Battery Maintaining

[AH64ID]

I was surprised too, and it’s the only way I’ll buy interstate.

It’s been that long of a warranty for as long as I can remember, maybe they bank on people not owning their rigs that long

 

[Cummins12V98]

Interstate is NOT what they used to be!!!

 

[AH64ID]

Interstate is NOT what they used to be!!!

Unfortunately that's the case with many things.

Optima is far from what it used to be as well.

 

[seafish]

Interstate is NOT what they used to be!!!

Optima is far from what it used to be as well.

Both true.

The second Optima Red Top in my 2005 Jeep Liberty CRD began to fail about 2 years while I was on the road.
For convenience sake, I went to the nearest Costco and purchased a Group 45 Interstate with a 36 month warranty as the replacement as Costco no longer sells the Optimas like they used too.

So just last month, the Interstate also started to fail at about 2 years into its 3 year warranty.
I did go back to my local Costco and while they readily swapped the bad Interstate for a new one, the new one only came with a 30 month warranty and they charged me the small price difference between what I paid for the old one and the price of the new one/

In short, I paid a little more for a new battery of lesser quality and while I can appreciate the ease of warranty swap out that Costco offered, my confidence in Interstate is NOT enhanced.

If I HAD been home at the time of the RedTop failure, I would have had time and inclination to shop for a more expensive East Penn battery that remains clearly better made then either those two brands and has much less chance of leaving me stranded in the first place, warranty be damned.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Unfortunately that's the case with many things.

Optima is far from what it used to be as well.

Had Red Top. Returned to Costco.

 

[Wiredawg]

In 2019, my 17 Ram 5500 Laramie sat for months at a time without being started and batteries still great. Doesn't sit outside and doesn't really get cold down here to kill a battery. My wife's 03 Ram batteries lasted 6.5 years and my 09 Ram 4500 batteries lasted nearly 7 years. Longest battery ever for me was just shy of 9 years on a 90 Toyota truck.

Christmas Cheers, Ron

 

[seafish]

I have decided to post this battery testing video here even though I also have another thread that is dedicated to Projects Farm's Test Videos.

For those of you who have NOT yet seen any Project Farm videos, it is a Youtube rarity in that it remains an UNSPONSORED video channel that shows INDEPENDENT testing of tools, accessories, chemicals and equipment that you might need to use while running a farm, or homestead.

A guy named Todd runs the entire show and IMO he ismostly like your favorite high school shop or physics teacher who always showed you how to do neat stuff while all the time still teaching you how to learn things for yourself. Or SOMETHING like that...you'll have to watch it and decide for yourself watch you think about it, but I ASSURE that these are EXCELLENT test videos made of regular everyday stuff!!!

All that said, the reason this video belongs in THIS thread is that in it, Todd buys, compares and tests SIX different automotive batteries, INCLUDING one from East Penn Manufactring, one from Enersys (Oddyssey) and FOUR from Johnson Controls !!!

One of the first new things that I quickly learned is that Optima is made by Johnson Controls, which kinda explains why the RedTops have gone so far downhill in quality over the years!!! JK/LOL!!!

NO SPOILER ALERTS!!! --watch it and see which one comes out on top !!!

 

[Harrythe3]

FYI, don’t know about yours but my truck (brand new) would not start after 2 days setting. Found out the key fob was too close to the parked truck and the computers would not go to sleep and drained the battery’s. Put a battery maintainer on and put the key fob in a ESD bag. No more problems. BTY the truck sets 50+ feet from the key fob.

 

[Wiredawg]

FYI, don’t know about yours but my truck (brand new) would not start after 2 days setting. Found out the key fob was too close to the parked truck and the computers would not go to sleep and drained the battery’s. Put a battery maintainer on and put the key fob in a ESD bag. No more problems. BTY the truck sets 50+ feet from the key fob.

I saved myself that pain... My wife decided she would keep her FOB for my 2017 Ram 5500 in the glove box... thank goodness I found it the same day she put it in there... And all is well in Pleasantville.

 

[RammerJam]

Believe it or else, Walmart batteries aren't bad at all. Johnson controls makes them.

 

[endoscott]

Thats where I am buying my next set. Good warranty and Walmarts are everywhere. Is there anything special we need to do when replacing batteries on a 2014? I seem to remember something about plugging something into OBD port? I am ignorant about electrical/computer things.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

Thats where I am buying my next set. Good warranty and Walmarts are everywhere. Is there anything special we need to do when replacing batteries on a 2014? I seem to remember something about plugging something into OBD port? I am ignorant about electrical/computer things.

Replace them one at a time so you don't lose any radio presets or other settings.

 

[seafish]

Replace them one at a time so you don't lose any radio presets or other settings.

That's good advice EXCEPT be SURE that you do NOT let the positive from either battery touch ground or frame while the other is still connected !!!!

 

[Tuesdak]

Safer to disconnect the ground on one battery and then disconnect the ground on the other battery. Then with the ground terminals off if you short the positive to anything there are no sparks, burns, or battery explosions giving you shrapnel wounds and an acid bath. Use a device like the one below or just reset everything. PSA: the hospitals may be full of China Virus patients so it's best to not need to visit the ER now...

@endoscott Not required and only to save the radio presets etc:

Amazon product ASIN B07KCN69LJ
Amazon product ASIN B07BLQ9WSS

• SAVES all drive-ability codes and settings when disconnecting/changing a vehicle's starter battery. It also protects settings and codes for anti-theft radios, clocks, key less entry systems, and much more.
• Plugs into vehicle's 12 volt power receptacle ( 9 Volt battery Not Included )
• Uses 9 volt battery (Not Included)
• SAVES all drive-ability codes and settings when disconnecting/changing a vehicle's starter battery. It also protects settings and codes for anti-theft radios, clocks, key less entry systems, and much more.
• Retains radio presets, ECM codes, and learned procedures for up to four hours

 

[AH64ID]

The newer trucks won’t lose radio stations and other settings with both batteries disconnected, but they will forget what accessories are installed.

I had both my batteries disconnected for a bit last fall, 40 min or so, working on some stuff. I took photos of my radio presets, but didn’t need them. It did take 2 starts for the truck to find/remember XM, power folding mirrors, heated/cooled seats, cargo camera, etc. I was going WTF until they all came back. Aside from the momentary spike in blood pressure it was still better than reprogramming all the radio stations.

 

[Wiredawg]

I haven't read all the way back to the beginning, but I purchased aanalyzer trickle chargers at Northern Tools for everything except my 2017 Ram 5500. I did this as our former 2013 Cadillac sat for 6 weeks not being started and battery went dead. Cadillac had great service, came out to house with mobile service van and changed it out under warranty.

You can easily size a battery trickle charger/analyzer reading through package for sizing. Gonna complete installing electrical circuit to our storage shed for trickle chargers on the Kowasaki Mule and zero turn mower. I keep my 1978 Lil Red Express truck connected on the shop.

Anyhoo, hope this helps, of not for your truck, for all the other battery started vehicles.

Cheers, Ron

 

[RammerJam]

Is anybody using a timer? Like a Christmas Tree timer or a light timer for when they're gone?

They're like $5 (?) from Amazon and, it seems to me, it would take some worry out of the equation. I personally wouldn't like any kind of charger plugged in 24/7 if I'm not there to check it every day.

 

[AH64ID]

Is anybody using a timer? Like a Christmas Tree timer or a light timer for when they're gone?

They're like $5 (?) from Amazon and, it seems to me, it would take some worry out of the equation. I personally wouldn't like any kind of charger plugged in 24/7 if I'm not there to check it every day.

Im not a fan of a constant trickle on any battery without a load, like my older TJ, 5th wheel with batteries disconnected, or batteries in storage. I just do a maintenance charge every few months as needed.

My 18 Ram is the only thing I’ll leave on a trickle because it never fully shuts off, something is always drawing electricity. With a good charger I don’t mine leaving it unattended.

So for a timer it would be possible, but completely depend on the application to be practical or not.

 

[lpennock]

Is anybody using a timer? Like a Christmas Tree timer or a light timer for when they're gone?

They're like $5 (?) from Amazon and, it seems to me, it would take some worry out of the equation. I personally wouldn't like any kind of charger plugged in 24/7 if I'm not there to check it every day.

No need for it with better chargers. I've had my Harley on a Battery Tender brand for years and never had a issue with the battery. Had a Noco Genesis on my jeep and it would do a periodic desulfate cycle. Now cheap trickle chargers shouldn't be left on all the time as they will sulfate the battery.