How long have your factory batteries lasted?

[RVTRKN]

The important this is to make sure the crossover cable doesn't become loose, corroded, or broken.

Its the corrosion at the terminal of the cable thats allowing the voltage to drop, that the ECM sees, (or what ever senses the voltage) that causes the alternator to then try to charge the batteries, but ends up cooking the right side. The sign of this, is the right side battery will look like it has been cooked. I was talking to my brother and just by coincidence my brother told me his tech told him his batteries were on borrowed time (they are original batteries). After I described to him the issue with the right side battery, he went out to the truck and described over the phone exactly what I was talking about. The cable size is OK, its the corrosion thats causing the problem.



I like what TLane is going to do and I think I will do the same. I will be buying a set from Costco tomorrow, Any recommendation for the type of grease to use? Is there a proper sequence of replacement so the truck always sees 12 volts during the swap?

 

[JSooter]

I just bought two new Costco batteries yesterday ($85ea + tax and core charges). I am planning to change them out today once it warms up a bit outside.

I have not seen any codes, but corrosion has been getting worse despite cleaning. Plus, i have noticed some leakage at the tops of both batteries.

Considering the OEM batteries have lasted 8+ years, I think they have done a pretty good job.

 

[Grizzly]

Eight years so far!!!

 

[RVTRKN]

I just bought two new Costco batteries yesterday ($85ea + tax and core charges).

Bummer, I delayed my purchase by a couple of days and paid the price for it. They now cost $88. 99, the employee who quoted the price, apologized but said I should of purchased at time of quote.

 

[Boaring1961]

I just replaced my OEM batteries with Sear DieHard Plantinums and paid $167 a piece for them. Not cheap, but better than the full $220 and they turn the Cummins over like a toy!

 

[BruteForce]

65,000 miles on my 2009 (bought new in 2010, truck was sitting in the dealer lot for almost a year) and still running strong!

 

[NavyDood]

32°F here this morning NW of Fort Worth. I know that isn't cold and I agree. It wasn't even chilly, it was a cool/brisk morning. I didn't have the truck plugged in, turned the key on and waited for the grid heater light to go out. She turned over and started without a hint of trouble. 192,000 miles, original batteries with a truck build date of Nov 2003.

 

[RVTRKN]

I just replaced my OEM batteries with Sear DieHard Plantinums and paid $167 a piece for them. Not cheap, but better than the full $220 and they turn the Cummins over like a toy!

Are they lined with gold?

 

[Boaring1961]

I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for. You spend $40,000+ on a truck and throw in the cheapest Costco/AutoZone/Kragen batteries doesn't make sense to me. Not to mention I spend a fair amount of time hunting with my truck. This year in WY I was 60 miles from the nearest paved road and after 4 days of hunting we only saw one guy from a distance. When I turn that key I want it to start! If my truck was a pavement princess I'd put cheap batteries in it also.

 

[RVTRKN]

I agree with you on the issue of, "it better start" but I purchased diehards for my boat and they didn't last any longer than the cheap Costco batteries. After 17 years, the boat has gone through a few batteries. Boats are harder on batteries but to last the same as cheap Costco, seems like a good test for me. There was a thread here on the manufacturer of batteries and Costco's are made by one of the better manufacturers.

On a personal note, I actually repaired some heaters used in the process of the manufacturing of them in the plant where they are made, and basically many different brands were labelled as they left the plant. Costco has been good to me and I will continue to purchase them. As far as the boat goes, I now use the Optima battery, because of the gel cel technology, and have a pair of them in my 5ver, so I can rotate them with the boat as the RV will charge them fully before I take the boat out. The dry cell helps in preventing them from drying out as they sit in storage over the winter in Arizona.

 

[Grizzly]

I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for. You spend $40,000+ on a truck and throw in the cheapest Costco/AutoZone/Kragen batteries doesn't make sense to me. Not to mention I spend a fair amount of time hunting with my truck. This year in WY I was 60 miles from the nearest paved road and after 4 days of hunting we only saw one guy from a distance. When I turn that key I want it to start! If my truck was a pavement princess I'd put cheap batteries in it also.

Costco and AutoZone batteries are not cheap. They're made by Johnson Control, same as Sears Diehard and Interstate. Costco sells them for about half of Sears and much cheaper than Interstate. I stand behind Costco batteries and most of there products. Be careful who you label cheap. Another good battery, also made by Johnson Control, is Wal-Mart Everlast.



The best part about Costco, besides having the lowest prices, is that they have the best warrenties with no questions asked.



My truck listed at $50K and I'll use Costco batteries when it comes time to replace the OEM. I use them on my 5er.

 

[SSwing]

i thought i needed new batteries but when i checked the grounds they were loose as hell



i Switched all the terminals and got bulletproof connections for about 20 bucks and saved alot of money not buying batteries



check connections before you purchase batteries or try to diagnose any problem for that matter

 

[Bjewell]

I replaced mine after 7 years, they were still doing a good job but I did not want to get stranded in a no start situition. After much research my replacements were Duracell AGM batteries from Sams club. At $89. 00 they beat the rivals. The batteries are made in PA.

 

[Wayne M.]

Mine are still going... ... .

 

[MyDiesel]

I just replaced my '06 batteries. They have never failed to start, but I think the were dropping down lower with the grid heater. Don't want to be late for work, so swaped them out. 98K on truck, put in the Walmart bats. Warentees have changed on batteries. Many are not pro-rated anymore, they fail within wnty, they get full replacement.

 

[JMetzger]

I finally broke down & replaced mine in my 02. They were the original battery's but with planing on going to FL this winter I didn't want any problems. I also replaced them with Wal-Mart battery's as if you have any problems there is always a Wally World some where.

 

[ceastmen]

My truck is sitting outside this winter while we live in a 750 sq. ft. shop preparing to build our last home.

It has finally gotten down in the single digits lately and the truck still starts good.

I know it won't last much longer since the batteries are 12 years old, part of me wants to see how long they will last but on the other hand I don't want to be stuck somewhere hearing voices saying I told you so!

Costco or Walmart batteries will be my choice to replace the originals, just wish I could get the same life out of them as the OEM's I have now.



Chuck

 

[JMetzger]

ceadtmen:I know the feeling, I would have liked to see how long mine would have lasted also. I bet we don't get that out of our new battery's

 

[RVTRKN]

My tech told me not to buy their batteries, official Dodge replacement batteries (OEM). So I wonder how long my batteries from Costco will last, they have three year replacement free and 64 month prorated from 64 month for a total of 100 months.

 

[DConrad]

I read about the first 7 pages of this thread so I may have missed a post with a longer battery life but my 96 had the original batteries replaced with red top optimas in 1998 and they finally gave up the ghost this week. That's right... 14 years. It's hard not to go with an Optima after that experience although I've heard their manufacturing is now not as good as it was. My question is will I gain anything by going with the yellow top deep cycle? Is has 750CCA vs. 800CCA on the red top and 870 crank amps vs. 1000 crank amps on the red top. The only benefit seems to be the higher amp-hour rating. 55 vs 50. The catch is I found a guy who has two brand new deep cycle yellow tops that will take $300 for the pair. They're about $250 ea at autozone.