Good battery brands?

[Saturn_Fan]

Originally Posted By: 1sttruck
I've had good luck with DieHard Gold (over 7 years in a Civic), Interstate (over 7 years in a Taurus), Ford OEM (three Taurii, 5 to 7 years so far), Dodge OEM (dual batteries in a Dodge diesel, 5 yrs so far with sign of problems). My son has a Kirkland group 65 in his 92 F150, it's so old that I can't read the date on the sticker, and it keeps ticking (needed a major cleanup around it when we bought it). The trick seems to be buying a bit more capacity than needed, keeping the connections clean, and especially not letting the water get low. I check the water monthly in the summer.

I did buy a red top Optima as it was on sale and was about the same price an Interstate that I was looking at, and the no maintenance was attractive. I've only had it going on three years so far. The batteries in the Dodge are also no maintenance.


Hard to beat Costco on a lot of items. Hate that I don't have one anywhere near where I live. All we have an hour away is Sam's Club, and I don't like that as much as Costco.

 

[brianl703]

If you look at Johnson Control's annual report they mention that they make batteries for Interstate.

 

[ARB1977]

My father in law went 10 years on his original Exploder battery. Although it still cranked he swapped it out for another Ford brand.

 

[mountravlr]

My 2000 F-150 still has its original battery after 8 years. I put a yellow top Optima in the Jeep.

 

[dargo]

you could not GIVE me a Optima battery. I had one for less then one year and it failed. Then I got the run around from Interstate to replace.

I bought a Costco one and would again. Better warranty etc.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Walmart's Everstart MAXX.

They took the highest honors for nearly every group size in CR's latest battery test.


Same Johnson Control higher graded battery that everyone else (e.g. Sear's Diehard gold) is selling, but about $20 cheaper. If you like their return policy and their customer services then they do have the freshest stock due to volume.

 

[Kestas]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
AutoZone - Duralast Gold make by Johnson Controls

Ditto. Even Consumer Reports puts Duralast on top of their list.

 

[1sttruck]

"Walmart's Everstart MAXX.

They took the highest honors for nearly every group size in CR's latest battery test. "

If Johnson makes a bunch of well rated batteries why are there differences in the same (?) batteries being tested by the likes of CR ?

 

[Kestas]

Johnson Controls is a supplier. They make batteries to their client's specifications. If the client wants lousy batteries, they'll get lousy batteries. They must cater to their clients whims and wishes. Our company see the same thing with our OEM wheel bearings.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: 1sttruck

If Johnson makes a bunch of well rated batteries why are there differences in the same (?) batteries being tested by the likes of CR ?


Are the batteries fresh? Were they fully charged? Do they test more than one of each model to ensure their results are repeatable?

 

[artificialist]

Yes. All Carquest batteries are re-labeled Deka batteries.

I bought one because the gas vents perfectly match the OE ACdelco gas vents, critical in a trunk mounted battery.

Who makes Mopar batteries? My mom's 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee had the battery die spontaneously after 3 years. It was a 94R battery.

 

[dargo]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Walmart's Everstart MAXX.

They took the highest honors for nearly every group size in CR's latest battery test.


Same Johnson Control higher graded battery that everyone else (e.g. Sear's Diehard gold) is selling, but about $20 cheaper. If you like their return policy and their customer services then they do have the freshest stock due to volume.


I do not put much faith in CR's ratings.

 

[artificialist]

That, plus my dad had 2 everstart batteries explode in his 1995 Honda Accord. That is why I would never trust a walmart battery.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: artificialist

Who makes Mopar batteries? My mom's 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee had the battery die spontaneously after 3 years. It was a 94R battery.


I've seen some recent Mopar batteries made by Exide.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
That, plus my dad had 2 everstart batteries explode in his 1995 Honda Accord. That is why I would never trust a walmart battery.


Battery explosions typically happen due to low electrolyte levels. That's why you should add enough distilled water to cover the plates (if it's low) before you jumpstart or charge a battery.

 

[1sttruck]

"Battery explosions typically happen due to low electrolyte levels."

Or sparks / flames.

 

[brianl703]

Adding distilled water to a battery low on electrolyte reduces the amount of hydrogen gas that can accumulate inside (reducing the possibility of an explosion), in addition to helping to prevent the battery itself from being an ignition source. A spark inside a faulty cell is no big deal if it happens to be covered by electrolyte.

 

[artificialist]

That is great, but the factory Honda battery never needed any water added, and neither did the other replacement batteries that dad used.

 

[brianl703]

My experience has been that after about a year and a half a car battery will be noticeably low. It doesn't matter who made it.

I only discovered this when I started checking them.

 

[firemachine69]

Originally Posted By: dargo
Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Walmart's Everstart MAXX.

They took the highest honors for nearly every group size in CR's latest battery test.


Same Johnson Control higher graded battery that everyone else (e.g. Sear's Diehard gold) is selling, but about $20 cheaper. If you like their return policy and their customer services then they do have the freshest stock due to volume.


I do not put much faith in CR's ratings.



x2

Oh, how times have changed.