AGM batteries?

[CCiatteo]

I had Red Top Optimas in my 97 and they were fantastic and are still going strong in the truck as far as I know. I think they were the "original" Optimas, before manufacturing changed hands. I now run a set of the Diehard P2's in my 2004.5 and they are only 2-1/2 years old, but are doing fine and are showing now outward signs of failure. The diehards are pricey, so wait til they are on sale, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy them again.

 

[Kry226]

I replaced my OEMs in 2010 when they started corroding. Diehard Platinums went in their place and have five years of perfect service.

 

[RKula]

The Optima Red Tops in my truck are now 13+ years old and still working reliably. We do not have hot or cold extremes here in Portland, OR so that may add to their longevity. I am thinking about replacing them in the near future just for peace of mind and I will consider the Optima and Diehard Platinum.

 

[Regcabguy]

Three yrs on my Sears AGM's. My OEM's still live in a 12v to this day.

 

[Ozymandias]

Dont go with Red Optimas in a Gen.3 Truck.
The Yellows are the right ones.

 

[MMeier]

I had Red Top Optimas in my 97 and they were fantastic and are still going strong in the truck as far as I know. I think they were the "original" Optimas, before manufacturing changed hands. I now run a set of the Diehard P2's in my 2004.5 and they are only 2-1/2 years old, but are doing fine and are showing now outward signs of failure. The diehards are pricey, so wait til they are on sale, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy them again.

The red tops I had in my 97 are currently in my 03, batteries bought back in 98 or 99 if I remember correctly, well over 300k between them !! With the mexican made ones , not sure I will be replacing them with those .... provided they will need replacement !!

 

[Wayne M.]

They've changed method of manufacture? This is an issue with almost all things relying on quality. You seek out a particular item and or brand, thinking you'll get a repeat performance, and most times it's not the case. The need to start research from scratch is a neccesity. Brand loyalty is very misleading now.
*OFF SOAPBOX* sorry.

 

[User113]

I just bought two Bosch platinum series AGM batteries from Pep Boys. 4 year full replacement warranty, 3 year free emergency jumpstart. We'll see how they turn out.

 

[BarryG]

I also run the sears p2's. If you keep your eye on the sales you can get good deals on them. I ended up scoring mine online only sale with in store pickup for 150 ea. They were on sale then they also had a coupon code that I used that if I recall was good for another either $35 or $50 cant remember now been a couple years.

 

[kthaxton]

Dont go with Red Optimas in a Gen.3 Truck.
The Yellows are the right ones.

Why? Yellows are a deep cycle. Why would they need them for normal starting duties?

 

[w6pea]

AutoZone Durlast Gold, is what I recommend. They have an AGM Battery, but I have heard too many Horror Stories, I would also stay away from Optima Battery's "Run Forest Run".
I was one that would use nothing but Sears DieHard Batteries, I got one in 2001 to replace my OEM battery in my 95 truck. My truck was in a shop and the battery grew legs and ran away. (they had it parked on the street, lucky the truck didn't run away also) any way I needed a battery, there was an AutoZone about a block away. I went and got a battery, have been using them ever since. I got 9 years out of that battery, and have since just replaced it. Now about 2 weeks ago I had to replace my battery that was just 6 years and 3 mo. old. They replaced it pro rated under warranty.

 

[ENafziger]

I was an Optima fan...but I don't think I'll be going with them again. I've been through 2 sets in my '06 and need another set now. The Interstates and Dekas I've used lately have been great.

 

[seafish]

I was an Optima fan...but I don't think I'll be going with them again. I've been through 2 sets in my '06 and need another set now. The Interstates and Dekas I've used lately have been great.

Deka is oem manufacturer for CAT branded batteries and I just read on anohter thread here that CAT Group 65 batteries are on sale at any Cat dealer for $110 each until the end of the month (just a fewe more days).
NOT sure if they are AGM G65 on sale , but either way a great battery for decent price given battery prices these days.

 

[JR]

Interstate Batteries seem to be another one that has tanked in quality over the years...that or we have had the misfortune of buying all the bad ones

The Case dealer up the road has sold them for decades and is what most tractors have on the family farm. The last two winters have not been kind to us, lots of prorated warranty returns. I've got a set in my truck that have had to have the same battery replaced twice in 5 years. Then there is the wife's TDI, last winter was the second winter on the battery and I went out to start it on a zero degree morning and it would not even turn over. I plugged it in and put the trickle charger on it over night and the next morning drove it up to the parts store and had it tested. It tested OK! It is the correct battery for that vehicle and did not have enough oomph to turn over on a cold day. Not impressed on that one, especially since we have a lot of nights that get colder than 0. Typically I do plug it in on a timer so the wife can warm up her little toosh quicker, but these things did not even come with a block heater from the factory. So no matter how cold it gets, they SHOULD be able to start

 

[w6pea]

Interstate Batteries seem to be another one that has tanked in quality over the years...that or we have had the misfortune of buying all the bad ones

Not impressed on that one, especially since we have a lot of nights that get colder than 0. Typically I do plug it in on a timer so the wife can warm up her little toosh quicker, but these things did not even come with a block heater from the factory. So no matter how cold it gets, they SHOULD be able to start

Bottom line is these companies don't care about "Customer Service", should be called "Cuss Somemore". They just care about profit. Probably could careless wether you return as a customer again.

 

[TFucili]

We have sold hundreds of Deka batteries, and don't see but a couple legitimate failures a year.

 

[Wayne M.]

Back to my mantra- most anything is not what it was. Gotta abandon brand loyalty and study from the ground up. Been getting real world feedback that the optimas are failing. You couldn't give me a regular diehard. Now what's odd is that there's only a few manufacturers supplying the world. Must be more to it than that.

 

[JR]

We have sold hundreds of Deka batteries, and don't see but a couple legitimate failures a year.

What specific brand are they?

 

[JR]

Bottom line is these companies don't care about "Customer Service", should be called "Cuss Somemore". They just care about profit. Probably could careless wether you return as a customer again.

I agree, and we are at the point where we are ready to try something different but the prorated warranty is just enough to keep us coming back for more. In hindsight it would have been cheaper to just make the switch but we have previously used Interstate for many many years with great results.

 

[TFucili]

What specific brand are they?

Deka is the brand. Manufactured by East Penn/Deka in Lyon Station, PA., near Reading or Kutztown. We sell their ETX series powersports batteries, but have access to the whole line. I installed their AGMs in my '05 CTD, and have sold heavy equipment and truck batteries in conventional and AGM.