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:

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

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

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

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:

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.

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.

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