Battery brands

[FritzTKatt]

Looking to get a new battery for the truck with a little more CCA. It's taking it a second to crank over, and it didn't when I bought the truck (just as cold on a daily basis). Figure the battery is weakening. It's been beaten and abused, looks a bit (more than a bit really) too small for the tray.

On a side note, the other day I cranked it over (took a second), and it idled down as it should. Tapped the gas, and the voltage dropped significantly. Then after it idled down, I tapped it again and it overcharged. Both times I got an idiot light for the battery. The voltage dropped down after a second, but still held steady above it's normal position, over the M-A (short sweep OE gauge).

Looks like I can get a motocraft bxt-65-750 (750CCA) over the stock 540cca for $105.

A Duralast Gold 65-DLG (850CCA) would run me $130 local.

I'd be willing to pay max $150, looking more for the 100-125 range. But I'd rather just pay the money and have a premium battery with a long, durable life. So what are your experiences/recommendations?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I'd have Autozone check the battery, alternator and starter - they'll do it for free.

The Duralast batteries they sell are made by Johnson Controls - the same company that makes the Interstate batteries, IIRC.

Check your ground wire for corrosion. It might look good, but I've had more than one that looked good but sounded rather crunchy when flexed. I stripped some insulation off and found it was corroded the whole way - a new wire solved the heavy strain on my battery.

 

[shane96ranger]

Rather than retell this story.... I'll quote myself:

I've said on here before that I believe Costco has the best deal for batteries. My Mustang sits a lot (13 months now) and the battery drains after a 2 or 3 months [because of the alarm]. The battery I originally bought at Costco was about 6 years ago IIRC. Since then I have had two replacements under warranty. They have a 3 year free replacement warranty, and unlike Autozone or O'Reilly (or anywhere else), Costco starts the warranty again fresh with the replacement battery. My last replacement was this past May, and I had to pay 10 bucks because the battery had gone up in price. ALSO - you do not have to take another battery. They give you a gift card with the price you paid to do with as you wish (which is why I had to pay the difference in cost).

 

[FritzTKatt]

I'll have to do that tomorrow.

Have you had any experience with Duralasts or Interstates? While back I had an Energizer (brand new, not even a month old) swell on me in the Blazer (oh, the repetitious fun we had in that truck). Although Sam's club did exchange it no questions asked. Not sure if it was just that damn cold, since we did get over a foot of snow that night, or it was a bad one. Didn't have a problem with the next one, and got quite a lot more cold/snow.

 

[FritzTKatt]

Wire looks good, didn't hear anything when flexed. You are referencing the ground from the negative post to the radiator support?

Noticed some beautiful looking greenish yellow slime, boiled up and bubbled that dripped off the block onto the driver side motor mount... probably don't want to know what that is lol. I always see something new when I go under the hood with a flashlight in the dark. You just can't get the angle/light when it's daytime in some cases, other times it won't show up with a flashlight.

 

[nitrofan1]

Biggest issue is lead acid batteries have reached the top of their technology and probably won't get much better. Johnson Controls makes Duralast, Diehard, Autocraft, most Interstates and a few others. Cranking AMPS are very important but the industry is starting to think reserve capacity may be more important. A battery with 800 CCA's with reserve minutes under 100 may not be as good in the long run as one with 650 CCA's and 120 minutes.

Until the market comes up with a lithium or other tech that will give us the perfect battery the best options are independent testing, reviews by consumers not the manufacturers and AGM batteries.

I know a lot of people have a love / hate with Optima batteries but I have owned 5 over the years and never had an issue. The one I'm shooting for next time is the Odyssey Batteries. 99% pure lead (not lead alloy) and more plates. High CCA's and high reserve. Not cheap by any means but the best costs money.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I'll have to do that tomorrow.

Have you had any experience with Duralasts or Interstates? While back I had an Energizer (brand new, not even a month old) swell on me in the Blazer (oh, the repetitious fun we had in that truck). Although Sam's club did exchange it no questions asked. Not sure if it was just that damn cold, since we did get over a foot of snow that night, or it was a bad one. Didn't have a problem with the next one, and got quite a lot more cold/snow.

I have a duralast garden tractor battery that has survived three seasons. My new to me tractor now has a duralast car battery in it so we'll see how long that lives. My parents both got duralast batteries for their trucks the beginning of this year (mom got a new battery, both me and dad got "used" batteries). If you get lucky (but with a 65 series you're not going to), when a battery sits on Autozone's shelf for over a year, they pull the stickers, mark it as used, and sell it for like $40.

I've had two batteries from Walmart/Sams Club that froze solid on me. I never added water to either one. And I'm not too sure I'd try buying another one (although I've heard their MAXX batteries are supposed to be made by Johnson Controls now).

Wire looks good, didn't hear anything when flexed. You are referencing the ground from the negative post to the radiator support?

I'm talking the big thick black wire that goes from the negative terminal down to the frame and then to the block. That's your primary ground.

 

[Mazda]

I just replaced a Duralast battery in June. The Duralast I took out was almost 9 years old.(YES 9 years old) Last 5 years it has been only short 10 mile at most trips and I listen to the radio 5 nights a week for a half hour or so at lunch time.

Have Duralast battery's in all the family's vehicles and have had no problems ever.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I like my Interstates, I just put a new one in my F-150. It was about $150 for a MTP-65. They have a good warrenty and don't cost a ton of money IMO.

I sell Interstates at work, we just had one guy kinda bummed last winter. He replaced his 9 year old battery in his chore tractor (ran every day) and it turned out the starter was the problem.

 

[PanamaExpat]

The last 4 batteries I have bought here have been from Costco/Pricemart.... Some EverReady Gold Series things. They last between 14 and 18 months and then just drop flat on you seemingly for no reason. Here you only get a 12 month warranty not 3 years as shane says you get there in USA. We have a place called Casa de las Batterias. They deliver and install... their wonderful batteries last the 12 months and if you buy there you know that in 12 months and 1 week you will be calling to have another put in. I guess lead acid batteries don't like the heat. In Jamaica we had Tropical batteries and they might make 24 months... Anyhow wouldn't it be nice if they actually made a battery that would run 4 or 5 years. I get tired if shelling out $120 every 18 months.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

The last 4 batteries I have bought here have been from Costco/Pricemart.... Some EverReady Gold Series things. They last between 14 and 18 months and then just drop flat on you seemingly for no reason. Here you only get a 12 month warranty not 3 years as shane says you get there in USA. We have a place called Casa de las Batterias. They deliver and install... their wonderful batteries last the 12 months and if you buy there you know that in 12 months and 1 week you will be calling to have another put in. I guess lead acid batteries don't like the heat. In Jamaica we had Tropical batteries and they might make 24 months... Anyhow wouldn't it be nice if they actually made a battery that would run 4 or 5 years. I get tired if shelling out $120 every 18 months.

Why not convert to a crank start?

 

[PanamaExpat]

When I was a teenager I had an old GMC pickup that had a pedal on the floor to engage the starter and a hole through the lower grill for a crank that was behind the seat. If I could fit one on my B4000 I just might do it. Doubt I would have enough strength to hand crank the diesel in the Ssangyong however.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

When I was a teenager I had an old GMC pickup that had a pedal on the floor to engage the starter and a hole through the lower grill for a crank that was behind the seat. If I could fit one on my B4000 I just might do it. Doubt I would have enough strength to hand crank the diesel in the Ssangyong however.

You don't need no stinkin' battery with a little work...

 

[Ryannn]

I work for Interstate batteries, Costco carries our cheapest battery the I-Line battery, plain black box Interstate battery, or your what you read on the battery when buying from Costco Kirkland. If your going Interstate (Which I suggest not just because I work for them) get an I-65, MT-65, or MTP-65, They fit in most Fords, I have them in my F-350 Powerstroke to my Bronco II, Just check the measurements of the box vs the group 65 battery. I is the cheapest line, MT is in the middle and MTP is the premium version of the battery. Google for you nearest Interstate battery warehouse and they sell used batteries, not sure if the price varies from warehouse to warehouse, but used Optimas are 60$ here and normal batteries are 40$. Its a good deal we have alot of people buy them with no complaints.

 

[shane96ranger]

Another option you may or may not have is a reconditioned battery. The Autozone here reconditions them and sells them for 25 dollars - and they guarantee it for one year. I don't think all Autozone's do that though.