Battery changes: On a schedule or as needed?

[WhiteSheep]

Location, Location, Location

When reading battery posts, I find it instructive to check where the writer lives. When I lived in Kansas in the 80's, I could easily get five years out of "whatever is on sale today" brand batteries. After over 20 years of living in Phoenix, the only batteries I have found that live over two years are Optimas. I have one that is going on nine years in an 84' Ford gasser that sits most of the time. Before the Optima, I replaced the battery every two years with "what costs the most must be the best" brand batteries.



When my Ram was two years old, I switched to red tops. Even my wifes' 04' VW Jetta runs a red top. Hell hath no fury like a women stranded in 115 degree heat with a Walmart battery. The words "cheap *******" are just the beginning. Been there done that, have the scars.



If you live up North, go with cheep big and platey. If you live in the desert go with an Optima (expensive and sealed), or maybe an Oddesy.



Just my $. 02 and 20 years of desert living.

 

[rbattelle]

When it's time for me, I'm going Odyssey PC2150 or PC1700


Optimas are polarizing - people either love them or hate them. Never heard anyone say anything bad about an Odyssey.

Ryan

 

[steved]

I'm partial to Deka's... they are well made and made in the USA.



steved

 

[courierdog]

Battery Life

Here in the North (Alberta, Canada) the nominal battery life is 3 years. This is due to the winter cold stress (-20C to -40C). Even with battery blankets the cold stress while driving has an effect on the cells. It is a fact of life. With our new fly by wire trucks requiring a reliable battery source, a few hundred well spent dollars every three years is a small price to pay on our Multi Thousand Dollar investment.

 

[MickeyMiller]

I'm with Ryan, I will spring for Odessey's when I replace. I have had an Odessey Dry Cell on my Buell since 1999 and it's still going strong. Includes 2 Montana winters... the original Buell battery lasted 14 months.

 

[WKruger]

Sprung for 2 Orbitals. Hopefully they're worth the $370. 1 of the OE's were bad the other is still good, after 2 years.

 

[JJW_ND]

Don't pass on standard batteries to fast.....

My factory batteries gave out the winter of 98 in my 96 5sp. Already had 110K on the truck. Replaced with these (Interstate Batteries - Every Battery for Every Need). I recently had the alternator fail and when replacing it seemed that batteries were getting weak. I had then tested and they still had 60% CCA but replaced wit the same Interstate Mega-Tron Plus - 800 CCA (MTP-78DT). Hard to expect better performace then 8 years with ND winters, daily driving and another 200K miles on these batteries. I wanted to put in something better but could I improve on what I had. The $170 installed for two batteries was pretty nice also.



jjw

ND

 

[EErmert]

How To Change Batter's ?

Well, what is the program for changeing both batter's at once ?

Thanks in advance,

Eric -



03' srw swb slt 3:73 6spd 305/555 58k white 4x4 qc stock

 

[Crunch]

Well, what is the proccedture for changeing both batter's at once ?

Good question. I've never done it before but my instinct would be to disconnect both of them before installing the new ones. Then connect the negative poles for both of them before connecting the positive poles.

 

[EErmert]

Crunch - Thanks for the "How to" on the batter's... sounds like a plan... what with all the electronics on these CD's , not a good idea to mess with the electrical stuff...

Eric

 

[WhiteSheep]

Cold vs. Hot

JJW_ND:



I have used Interstate Mega Trons here in Phoenix after buying that marketing line. They flat out don't work in the desert. I am sure they are great in your state, but one year is about all a thin walled heavy plated battery will last out here. Sealed is best.

 

[RJWEST]

""""Then connect the negative poles for both of them before connecting the positive poles. """""

NOT A GOOD IDEA.
wrenching on hot leads after grounds are connected is not good, ' Lot's o sparks ' if you touch anything. .
Also as soon as grounds are connected and 1 Positive is connected the other Positive cable now becomes an ARC WELDER . LOT's&Lot's O Sparks...

Connect Both Hot leads (RED) before connecting grounds (Black)

 

[Sgt Craig]

I have 204k on mine and 5 years. Clean the tops off every oil change and terminals about every 3 months. They are still going strong. Probally replace them in the spring.

 

[Elite1]

I have been hearing good things about Orbitals... anyone have experience with them?

Exide Technologies Exide Select Orbital

 

[Kirwin]

Question for you Ryan

How do yo intend to make the Odysseys fit since they are both 13 inches long? They are group 31 batteries and will not fit in the allotted space on either a 2nd gen or a 3rd gen truck. Ken Irwin

 

[rbattelle]

How do yo intend to make the Odysseys fit since they are both 13 inches long? They are group 31 batteries and will not fit in the allotted space on either a 2nd gen or a 3rd gen truck. Ken Irwin

2 words: custom tray.



But actually, the PC1700/65 will fit in the existing tray... it's a group 65 battery, which is what the stock batteries are.



A custom tray won't be trivial, due to the location of the APPS. But it would be a cool project.



That's why I'm undecided on the PC2150 or the PC1700. 2 1700s will drop right in, whereas a PC2150 will take time to fabricate a new battery tray.



Ryan

 

[Kirwin]

Ryan one more question

Are you talking about the 1750? The link above to the 1700 states that it is 13" long. Thats why I was wondering how you would be able to make it fit. Ken Irwin



PS Did you see my post on the failed injector? What are your thoughts?

 

[rbattelle]

Are you talking about the 1750? The link above to the 1700 states that it is 13" long. Thats why I was wondering how you would be able to make it fit. Ken Irwin

Yeah, here's a better link.



There's a discrepancy between Odyssey and that link. Odyssey doesn't list a PC1750, they call it a PC1700/65.



Ryan

 

[Kirwin]

So have you tried one of these?

Ryan have you actually tried one of these? I like the idea of a completely sealed battery and 12 year warranty? Thats says someting about thier product. Ken Irwin

 

[rbattelle]

Ryan have you actually tried one of these? I like the idea of a completely sealed battery and 12 year warranty? Thats says someting about thier product. Ken Irwin

Nope, I haven't. Haven't even laid eyes on one. But they sure do sound good! And like I said, I've never heard anyone say anything bad about them. Nor have I found a battery with more cranking power than a 2150!



Ryan