Battery Replacement

[wurgs]

This is the longest I have owned a vehicle, that is still being driven, factory battery so 6 years.

 

 

+1

Haven't ever had a new vehicle longer than 6 years but have never had to change batteries.I do get them tested every 6 months after 5 years old as a precaution. Up here in ND the last thing you want to do is get stranded in the winter with a weak battery.

[RockySierra]

I had the same issues with the crappy side posts on Delco batteries that started back around 94 or so and lasted until 2003-2004, then they finally fixed the issue.

[amc31b]

AC Delco, NAPA, or Interstate, which I believe are all made by Johnson Controls, just like Optima is as well. I've been getting feedback from some people that the Optimas do not like to be discharged and re-charged a whole lot (as in leaving accessories on without the vehicle on for long periods of time) as it causes early failure on the gel type batteries.

 

 

AC Delco are made by Exide. Napa is made by DEKA. Interstate and most of the rest are made by Johnson Controls. You can always tell the Johnson controls batteries because it will have 45 degree angeled corners on the battery caps.

Speaking from alot of experience, Johnson controls and Deka are the best batteries. They last the longest and usually have the highest specs for CCA and reserve capacity. Optima batteries are expensive junk. I had a red top in my Pontiac and it was a strong battery but died in 2 years. IMHO, your best bet is to get one of the "gold" series from johnson controls. Duralast Gold, Autocraft Gold, Die Hard Gold, Interstate megatron and be done with it. Also the "ultimate" series from DEKA are great, you usually get them as the Napa legend 84 series and I highly recommend those as well. Hope this helps

[fbachman]

My OEM battery went about 4 years. Replaced it with a Delco at the dealer (got a jump at work and knew that once I shut her off, I was toast, so I just drovbe straight to my local dealer and had them replace it)

 

Now-a-days, I am told that (run of the mill) battery lifes are dropping as many batteris are made in China, or the components are sourced in China.

 

Thus, the more expensive premium batteries may be worth it.

 

Years ago, I had a 91 F150 that got 100,000 miles / 7+ years on the original battery. Don't think that's in the cards anymore --- not to mention that the electrical demands of a modern vehicle are orders of magnitude more than the vehicles of 10+ years ago.

[gnet158]

I replaced the battery in my 2008 last summer (died) with a good old Die Hard from Sears, I've ran them in all my trucks with out any issues.

[EX-F150 owner]

AC Delco, NAPA, or Interstate, which I believe are all made by Johnson Controls, just like Optima is as well. I've been getting feedback from some people that the Optimas do not like to be discharged and re-charged a whole lot (as in leaving accessories on without the vehicle on for long periods of time) as it causes early failure on the gel type batteries.

 

 

AC Delco are made by Exide. Napa is made by DEKA. Interstate and most of the rest are made by Johnson Controls. You can always tell the Johnson controls batteries because it will have 45 degree angeled corners on the battery caps.

Speaking from alot of experience, Johnson controls and Deka are the best batteries. They last the longest and usually have the highest specs for CCA and reserve capacity. Optima batteries are expensive junk. I had a red top in my Pontiac and it was a strong battery but died in 2 years. IMHO, your best bet is to get one of the "gold" series from johnson controls. Duralast Gold, Autocraft Gold, Die Hard Gold, Interstate megatron and be done with it. Also the "ultimate" series from DEKA are great, you usually get them as the Napa legend 84 series and I highly recommend those as well. Hope this helps

 

 

AC Delco batteries are now made by PowermaxUSA. I fully agree with you, DEKA batteires are great. I did not know they also made them for NAPA but, as my previse post says, they do make them for Carquest and Sea-Volt (through west marine). You can get them reasonably priced through Carquest.

[jblakeney]

Longest I got out of a battery was 9 1/2 years. It was a 84 month battery, and the car was cranked sporadically (less than 20k miles in that time also). I've sold batteries for years. My neck of the woods 4 years are common, 5 and its borrowed time. I bought the battery when we sold exide in 2001. Changed it out last year, car has been setting up a little, I was getting it painted.

 

Jbo

 

Edit: I am a NAPA Jobber. Deka (East Penn) was the best thing that EVER happened to our batteries. I noticed a reduction of about 33% in warranties. Not to mention less corrosion on the post of a top post battery.

[silversport]

I've been lucky then...since 1985 I have used nothing but premium AC Delco batteries and have had all of them go at least as long as the warranty period...I try to change them around that warranty time just to be safe but the last two (an AGM in the '01 Corvette and a Delco Professional) have gone an additional year and still starting...I'm looking to replace the Delco Professional in the Escalade and may use the same battery...

 

Bill