Auto Batteries

[1967ChevyRagtop]

I can't tolerate winter like I used to.

The older I get, the better Fla looks

 

[regguy1]

Spending more doesen't get you more....Watch this video, he evaluates the popular batteries, he's quick, and to the point:

 

[chipdog4]

Deka batteries made by Eat Penn Manufacturing. Can get them at Napa (Gold), O'Reillys (Superstart), and I remember hearing the Duracell's from Batteries Plus are also. They're still made in USA. Nearly all Johnson Controls (Wal-Mart, Autozone, Motorcraft...) are made in Mexico.

Dad ran a parts store selling Deka batteries. In the vehicles in our family, they normally last 9 or 10 years.

 

[TractorJeff]

The regulators used to convert a Delco alternator to one wire should be installed with a resistor (made for the purpose) between the output stud and the regulator itself. This dramatically lowers the turn-on speed. I never had a problem doing it this way even on the slowest turning engines (usually farm tractors). It doesn't help with the draw, which is normally negligible if you don't let the vehicle sit for months at a time.

Which connection point on the Regulator? How many Ohms/Watts are you talking about?

 

[kelpaso1]

Spending more doesen't get you more....Watch this video, he evaluates the popular batteries, he's quick, and to the point:

That little "tester" does nothing to test the real CCA of a car battery. I would not waste the money on that POS. Carbon pile testers that actually LOAD a battery to 400A or so is the proper way to test a battery.

 

[65ranchero]

When I worked in a new car dealer, a similar hand held tester was all that the mfg. would let us use to condemn a battery.
( too many dead batteries due to, in my opinion a spec. purchase problem)

 

[theoldwizard1]

Deka batteries made by East Penn Manufacturing. Can get them at Napa (Gold), O'Reillys (Superstart), and I remember hearing the Duracell's from Batteries Plus are also. They're still made in USA. Nearly all Johnson Controls (Wal-Mart, Autozone, Motorcraft...) are made in Mexico.

Dad ran a parts store selling Deka batteries. In the vehicles in our family, they normally last 9 or 10 years.

East Penn does own the Duracell brand of lead acid batteries. They are also sold at Sam's Club.

Buddy saved over $50 buying 2 Interstate batteries at Costco.

 

[nh_yota]

I've had good luck with the Duracell (East Penn) batteries from my local BatteriesPlus.

 

[theoldwizard1]

When I worked in a new car dealer, a similar hand held tester was all that the mfg. would let us use to condemn a battery.
( too many dead batteries due to, in my opinion a spec. purchase problem)

50 years ago, I used to install batteries at Sears. I'll bet half of the old ones just needed their terminals clean, water top off and fan belts tightened. A good overnight charge would help a lot.

 

[Thirdyfivepickup]

I sell a lot of batteries... mostly AC Delco. Their Gold series or Professional series is really good. Occasionally we get a bad one but for the amount we sell, the return percentage is pretty low. I was looking for one today for a customer. This part number (one of the most popular) we had 1100 available company wide. (We have 4 locations)

I have no problem recommending a Delco battery.

 

[Doug]

Which connection point on the Regulator? How many Ohms/Watts are you talking about?

This can easily be installed inside the alternator. Put the large ring terminal under the nut that connects the output stud to the rectifier (so it will have a constant 12v). Snip the end of the wire with the pin connection and put a #10 ring terminal on said wire. Now run the wire counter-clockwise to the most right hand stator/rectifier connection and bolt it to that connection. Be sure to tuck the wire down so it doesn't get tangled up in anything. Done. Any well-stocked shop should have one of these, if not they can easily get it.

 

[BonzoHansen]

Which Advance battery are you buying? I would go for their top tier AGM, especially if you are in a cold environment.Having said that it is difficult to imagine 3 failed batteries, even if flooded electrolyte type. You mentioned checking parasitic draw, how about the other side of the equation, the charging rate? Have you checked alternator output with real world load on it? Most batteries produced in the US are made by one of about 3 companies, and then private labeled for distribution. Johnson controls being the largest of the three.

Between a few of us here, our experience with AA AGMs isn't great. 3 died just after warranty period. I'll see if the Die Hard branded one from AA makes it past that, i guess about this time 2023 if pattern holds.

 

[IBEME]

I think the problem with AGM's are they die suddenly and without warning.

 

[bubinga]

The older I get, the better Fla looks

I know, I'm 66 and not in the best of shape ATM, It's just kinda tough right now,

 

[BonzoHansen]

I think the problem with AGM's are they die suddenly and without warning.

That's what happened to me this summer

 

[jd_1138]

Doug said:

That is pure ********. I stocked over 80 batteries for years and my route driver would cycle out batteries that didn't move to a location where they would.

What, Scotty Kilmer is wrong? Say it isn't so?!?!? Compared to regular people, he's knowledgeable about mechanics, but he's too susceptible to hyperbole for clicks on YouTube. He's a click *****.

Cliff's Notes Version of Kilmer:

A. If you don't buy a Toyota or Honda, you're stupid.
B. "A long time customer of mine bought this 5-year-old Hyundai for $7,500"........(he then takes it for a test drive)........"Sure it's not a Toyota or Honda but at this price, it's a decent car and runs well".
C. Chrysler vehicles are the spawn of the Devil himself
D. he has never mentioned checking CarFax for proof of PMs before buying used cars or asking the seller for oil change receipts (I've watched maybe like 30 of his vids and he's never mentioned CarFax or PMs).

 

[ace10]

(I've watched maybe like 30 of his vids ).

I feel sorry for you.

 

[Wrench97]

I get 3-4yrs out of kirkland (costco) batteries which are made by interstate.

The warranty is 3yrs so i trade them in for a new one before the warranty is up and get another. Usually for just the price difference between what i paid 3yrs ago and the current price....

Interstate is not a battery manufacturer.
Their batteries use to be made by Johnson Controls but are currently made by Brookfield and Exide.
I have had a lot of success with Deka(East Penn Manufacturing) batteries.

 

[Wrench97]

It's an '03 Tundra. The Chevelle is converted to alternator.
But along regulator thoughts, I wonder if it's an alternator diode.
I'll look up CTEK. My current one is a Schumaker (-10SP)

Before you start the car feel the alternator if warm it's going to be the problem.

 

[Wrench97]

That dude on YouTube, Scotty Kilmer, says to never buy an Interstate because the way they're sold is that the Interstate sales reps deliver a nice display rack with batteries to a mechanic, shop. etc. then let the shop pay for them only when one of the batteries actually sells. And then the Interstate sales rep will replace that battery.

According to Scotty that means all their batteries are old and already worn out by the time they're installed in your car. lol. That dude assumes a lot. I am sure their batteries are fine like you have experienced.

As for chargers, I bought one of these 2 months ago to bring a battery back to life in a car we rarely drive.

https://www.harborfreight.com/4-amp...ntrolled-battery-chargermaintainer-63350.html

It works nice. Red display color means it's working, and a green background means it's done. It's a 4 amp, so it's kinda slow, but that is probably a good thing. I am not sure how long it took, but it was at least 4 hours or so.

Well he is correct about the rack and the consignment aspects, how long they sit actually depends on the route driver/salesman some will pull back any 3 months old others can't be bothered.

 

[ybnormal]

lots of interesting responses, and some I can tell are actually even knowledgeable about certain aspects battery manufacturing/marketing.

I work at AA on weekends and install more than a few batteries. Like the original poster, I also own a 67 chevy ragtop as well as a 65 ragtop, but I digress.

IMO:
1- Diehard batteries are no worse or better than any other
2- Optima batteries seem to have dropped in quality in the last couple years
3- as for commercial customers who sell Diehard for AA (JiffyLube, Firestone, etc), we give them a 6mth shelf life and then pull it and send back to corporate or sell as 'Used (30 day warranty)'
4- you get one free warranty replacement, if it dies again shortly we can mark that as defective but if it dies again within the original 3 yr warranty period then we know something is wrong with your car or your driving habits and will advise you goto a mechanic to track down your electrical issue
5- you need to drive more than 10 minutes once or twice a week in order to keep a battery charged
6- leaving it on a tender year round is not the best idea
7- we stock a ton of batteries (several actually, they heavy!), we sell a lot of batteries but some sell a lot more than others
8- most Asian vehicles take a group 35 (don't kneejerk, I said MOST)
9- most large GM vehicles take from H5 to H7
10- Subaru usually take a group 28 IIRC
11- Ford trucks will take a group 24
12- older GM with side-post terminals take a group 75/78

the device we use to perform an In-Vehicle battery test can check Alternator output but that's not usually an issue except for very hi-mileage vehicles. the biggest problem I always see is the corrosion; the white stuff, the fluffy blue/green stuff, the corrosion on battery hold downs and the creeping green crud on terminal cables. I THOROUGHLY wire-brush that stuff down to bare metal when I install a battery. (did you know there is actually a recall on some of the Ford F150 battery cables?)
the people that install all those lights and winches on their trucks/jeeps and then don't understand why their battery is dying before EOW (End Of Warranty).....naturally, they never checked their alternator output to see if it is keeping up with it!

as for AGM, it has its place and that's usually with any vehicle that has a high electrical load (typically loaded with stereo and electronics/dvd players for the kids, touchscreens, etc). think of AGM as similar to Lithium-Ion while Lead/Acid is NiCad. AGM will last longer, it will corrode less, vent less, and hold a higher steady electric current for a longer period of time than LeadAcid.

I am not an electrical wizard by any stretch of the imagination, but if you do basic troubleshooting and learn how a vehicle electrical works it's not that bad. For those who really want to test their own electrical issues in a car, there is a device called an AmpHound. Check out this video I found a couple years ago and good luck!

 

[rburke65]

I think you have an issue and the batteries dying are the results. I’ve had good results with batteries from Walmart

 

[75gmck25]

This "Ford fact" is only somewhat relevant to the issue, but when was troubleshooting a 2005 Mustang I found that Ford has system for the vehicle's Keep Alive Memory (KAM) that keeps time on the clock and maintains other settings. It should be a very low amperage draw, but it can malfunction sometimes.

On the 2005+ Mustangs with a 6 disc CD changer (Shaker 500 sound system?) the KAM circuit frequently malfunctioned and kept the CD changer operating even after the car and radio were off. In moderate weather there was still enough to start the car after an overnight stay, but in cold weather the battery couldn't keep up to the drain. Ford recalled the head units, but continued to have problems. The only reliable cure was to remove all the CDs and manually shut the radio off before shutting off the car.

 

[Sumboodie]

Deka batteries made by Eat Penn Manufacturing. Can get them at Napa (Gold), O'Reillys (Superstart), and I remember hearing the Duracell's from Batteries Plus are also. They're still made in USA. Nearly all Johnson Controls (Wal-Mart, Autozone, Motorcraft...) are made in Mexico.

Dad ran a parts store selling Deka batteries. In the vehicles in our family, they normally last 9 or 10 years.

I've gone thought a ton of Super Start batteries. Get a few years at best out of them

 

[mikedodge]

Some members here may laugh about this, but I have been using WalMart batteries for a long time now. I am not a big WalMart shopper, but for automotive batteries I will go there to buy them. They last as well, if not longer than other batteries I have purchased from auto parts stores, and they are less expensive.

I've also been buying Walmart batteries the last several years. They've lasted longer then interstate and Delcos I've bought and at least there's a Walmart anywhere you go if it needs to be exchanged. I was buying from a local battery place prior to that but their batteries as well as their exchange policy are junk so I made the switch.

 

[pbon]

Consumer Reports tests batteries as well periodically. What I have always noticed is that no one brand is best. Could be Diehard for Group 48, Duralast Gold for Group 24, and Interstate for Group 49. Don’t have any explanation for that. I buy mostly AGM but gave a few regular batteries as well. Can’t say any brand is better than others.

 

[ambenz]

So when are we going to see Lithium Car Batteries for gas powered vehicles?
Curious how big the Lithium battery would have to be to provide 600CCA.
I am sure a whole new charging system would need a smart module to regulate charge.
Probably way too expensive.

 

[1967ChevyRagtop]

Followup,
Well, the battery tested good. And the alternator hinky.
So I got an alt., installed it last week (in 20F temps w/15mph winds *) and so far.... Gosh, don't want to jinx it

*Which feels like -20 to my 71yo hands

 

[CJM8515]

^ Heres to hoping problem solved

FWIW I had a 12 GMC Sierra. I finally changed the battery in 2019 after it finally failed. I was keeping an AGM OEM hyundai battery waiting for it on a tender that I yanked out of a good known car. Plopped it in and that sucker was in there till I sold it 6 months later. Oh that hyundai battery-was sitting on a tender for like 5 years lol..Since 2015 when I quit working for a towing company lol..and it was a year old when I got it.

 

[bas157]

I've never gotten more than ~3 years out of the batteries in my Diesel F250. Not sure why I can't get more than that, but it hasn't mattered what brand. Just last week I took them back to Costco and got new ones. When I bought them, they had a 48 month warranty, 42 month free replacement. I was at 41 months so no charge to get new ones! This was the longest they ever lasted for me. Truck had been turning over slowly lately, even with the block heater on and after failing to start 3 times, I said F it last week and swapped them out. Warranty for new ones is only 36 months now but made in January, so I know they weren't sitting on a shelf for a year or more.

BTW, Costco batteries are only $99 (at least at my store), think they were a fair bit more than that last time I bought them. Interstate is what they carry.

 

[pbon]

Lithium batteries for cars already exist. My 2018 BMW M5 uses one as does my 2021 Porsche Cayenne S. Will probably be expensive to replace.

Aftermarket lithium batteries also exist. Antigravity, Dakota, and I think there has at least one other company. Not cheap, but light.

 

[nadogail]

The OEM battery in my first Toyota was a Yuasa, it lasted for so many years I was suspiciou. I don't see Yuasa batteries on the domestic market.

 

[unslow1]

I've never gotten more than ~3 years out of the batteries in my Diesel F250. Not sure why I can't get more than that, but it hasn't mattered what brand. Just last week I took them back to Costco and got new ones. When I bought them, they had a 48 month warranty, 42 month free replacement. I was at 41 months so no charge to get new ones! This was the longest they ever lasted for me. Truck had been turning over slowly lately, even with the block heater on and after failing to start 3 times, I said F it last week and swapped them out. Warranty for new ones is only 36 months now but made in January, so I know they weren't sitting on a shelf for a year or more.

BTW, Costco batteries are only $99 (at least at my store), think they were a fair bit more than that last time I bought them. Interstate is what they carry.

I know several guys that have the 3 year longevity on batteries regardless of brand of diesel or battery.

 

[bubinga]

Circa 2004, I got a battery from AutoZone for my little four-cylinder Ford ****** station wagon.
You're not going to believe this, but it's the truth I got 9 years out of that battery vehicle was driven daily at the time.

 

[MrPink]

The OEM battery in my first Toyota was a Yuasa, it lasted for so many years I was suspiciou. I don't see Yuasa batteries on the domestic market.

Motorcycle batteries mainly are what they produce for the domestic market.

 

[TractorJeff]

Battery in my Truck has a Date Code of 2012! Friday, I was told it's on its last leg!
So I will be Shopping SOON?

 

[nadogail]

Battery in my Truck has a Date Code of 2012! Friday, I was told it's on its last leg!
So I will be Shopping SOON?

I believe you should have started yesterday.

 

[Wrench97]

I know several guys that have the 3 year longevity on batteries regardless of brand of diesel or battery.

Vibration usually takes them out faster.
I was happy to get anything over a year out of fork lift batteries, between the shock, vibrations, heavy cycling from operators leaving the lights on, key on for constant dead batteries..................................

 

[theoldwizard1]

We have had about 2 weeks of below average temps. Highs around 20°F and lows around 10°F. Car has a 6 year old battery. Cranks a bit slower on the coldest days or after sitting more than 24 hours, but I'm sure it will make it to next winter.

I had a truck that the original battery lasted over 10 years.

 

[65ranchero]

I have a battery in my 2013 Polaris Ranger 900xp that is still going strong
I took the battery out to clean up the tray and found a date stamp sticker from 2012
It does not run every day , It only gets run for a snow blowing event, but it sits in a heated garage all the time

I have a 2011 F150 and the battery was good until it failed on the spot in 2017 after I cleaned the top of the battery