Battery time

[olznut]

Well, it appears the time has come again to replace the batteries in my trusty 06. The Sears Platinum P2s I got in 2012 are getting weak, noticed it was cranking slower than normal in the coldest day here so far this year and testing showed 360 cca on one and 230 on the other, albeit both still showed 12.5v. My question is, since Sears is going belly up and doesn't make the P2s anymore, who has a worthy agm replacement?

 

[Crunch]

My question is, since Sears is going belly up and doesn't make the P2s anymore, who has a worthy agm replacement?

You will get a lot of suggestions, but in the end I'm not sure brand name is as important as it once was. I am currently using Optima batteries, and I like them. But the posts have a smaller diameter which causes the terminal to compress to the point that the nut is hard to grip with the socket. Also, don't choose a battery by CCA alone. As I understand it, amp hours are equally important, if not more important than cold cranking amps. While CCA indicates how much juice gets to the starter, the amp hours rating is a measure of how long your batteries will supply that juice, i.e. how many turns of the key you get before you're dead in the water.

 

[seafish]

Brand is only important if you want a better chance of getting an always reliable battery instead of having to use the warranty to get a replacement battery if you are ever stranded.

If that is the case for you, Deka batteries manufactured by East Penn, are the way to go.

 

[olznut]

Brand is only important if you want a better chance of getting an always reliable battery instead of having to use the warranty to get a replacement battery if you are ever stranded.

If that is the case for you, Deka batteries manufactured by East Penn, are the way to go.

In that case, I did some Googling and found that Sam's Club Duracell agm batteries at $169 each are made by East Penn.

 

[seafish]

In that case, I did some Googling and found that Sam's Club Duracell agm batteries at $169 each are made by East Penn.

I have been running Deka/ East Penn batteries in my truck and heavy equipment for MANY years now and in fact they have lasted a LONG time for me, some over 12 years without even proper care.

I have just started running the Duracells made by East Penn in my family vehicles and they seem to be doing just fine. That said, they may or may not be up to the standards of the actual Deka because of the need to meet Duracells contract price point. Still, at $160 a pop, and Duracells need to maintain there rep, I am would hope that they are a quality battery. I still feel, based on my experiences and also feedback from battery dealers over the years, that the East Penn/Deka batteries are a step above other manufacturers in terms of NOT needing warranty replacement.

Just my .02

 

[Freebore]

Well, it appears the time has come again to replace the batteries in my trusty 06. The Sears Platinum P2s I got in 2012 are getting weak, noticed it was cranking slower than normal in the coldest day here so far this year and testing showed 360 cca on one and 230 on the other, albeit both still showed 12.5v. My question is, since Sears is going belly up and doesn't make the P2s anymore, who has a worthy agm replacement?

Just saw your post and also had weak P2s that I had installed in 2012. Odyssey bought Northstar and Odyssey was the supplier to Sears but I could not find a pair for under $600. I found a pair of Deka/East Penn AGMs at a local Farm & Fleet for about $150 each. The errors disappeared and starter spins fast again. Deka/East Penn makes a lot of Cat batteries and also is sold here by NAPA and Oreilly auto parts. I found the best price at Farm & Fleet. These are still made in the USA, and I also recommend not being too concerned about CCA, it is often marketing hype. Mine say 750CCA and they work well.

 

[olznut]

Had them replaced today at Sam's Club and they do say made by East Penn/Deka on them. Almost 8 years life is pretty good I think. It's now cranking faster again and no more hiccups like it did before the last time when the factory batteries were going out. Big Blue is happy again, even feels a bit peppier.

 

[AH64ID]

You guys did better than I did with your P2’s. I didn’t even get 4 years out of them before they went bad, and took the alternator with them . I switched to Costco batteries at that point, MUCH cheaper and a better/easier warranty. They had outlived the P2’s by the time I sold the 05.

I’m not opposed to spending good money on batteries, Beck I have Lifelines in my 5th wheel, but only if you get something for the added money.



CCA’s are more important on cranking batteries (fast discharge), and amp hours are more important on house batteries (slow discharge). This is why cranking batteries don’t make good house batteries, and why house batteries don’t make good starting batteries.

Basically you need to know how fast a battery can discharge when called upon. Our starters can draw up to 750A, so you better believe CCA’s are important.

 

[robert4570]

Glad i stopped here ..
My 05's Sears P2 batteries are 6 years old, been good but last cold snap they struggled to turn the motor over.
Appreciate all the comments especially regarding the Optima post diameter , saved me the hassle.
I'll try to find Deka/East Penn AGMs locally .
Thank you all .