After Market Batteries - any recommendations ?

[mariner]

Hi Guys,

 

My 2002 truck still has the original batteries in it. While the weather is mild they are still giving good service - but coming up to winter I am not so sure this year.

Those of  you that have replaced your batteries, what did you use and how have they performed. I am considering going to Costco for the new batteries as I have had good results with their batteries on other vehicles and applications.

Any info or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

[Mopar1973Man]

Just remember there is only 3 companies producing all the batteries. So name brand is meaningless for the most part. Make sure that it fits the vehicle CCA and size wise. After that make sure it fits your budget and somewhere you capable of dealing with for warranty work. Like myself I got WalMart batteries and can get to Walmart anywhere to replace them. As for doing group 31's it not required so folks believe its a much better set up but the batteries are physically larger than the tray. The extra CCA is pretty minimal. Bare minimum requirement is 750 CCA batteries so anything above that is a bonus. I can say my 820 CCA's are doing just fine in minus weather.

 

There is other things that will make batteries perform better like good solid cables that are not corroded in the center of the copper. Good clean terminals without any lead oxide (black hard coating).

 

I tend to favor lead acid batteries because I can clear 10 years of service with everything from truck/car batteries, to ATV's, motorcycles, and lawn mowers. As long as the battery is topped off with distilled water and charged properly and put away charged then the vehicle will start every morning no problem for better than a decade.

[Wild and Free]

Remember the higher the CCA the lower the reserve capacity meaning if a battery has 1000 cca versus a 750 cca the 750 will have more reserve meaning you can crank on it longer before it runs out of power, some newer battery designs have changed this in recent years but is always a good thing to look at when comparing.

 

I shy away from Walmart batteries, seems they offer 1 or 2 year free replacement but no prorate from my experience trying to warranty batts there.

 

I buy batteries @ local parts stores and do not look at the price I buy the battery with the longest pro rated warranty I can find, we have a local jobber I have been buying from where they offer 2 year free replacement and 80 month pro rated warranty.

 

I too usually average around 10 years on my OEM batteries in my vehicles, my 05 still has the OEMs in it @ 120K miles, my old 02 went around 120K and 10 years before I replaced them, they were still going but when sub freezing temps set in the voltage would drop off to the point that when it started and the grids ran the Fass pump wouldn't get up to pressure.

 

I had an old timer tell me once many years ago, " You can tell the difference between the good and bad batteries, they put handles on the crappy ones to make them easier to change every year", I have noticed some truth to that over the years.

[Mopar1973Man]

So far the WalMart's are still holding up. As for NAPA they also do very well too. Personally the one I see fail more often is Interstate. Mostly that's what sold at the local stores here and people abuse the batteries by driving across town (Less than 1 mile) then shut down the vehicle. Not even enough time to charge up from the time time it was started.

[Buzzinhalfdozen]

I agree with almost everything stated above. I have been using interstate lead acid batteries for years and have had very little trouble with them. No idea who actually makes them.

[Mopar1973Man]

Delphi, Exide and Johnson Controls. These are the 3 companies that manufacture all brand names of vehicle batteries.

[Me78569]

Do yourself a favor and look on craigslist for someone selling blem batteries.

U have a "battery guy" that dell's blem batteries. I got 2 group 31's for $100 total with a 3 year warranty. So far I have bought 5 batteries from him and have had nothing but great results.

[dripley]

So far the WalMart's are still holding up. As for NAPA they also do very well too. Personally the one I see fail more often is Interstate. Mostly that's what sold at the local stores here and people abuse the batteries by driving across town (Less than 1 mile) then shut down the vehicle. Not even enough time to charge up from the time time it was started.

 

I fit into this category of short tripping. Alot of my trips are in the 1 mile or less range and it is not feasible to drive around enough to make up for it. It is hard on them.  Lost one of my last pair going bad. Duralast from auto zone. I got the guy to condemn both of them and got a new pair for $110 or 20. 3 year free replacement and I forget the pro rated time, 5 or 6 years I think.

[dave110]

Delphi, Exide and Johnson Controls. These are the 3 companies that manufacture all brand names of vehicle batteries.

Hmmm. Not to start anything but East Penn here in Reading has a few plants manufacturing the Deka battery and maybe other names as well. They are going 7 days a week right now.

[dave110]

I fit into this category of short tripping. Alot of my trips are in the 1 mile or less range and it is not feasible to drive around enough to make up for it. It is hard on them.  Lost one of my last pair going bad. Duralast from auto zone. I got the guy to condemn both of them and got a new pair for $110 or 20. 3 year free replacement and I forget the pro rated time, 5 or 6 years I think.

I'm running Duralast as well. The gold ones. No complaints so far.

[Cowboy]

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/exide-heavy-duty-farm-battery-hp31e

 

Plenty of cranking amps and pretty easy on the back pocket.

[98whitelightnin]

^^^^ I have been running these group 31's in the last two trucks. I think Costco carries Deka and they are good batteries too.

[ronman]

Man, in Florida I'm thrilled if I can get 5 years out of a battery... usually it's just past the three year free replacement. My most recent batteries are Duracell-branded JCIs from Sam's Club, the last three sets were Walmart Everstart Maxx or whatever they're called. 

[Mopar1973Man]

Weather or state has nothing to do with the life span of a battery. Everyone for gets I get the same weather here as Arizona with temperatures as high as 110-115*F this year unofficially Riggins, ID topped out at 117*F. Then in the dead of winter I can pull down to -20*F to -25*F in New Meadows, ID. Still get ten years from a battery. It about proper charging and maintenance.