Battery Replacement

[KCJackson]

Interstate offers an 875CCA Group 65 (over the OEM 750CCA rating). I've had good luck with Interstate before in other vehicles, so I will give them a shot when the OEMs are done on the 05.



The batteries on my 96 died at almost exact 3 year intervals. Great thing was, the 12V needed no electricity once fired, so a jump allowed you to drive to a shop to get new batteries - no such benefit with the 610, so the first sign of hard starting, away they go.



http://www.ibsa.com/estore/view_pro...mscssid=G8T90S0J6P069HBWAW6M32B03QUTARVC&js=1

 

[ChrisKringle]

Cosco has 900 cold crank amp, 1000 crank amp 3 year free replacement acid batteries for like $50. Half the price of an Optima. That's what I went with when the Red top in my Grand Cherokee gave out after just about 2 years.

 

[hammersley]

Memory has it that Optima's aren't the

highest capacity = am I wrong??????

 

[DPKetchum]

Nope there not. Just designed to with stand impacts,hard jolts etc. Like off shore racing or the Baja etc. In my opinion after researching and shopping battery's not really any point in buying one for normal folkes including our diesels. Like I posted earlier,couldn't wait for factory batterys in my vehicles to go belly up and Optima's it was gonna be until I really looked into them. Now if you want to JUMP your truck,roll your truck,do end do's with your truck then Optima's is the way to go.

 

[HeavyHauler]

The Group 31 Yellow-Tops that I got had 150 more CCA and 5 more minutes of RC compared to the OEM batteries. I went with the Optimas for their durability and the fact that they can be totally drained and recharged much more than traditional batteries. The D31 is also the only Optima that meets and exceeded all of the OEM battery specs. All of the others (red, yellow, and blue) all fall short in one category or another.



I personally believe that Optima makes the best all-around battery. Are the batteries I bought unnecessary? Probably so, but it gives me a lot more confidence in my vehicle should I ever leave a light or radio on. I won't be paranoid about my batteries crapping out after they were drained. My truck also sits for extended periods of time without being cranked and people have reported good results with Optimas in that department as well.



There's one TDR member on here that said he was running a D31 in his Freightliner and left his CB and mini-fridge on for 3 days and the truck started up just like he had turned everything off. Now that's impressive! Another member also stated that he had been running the same Optima Red Top for nearly 10 years! I saw where lots of people had been running them for over 5.



There are many good batteries out there, including Interstate - to each his own!

 

[RJOL]

... I have never gotten over 4 years out of a factory battery. They are like everything else the factory uses that is disposable, the cheapest parts they could get...

Maybe you're correct, about what the factory put in, but my 2001 was going on 5 years without a problem, when I sold it, using the stock batteries. I have never owned a vehicle that got only two years out of a stock battery. If I had to replace them, I'd just get a lead acid replacement from Sears, Costco or (?). Just can't justify paying the high price for an Optima type battery.

 

[DPKetchum]

Just replaced the battery in my 1998 1500 slt month ago or so and two weeks ago the battery in the 2000 Mercury Marquis died.

 

[Tim]

. I went with the Optimas for their durability and the fact that they can be totally drained and recharged much more than traditional batteries.

That statement is false. AGM batteries do not have any free acid inside of them. If you discharge an Optima starting battery, it's junk. I have sold literlaly hundreds of Optimas and have yet to see a single one take a charge after discharge, but I have heard of it happening. I've also been told that dropping it from about 4' on concrete will break up the sufide and allow them to charge--but never tried it. Typically they sulfate quickly and become doorstops.

I personally believe that Optima makes the best all-around battery.

Optima doesn't make batteries. They're made by Johnson Controls. Same with Interstate, Autozone's batteries, and many others. They make more batteries than any other company in the country I do believe. Optima is not a company, simply a name.

There are many good batteries out there, including Interstate - to each his own!

Once again, all marketing hype. The Optimas you own are made in the same factory that Interstate Batteries are made.

 

[HeavyHauler]

Well I really don't understand why you decided to pick apart my post, but if you knew half of what you think you do about batteries you would know that the D31's that I was referring are a starting AND deep cycle battery that can withstand many more complete discharges than other batteries. And that is a fact.



Also, I know that Johnson Controls makes Optima batteries being that they have a plant 20 miles from my house. Excuse me while I modify the verb that I used in that sentence.



And if you think for one minute that an Interstate battery is the same as an Optima, well... think again. Same goes for an AutoZone battery and the "many others" that you think you know about.

 

[rbattelle]

I have a 2100 Odyssey to place in there once I get off my lazzzzzzzy buttt and make the new cables needed for it ...

If you believe the website, these batteries are some of the finest you can buy. And the 2100 is particularly expensive (over $200 at Summit). Obviously you think they're worth the cost? What's your experience been with them?



-Ryan

 

[Tim]

Well I really don't understand why you decided to pick apart my post, but if you knew half of what you think you do about batteries you would know that the D31's that I was referring are a starting AND deep cycle battery that can withstand many more complete discharges than other batteries. And that is a fact.

If you really think so, discharge it, let it sit for 2 days at 0v, and let me know how well it recharges, deep cycle or not.

Also, I know that Johnson Controls makes Optima batteries being that they have a plant 20 miles from my house. Excuse me while I modify the verb that I used in that sentence.

Roll your eyes all you want, Johnson Controls makes an awful lot of stuff, not just car batteries.

And if you think for one minute that an Interstate battery is the same as an Optima, well... think again. Same goes for an AutoZone battery and the "many others" that you think you know about.

My point was that the majority of plate/acid type batteries are made by the same manufacturer. I wasn't really referring to you, but all the others that say, "An Interstate is a good battery" or "Autozone batteries are trash," etc. They call come from the same place.



I have never seen one of my customers in the past have good luck with Optimas. Those that swear by them have never had a problem with theirs. Once they do, they'll probably be like me, and say screw it, it's not worth the money. That is OPINION, but it's supported by enough bad experiences with Optimas failing to recharge that I'll stick to my regular plate/acid type batteries that start my truck EVERY time without fail, some of them are 6 years old and still going strong.



I knew that I wasn't going to make many friends talking down Optimas. They have a loyal following, especially in the off road world where I hang out quite frequently, my Dodge is used to tow my off road truck.



That said, I believe much of Optima loyalty is most giving in to marketing hype rather than the quality of the product, but once again, that is just my opinion.

 

[KBennett]

Optima doesn't make batteries. They're made by Johnson Controls. Same with Interstate, Autozone's batteries, and many others. They make more batteries than any other company in the country I do believe. Optima is not a company, simply a name.

You are partially correct and incorrect on this. Optima has always made batteries but was purchased by Johnson Controls in the last couple years.

I sell electrical components to their plant in Aurora, CO that is still under the Optima banner. They do make a lot of batteries but I don't know how it compares in numbers to other manufacturers.

 

[KCJackson]

Tim, just because any one manufacturer makes products for several different brand-name companies doesn't mean that they have to build all those products to the same standard. Sears Roadhandler tires were made by Michelin for decades but were way cheaper... do you think the Sears tire was made to the same standard as the Michelin-branded tire? Doesn't GM pay a little more attention to the Cadillac Escalade coming down the assembly line than its Chevy Tahoe sibling? Who is really making the store brand corn flakes at your local supermarket - might it be Kellogg's?



Just because Johnson Controls makes Optima, Interstate, and probably three other known brands doesn't mean that they're all built the same way to the same standards. JC's contract with Interstate may require better materials, additional QC steps, and more careful shipping; Autozone may just say "slap 'em together and get 'em in a box. "

 

[HeavyHauler]

Tim - frankly, you can bash Optima's all you want. I have no "loyalty" to them - but I do know that have the best battery. You first post was rude and offensive to me, while all I was trying to do was state an opinion in the first place. Hell, I even admitted that the batteries I bought were likely unnecessary.



So you can cite your opinions and I'll cite mine, but don't start picking apart a post that you don't have all the facts on.

 

[2Gen3Gen]

I replaced the batteries in my 98 in 2001 with 2 / 1,000 amp batteries from Costco. They are still working great. Even this past winter in the low teens. It cranked like a champ! If I recall, you can pick them up for about $65 each. That is 1/2 the price of the Optima battery. I plan to do the same in my 2004. 5 when the time comes. Costco is almost everywhere and never gives any grief when you have a warranty claim. Usually, they just give a full refund and then you buy another. That is how they did a defective battery in my boat 2 years ago. That battery was over 2 years old, almost 3, and I got a full refund.

 

[Grizzly]

Costco is where I buy my batteries. They have a three year free replacement, no questions asked. Just keep your receipt. Last time I bought two batteries was for my 2nd gen, they were $54 each for the 84 month. Can't beat that. Grizzly