Battery brand recommendation

[Y_K]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Many times the seal between the case and post gets damaged, it doesn't take much.
I go just snug and that's it, never had much corrosion on any battery terminal.

Yes, I was also wondering why every single battery I got was misbehaving chemically. Installed by me, by shops, by dealers, brands (including Mercedes, Lexus) and no-names.. Until my old mechanic friend showed me what happens when the zeal in tightening the clamps is overpowering experience. It does not take much to bend/deform the electrode area and cause [micro-]cracking.

 

[Boss302fan]

Just go to Batteries Plus. They carry many different brands and also will install it for you. They also keep them charged...

Many batteries at big box stores can sit for a year before they are purchased... This in turn kills the life of the battery.

 

[tomcat27]

is your current battery the OE battery? walmart's top battery, autozone gold, would get my top pick if you are looking for value. if you want the ultimate... try a Sears platinum. its an AGM battery. my OE battery (Panasonic) in my Toyota is AGM and is 9 years old. a coworker had an OE AGM in his nissan last for 12 years. of course... $200...

 

[barlowc]

Does your vehicle take a Group 24F or Group 35? AAP's site lists both for that vehicle.

According to Consumer Reports November battery review...

Group 24/24F Top Five
Interstate Mega-Tron Plus MTP-24
DieHard Gold 50523 (South)
EverStart Maxx-24S (South)
DieHard Gold 50624 (North)
NAPA Legend Premium 8424

Group 35 Top Five
Bosch Premium Power 35-640B
EverStart Maxx-35N (North)
Duralast Gold 35-DLG
(Costco) Kirkland Signature 12865
NAPA Legend Premium 8435

I personally have had very good luck with the Costco Kirkland batteries which are made by Johnson Controls. Their prices are great and can't be beat.

Secondly I like AAP's Autocraft batteries because using their online promo codes, their prices end up being very, very good too.

 

[Bror Jace]

I'm looking for a premium battery for my Hondas ... depending on the brand/model/size, they could take the same one. However, the S2000 is a 7 month vehicle (April - November) and when off the road, the battery is removed and brought inside.

The 2006 Civic, however, stays outside all year and in these parts, that can mean -25F on some winter mornings.

Seriously thinking of one of these batteries for the S2000:

http://www.dealercostcaraudio.com/stingerspv35.aspx

Or

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/pc925series.htm

One thing that makes me a bit different from most folks is that weight matters to me. The typical car battery is about 40+ lbs. The batteries above are both around 25 lbs.
If I thought a battery was truly premium (lightweight and long-lasting), I would pay up to $200.

 

[barlowc]

Originally Posted By: Bror Jace
I'm looking for a premium battery for my Hondas

The Geniune Honda battery in my mother-in-law's 2002 Civic EX lasted over 9 years! If the dealer had been open when it died, I probably would have gone there and gotten another. But it was a Sunday so I had to settle for an AAP Autocraft instead.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: SrDriver
Wal-Mart/Sam's Batteries get high marks. Good price/warranty.


X2. I'm very happy with the Wal-Mart battery I bought a couple years ago.

 

[Donald]

Walmart has the MAXX which for me this year is a JCI. Who knows who will make it next week.

Interstate will always be made by JCI as they have a very close working relationship. Walmart just sees the dollar sign. But if I could get a JCI made battery at Walmart, then I would go for it.

 

[shrooms]

Originally Posted By: barlowc
Does your vehicle take a Group 24F or Group 35? AAP's site lists both for that vehicle.


I'm a noob to batteries. Is it a size difference?

About cold crank amps, the higher, the better? I see the Duralast Gold 24 is 750 CCA and the Gold 35 is 640 CCA.

 

[Errtt]

About a little over a year ago, I changed all 3 vehicles batteries and used the green top Interstate batteries which I had good luck in the past using them.
Pulled Costco Kirkland batteries which all were almost 5 years old, and still going good.
No particular reason I switched from Costco to Interstate.
After I installed the green top Interstate, I seen about the black top. Then later on I seen the Sears Platinum.

 

[shrooms]

Ok, the Duralast 24F-DLG has an 8yr pro rate, 3yr free replacement warranty. I think that's very hard to beat.

 

[user52165]

Originally Posted By: shrooms
Ok, the Duralast 24F-DLG has an 8yr pro rate, 3yr free replacement warranty. I think that's very hard to beat.


That's the same warranty as Costco - which cost less.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: shrooms
Originally Posted By: barlowc
Does your vehicle take a Group 24F or Group 35? AAP's site lists both for that vehicle.


I'm a noob to batteries. Is it a size difference?

About cold crank amps, the higher, the better? I see the Duralast Gold 24 is 750 CCA and the Gold 35 is 640 CCA.

Group 24/24F- L:10.25" W:6.8" H:8.9"
Group 35 - L:9.1" W:6.85" H:8.9"

 

[shrooms]

Originally Posted By: user52165
Originally Posted By: shrooms
Ok, the Duralast 24F-DLG has an 8yr pro rate, 3yr free replacement warranty. I think that's very hard to beat.


That's the same warranty as Costco - which cost less.


Spoke too soon. Yes, that's true.

Went for the Duralast. Only because AZ is a few blocks away and I needed a battery NOW. Costco is too far from me. No choice. Anyway, ordered online and picked it up. I asked how fresh is the battery and the clerk showed me the production date..........11/11. He said that this batch just came in.

 

[shrooms]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: shrooms
Originally Posted By: barlowc
Does your vehicle take a Group 24F or Group 35? AAP's site lists both for that vehicle.


I'm a noob to batteries. Is it a size difference?

About cold crank amps, the higher, the better? I see the Duralast Gold 24 is 750 CCA and the Gold 35 is 640 CCA.

Group 24/24F- L:10.25" W:6.8" H:8.9"
Group 35 - L:9.1" W:6.85" H:8.9"


Thanks HTSS, went for the 24F. Funny that the 35 cost MORE than the bigger 24F with higher CCA.

 

[Petersubaru]

Does production date have any importance ??..yesterday I went into AA and all the batteries for my car were made 10 months ago..I was told that batteries are not like eggs and don't go bad by sittng on the shelf...

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Petersubaru
Does production date have any importance ??..yesterday I went into AA and all the batteries for my car were made 10 months ago..I was told that batteries are not like eggs and don't go bad by sittng on the shelf...


I would not buy a battery older than 6 months on the shelf. Most places have the supplier swap them out before they get that old. They sulphate on the shelf unless they are connected to a float charger. And almost none are. Interstate are covered in shrink wrap and others have terminal covers.

I went in to a truck place to get a battery for my Bobcat. As the guy was taking one off the shelf for me, the Interstate sales guy walked in with one of the size I needed (group 31) and it was a 11/2011. I took that one. Cannot get fresher than that.

As far a CCA goes, you should not go for much more CCA in the same size as what you had. More CCA in a larger battery is fine. Shoot for the same your vehicle came with or a little more. In order to boost CCA, they make the battery weaker. They need more surface area for more CCA, so that means more but thinner plates and other tricks. That being said, sometimes you are pushed into a higher CCA as they may not have the exact one you need in a given model. As in Walmart MAXX is probably one CCA for each battery group number.

For my Bobcat I needed 700 CCA, Interstate lists it, but no one had it and if they ordered it, less CCA would be more money as it was special order.

One reason to buy at Walmart is they have a very high battery turnover unless you had some really odd size. Like you went in to buy a marine battery in January. And I suspect Walmart forces their suppliers to swap out old batteries. When you are a Fortune 1 company you have that much clout.