batteries

[Marty]

I have several times needed a jump after leaving my door open, or keys in the ignition beeping, or radio playing for a little while so I figured I needed new batteries. I went to WalMart to get my batteries tested, they told me to pull her around and they could do it then. By the time (3.5 minutes later) I got to the service area, they adv it was going to be about an hour because they just got another job. So I left, and went to Advanced Auto and asked for the battery test. Both batteries turned out to be "good" according to their machine. I am still convinced after needing just a LITTLE juice this morning after not being run for about 2 days that I need new batteries. SO I called around and this is what I found...

minimum of 850 Cold Crankin amps.

Advance Auto (410) 620-0093 - $76.46 = $160.57 65 series out of stock
Wal Mart (410) 398-1070 - $62.28 = $124.56 Maxx 850 crank
Pep Boys (302) 368-1828 - $84.99 = $169.98 Boush ?crank
Napa (410) 398-4664 - no answer
Autozone (410) 398-9044 - $59.99 = $125.979 Duralast - 7 yr warr 935 crank
$79.99 = $167.98 Gold Duralast - 8 yr warr 1000 crank
Keller (410) 398-1515 - no answer



SEEMS THE GOLD DURALAST IS THE BEST CHOICE. JUST WONDERIN IF YA'LL FIGURED THE SAME OR NOT...

[mschn99]

if it was my truck, i would get the good old motocraft 89.99 ones. at some dealers that price is installed even, others charge extra. motocraft batteries IMO are the best bang for your buck. the one in my explorer is one that is seven years old and it came out of a diesel (one battery tested bad....he wanted them both replaced)......they on average go about 5 years in cold climates and 5-8 in warmer ones with some going longer. ive never seen a battery that competes with them IMO........Marc

[Marty]

Seems that motorcraft are the way to go, but I have yet to find one available in my area. I'm not going to order batteries, maybe I can go to the dealer?

[mschn99]

Originally Posted by Maintain

Seems that motorcraft are the way to go, but I have yet to find one available in my area. I'm not going to order batteries, maybe I can go to the dealer?

they are 89.99 at the dealer nationwide unless they are cheaper due to a promotion. about half the dealers in the country install them for 89.99 each, or ship them out the door for you to install at the same price. there is not much margin in batteries. i bought one for my escort last week, and my employee cost on one is 87.51, which is ten over cost. some install them for the price, others do not, but either way they are a fixed price and are a GREAT battery, and i beleave they are only availble at the dealer......Marc

[super_stroke]

i got auto craft titanium from advance auto. something like 1000 cca.

[Marty]

Well I approached a buddy of mine that does the AAA battery service today in the work parking lot. I asked him if he could do a load test since Autozone couldn't. He said sure and went and tested my batteries. We d/c one of them and then tested each individually 2 times. One came up with 54% life left (passed) and the other had %34% life left (in lingo). He said my problem might be the 34% one, and that all I really need to do is change that one and see what happens. He also did a running charge test, and my alternator came back fine.

I think I'm just going to eat the $ and replace both now, and use the one with the 54% as like a backup, or run my trolling motor on it lol. I am going to clean the terminals well and run it like that for a while, maybe 2 weeks until next pay check so I got a bit more cash available.

[gbono2]

I think the motorcraft & the pep boys gold battery are both made by the same folks. Just labeled differently.

[Glenn M]

I have had good luck with the Autozone batterys over the years. I put a pair of the Yellow top 1000ca. 875 cca, in my truck. I think I payed $140-$150 for the pair at the time.
Johnson Controls Inc. makes, Sears' DieHard, Auto Zone's Duralast, Wal-Mart's EverStart, Motorcraft and Optima batterys.

[mschn99]

Originally Posted by Glenn M

Johnson Controls Inc. makes, Sears' DieHard, Auto Zone's Duralast, Wal-Mart's EverStart, Motorcraft and Optima batterys.

i guess the only thing i want to point out is that just because a companie makes all those different brands, doesnt make all those brands the same battery.

[Glenn M]

Originally Posted by mschn99

i guess the only thing i want to point out is that just because a companie makes all those different brands, doesnt make all those brands the same battery.

That is true. But one of my Motorcraft batterys died at 4yrs. I have a set of Autozone Duralast in my 86 6.9 that are 8yrs old and still do the job. I just don't think paying more money for the name, makes them better. I don't care if the name on the battery is Al Cheapo Junk, as long as the thing does the job, I'm sold.