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greenG4 · Jul 14, 2006, 08:23 PM

My battery in my car just died, and in all my years I have never bought a car battery. Any suggestions? Avoidances?

Teronzhul · Jul 14, 2006, 08:33 PM

If you want a really good car battery then you could always get an Optima Red Top. If all you do is drive without putting massive strain on your battery due to stereo equipment or other electrical craziness then likely any $40-50 battery you pick up at a local autoparts dealer will do fine, as long as it fits of course.

greenG4 · Jul 14, 2006, 08:35 PM

Thanks. I was hoping it would be under $50. At the moment I just need to get by.

Buckaroo · Jul 14, 2006, 11:23 PM

The best battery deal is the one from WalMart with a 3 year warranty. Every 2.5 years, you bring it back with the receipt and they replace it for free.

The other great battery deal is from Costco. Same deal, every 2.5 years, bring it back and get a replacement. Who cares if it is the best, you get a new one in 2.5 years.

Eriamjh · Jul 15, 2006, 07:03 AM

Best? Get one from Costco. Cheap and 100 month warranty (3 year replacemnent).

greenG4 · Jul 15, 2006, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by Eriamjh

Best? Get one from Costco. Cheap and 100 month warranty (3 year replacemnent).

No Costco around here. I ended up with an everready for about $40. 6 year warranty. Thanks everybody.

Y3a · Jul 15, 2006, 02:12 PM

Interstate.

Gossamer · Jul 15, 2006, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by Y3a

Interstate.

My grandpa worked at a car dealership for 40 some years and he always said Interstate or Motorcraft (Ford). The one I got ran about $75, I don't remember the warranty, it was good though.

Buckaroo · Jul 15, 2006, 02:45 PM

The only question I would have is several battery warranties are pro-rated. So after 2 years they might apply 40% towards a new battery. The WalMart and Costco are not prorated, and they replace it outright, no additional cost.

ghporter · Jul 15, 2006, 04:43 PM

Sears' DieHard line is typically a good choice. They are typically a little more expensive thatn off-brands, but they perform well. I like the "go back to Wal-Mart every 2 1/2 years for a replacement" concept, but wouldn't they test the thing? With my luck, I'd get a real solid performer that would crap out on the first day of the 37th month...

gururafiki · Jul 15, 2006, 05:57 PM

Deep cycle batteries for motor boats work great in electric cars. They improve your mileage by a lot. Although, it does require some modification to your car that may void the warranty.

iranfromthezoo · Jul 15, 2006, 10:25 PM

if you want some cheap battery with full warranty just ask for a second at a battery shop like exide or interstate...they usually keep a few in stock that they can't sell at full price but they have to warranty them because they are brand new...I got one for $25 with a full 3 yr warranty from exide...never had a problem with cold starts or anything from the battery...just a thought....

bstone · Jul 15, 2006, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by gururafiki

Deep cycle batteries for motor boats work great in electric cars. They improve your mileage by a lot. Although, it does require some modification to your car that may void the warranty.

Explain.

baw · Jul 15, 2006, 11:31 PM

Diehard or Interstate.

Buckaroo · Jul 16, 2006, 12:09 AM

Originally Posted by ghporter

Sears' DieHard line is typically a good choice. They are typically a little more expensive thatn off-brands, but they perform well. I like the "go back to Wal-Mart every 2 1/2 years for a replacement" concept, but wouldn't they test the thing? With my luck, I'd get a real solid performer that would crap out on the first day of the 37th month...

Nope. No testing. You bring it in, show the receipt and they give you a new one. NO TESTING. You don't bring it to the auto department, you bring it to the refund customer service counter.

The tell you to go back and pick out a new one and you bring it up front and they process a swap out receipt.

gururafiki · Jul 16, 2006, 03:43 AM

Originally Posted by bstone

Explain.

This explains some of the technical stuff.

Originally Posted by gururafiki

Deep cycle batteries similar to ones for motor boats work great in electric cars.

Fixed

phantomdragonz · Jul 16, 2006, 04:19 AM

Originally Posted by gururafiki

This explains some of the technical stuff.

if it puts out 12 volts and enough amps it will start a car...

converting your car to electric will most definitly void your warranty, but will give you infinite gas milage!!!... a deep cycle battery in a normal gas car is pointless. I have a deep cycle in my jeep becuase my electric winch can suck way more power then my alternator can put out... so long winching sessions can kill my battery...

I have an optima yellow top, part deep cycle part SLI battery (Starter Lights Ignition) I got a DAMN good deal on it... I have connections... (under $40

)

in my car I have a battery from walmart... dont know which kind, as long as it's not super economy it should last a long time if it is not fully drained a lot...

Zach

TheSkirtDude · Jul 17, 2006, 06:47 PM

The cheapest battery available. Seriously, the only REMOTELY different thing between batteries is the price, warranty, the amount of advertising money various companies spend, and how much tehy spend on packaging. All the technology is exactly the same, and it really doesn't matter much at all. Sure, optima batteries have slightly different design, but they do the exact same thing. And really... it's a stupid thing to waste money on. You really only use your battery for starting your car. Once it's running, the alternator is taking care of all your car's electric needs, and charging the battery again. I went through batteries like crazy with my old 68 charger thanks to an electrical gremlin that nobody could track down. They all last about exactly the same, give or take a few weeks.

baw · Jul 18, 2006, 01:30 PM

Cold cranking amps is the main thing I look for.

Gossamer · Jul 18, 2006, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by TheSkirtDude

The cheapest battery available. Seriously, the only REMOTELY different thing between batteries is the price, warranty, the amount of advertising money various companies spend, and how much tehy spend on packaging. All the technology is exactly the same, and it really doesn't matter much at all. Sure, optima batteries have slightly different design, but they do the exact same thing. And really... it's a stupid thing to waste money on. You really only use your battery for starting your car. Once it's running, the alternator is taking care of all your car's electric needs, and charging the battery again. I went through batteries like crazy with my old 68 charger thanks to an electrical gremlin that nobody could track down. They all last about exactly the same, give or take a few weeks.

So everybody that goes for a Yellow Top for their audio systems is wrong?

baw · Jul 18, 2006, 01:47 PM

From what I've read about car electrical system, the battery is actually used even after the car is running.

TheSkirtDude · Jul 18, 2006, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

So everybody that goes for a Yellow Top for their audio systems is wrong?

Pretty much. A capacitor would be a much better idea. And you'd have to have a pretty HUGE audio system in order to 'need' either a capacitor or a yellow top battery. Also, keep in mind the people who are into 'car audio' are generally total dumbasses, who don't know the first thing about electronics, or any electrical theory. Are optima batteries slightly better? Sure. Better enough to be required in 99.9999% of cars? No freakin way. They use lead plates and acid in a different configuration, exact same technology. Not worth the price hike.

TheSkirtDude · Jul 18, 2006, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by baw

From what I've read about car electrical system, the battery is actually used even after the car is running.

Yep. It's being charged, or takes up slack when the alternator can't keep up with demand (ie, very rarely).

residentEvil · Jul 19, 2006, 09:26 AM

I had a deep cycle marine battery for my dodge ram; helped with the sound system as i tended to use it a lot when parked/working outside. allowed me to have a better run down time then the factory battery.

Gossamer · Jul 19, 2006, 09:27 AM

Nope, you're wrong.

residentEvil · Jul 19, 2006, 12:45 PM

hmm, could have fooled me. it accomplished what i needed, so that is all that matters, isn't it?

Gossamer · Jul 19, 2006, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by residentEvil

hmm, could have fooled me. it accomplished what i needed, so that is all that matters, isn't it?

I think it is this very idea that Rob cannot compute.

Quake4SMP · Jul 20, 2006, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by residentEvil

I had a deep cycle marine battery for my dodge ram; helped with the sound system as i tended to use it a lot when parked/working outside. allowed me to have a better run down time then the factory battery.

Sure. A little better. But keep in mind the majority of hte population doesn't listen to their stereo with teh car off for extended periods of time. Even then, it's not really an issue. With a regular GENERIC battery I was able to play my car stereo for over 3 hours. Cranked up fine.

If you tested how long you could play the radio with a regular battery in good condition, then did the same thing with an optima, and the extra time you required was honestly met by the optima, I'll believe you. Otherwise I guess I'll just say I'm writing you off as someone who bought an optima, then says "Oh it's better for when I have the car off and the stereo on for a long period of time" just to feel good about spending that much on a battery. :|

residentEvil · Jul 20, 2006, 09:07 AM

i didn't spend any money on it

and i don't remember the brand name. my friends who own a 38' Carver donated the battery to me. i noticed with my stock battery at a stop light, with the radio on pretty loud, my headlights would dim. they suggested using one of their old carver batteries. i gave it a try and never had my lights dim again at stop lights. i then started using it a lot with the truck off as i assumed i could now (i wouldn't do it more than 5 or 10 minutes on the stock battery).

no formal tests; just my gut feelings and the results i saw at a stop light

no harm, no foul. just what i did and it worked.

Quake4SMP · Jul 20, 2006, 09:22 AM

Ah. Well, if you were having problems at stoplights, the problem was your original battery was almost dead.

Either that or your alternator was dying... something wasn't right.

Gossamer · Jul 20, 2006, 10:12 AM

If his alternator was dying, why could a new battery help?

residentEvil · Jul 20, 2006, 10:27 AM

i would hope a new truck off the line wouldn't have a bad/dead battery. could be, i guess.

i bought it with 8 miles on it and had the stereo installed within 2000 miles. replaced battery with said marine one at/around 10,000 miles.

anyway, it is neither here or there. truck is gone and my gas chugging 4x4 durango is doing just fine

Quake4SMP · Jul 20, 2006, 11:12 AM

Alternator dying= not putting out enough power to cover the stereo's demands + headlights+ engine so it's sapping battery power. A newer stronger battery would make this less noticeable.

Did you have a 'big' stereo installed with subwoofers? If that's the case, then all you needed was a capacitor.