 of which are 100-150 watts.

[BlackSTX]

Seen a Consumers Report test on batteries some time ago, oddly enough, AC Delco was ranking pretty good in most of the categories; if not near the top. I've always gotten over 5 years with them without any problem. I know our Carquest wholesale rep said their battery where made by "___ Penn ___?" Manager said it was a good one.... Something to check into.

[88Racing]

I just couldn't force myself to put a cheby part in a ford!
But it was an option.
Lars