I vote for the Delco or Interstate. Never had a prob with either brand. Have had numerous "house brands" die before thier time. And always at the worst time.
Best battery, opinons and experiences, please
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I would never add tap water to a battery -- only distilled.
Any thoughts as to the reliability/longevity of no-maintenance gel batteries versus old school add-water types? I always suspected the no-maintenance feature came at a price of reliability, but it is just a gut feeling.
Any thoughts as to the reliability/longevity of no-maintenance gel batteries versus old school add-water types? I always suspected the no-maintenance feature came at a price of reliability, but it is just a gut feeling.
If there's a way to check/add water to Delcos newer than '96, I'd like to know about it. My '96 Accord's Delco as well as the Delco-made Wal*Mart replacement in '99 were
S-E-A-L-E-D with NO entrance to the innards. Same with the "DelKor" battery in my '03 Sonata - which looks suspiciously identical in outword construction (little molded-in vents at either long end of the top cover) to the Delcos - Hmmm... Does
"DelKor = Del(co) Kor(ea)?
[ December 15, 2003, 06:46 PM: Message edited by: Ray H ]
S-E-A-L-E-D with NO entrance to the innards. Same with the "DelKor" battery in my '03 Sonata - which looks suspiciously identical in outword construction (little molded-in vents at either long end of the top cover) to the Delcos - Hmmm... Does
"DelKor = Del(co) Kor(ea)?
[ December 15, 2003, 06:46 PM: Message edited by: Ray H ]
I just looked at the one in my 02 Cavalier, and it looks sealed up to me, and says "Maintenance Free". That was the way the one in my 92 Grand Am looked, and I think the one in my 81 Phoenix. Goldfinger, can you give us some details on opening a Delco? Is sealed for death a better discription?
Hey, I use Interstate (top of the line), for a long time.
Every time I have had to replace a battery and had to get another, I ended up tearing up that battery in no time... I do courier work, and I can tear up a battery, Interstate has been the longest lasting for my work.
Now, I am interested in the Optima, I believe they have fixed the issues they were having with their battery problem for a short while... I just wish I knew another HD user that hs swiched that can give me feed back.
I plan on talking to some field techs soon, because although my battery is good now, the time limit I place on them is getting closer.
Well, I like the gell cell battery for their resistance to vibration. I also like that some of them have a gas expansion chamber and reclaim their gas's so they do not off gas. My lungs and skin like this and so does sheet metal in you trunk and under the seat. Gell cells also allow a wider range of mounting choices.
I will agree that a gell cell is not going to start the vechile any better then a conventional design!
Interstate takes some heat because they are usualy alot cheaper then most other major brands but alot of that is due to advertiseing. Interate is mostly a jobber type brand and is a really good battery!! My family averages about 7 years per battery and have had almost exclusively Delco batterys in everything!
About a 1.5 years ago Delco droped major stores like Walmart and K-Mart from their distribution channel. It has become difficult to find them unless you go to a dealership or Jobber type store. THey yanked their oil filters and alot of other parts at the same time. To find the nearset place that carrys them call 1-800-ACDELCO. As them for the nearst WD near you that carrys Delco batterys. These guys are really good and will try to locate one for you.
I will agree that a gell cell is not going to start the vechile any better then a conventional design!
Interstate takes some heat because they are usualy alot cheaper then most other major brands but alot of that is due to advertiseing. Interate is mostly a jobber type brand and is a really good battery!! My family averages about 7 years per battery and have had almost exclusively Delco batterys in everything!
About a 1.5 years ago Delco droped major stores like Walmart and K-Mart from their distribution channel. It has become difficult to find them unless you go to a dealership or Jobber type store. THey yanked their oil filters and alot of other parts at the same time. To find the nearset place that carrys them call 1-800-ACDELCO. As them for the nearst WD near you that carrys Delco batterys. These guys are really good and will try to locate one for you.
Actually I've always gotten great life from the factory Motorcraft batteries. Three different vehicles and each went over 8 years. The batteries didn't die. I just didn't want to push my luck. Even the replacement Motorcraft batteries cost less than Sear's Diehard batteries. Maybe I just got lucky three times
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Whimsey
Whimsey
Well, like I said I never even checked or added water to the Declo because I was car dumb at the time, but I know it could have used some. It's been 3 years since I looked at it, so I could be wrong...... but I'm almost positive it wasn't sealed.
My Exide is "maintenace free" but it's not sealed. With that in mind though, I wouldn't buy one that was.
"Heat-sealed covers provide maintenance-free protection with added strength and rigidity."
Looks like I was wrong.
Hey I sell Optima's and Diehards.
Personally I prefer the Optima Red Top, otherwise for a step down but stout battery get a DieHard Gold Battery.
The Gold is comparable to an AC Delco.
However never ever buy the DieHard Silver or Weatherhandler batteries.
It is a Sham...i honestly wish Sears only made the Gold. To many cheapskates buy the Silver and Weatherhandlers and B**** how bad they are cuz they didnt have the fortitude to buy the Gold in the 1st place,
By the way I am getting an Optima next month
Group 35/75 or 34/78 by the way?
Personally I prefer the Optima Red Top, otherwise for a step down but stout battery get a DieHard Gold Battery.
The Gold is comparable to an AC Delco.
However never ever buy the DieHard Silver or Weatherhandler batteries.
It is a Sham...i honestly wish Sears only made the Gold. To many cheapskates buy the Silver and Weatherhandlers and B**** how bad they are cuz they didnt have the fortitude to buy the Gold in the 1st place,
By the way I am getting an Optima next month
Group 35/75 or 34/78 by the way?
The longest lasting battery I've ever had was an Interstate. The last one I got went 7 1/2 years. Stay away from the Autozone Duralast. I've had 2 of them now that only made it a year...
I replaced the good oem Panasonic battery off my truck with Optima Red Top when I got my winch. 3 years later the battery is still good shape. If one goes off-highway, IMO these are the ones(gel) to get.
Get the cheapest battery out there. they will last with water being added.
I had the 5 year warrnaty crap and you end losing the reciept by the time youll need the warranty.
Go cheap ive got cheap wally world batteries exide that i have used for 3-4 years.
I had the 5 year warrnaty crap and you end losing the reciept by the time youll need the warranty.
Go cheap ive got cheap wally world batteries exide that i have used for 3-4 years.
Honestly, I've used Wal-Mart, Autozone, Interstate, Exide, and Sears Gold batteries. I've never seen much difference in them. Went with the Sears battery cause I could put it on the Sears card and did not have to get my hands dirty. I ussually just buy what is closest, and get the newest date code I can find. The factory Delco battery in my car did leak and corrode everything around it.
I also alway replace the insulator while changing batteries. Helps keep the temps more regulated and I don't have look at a nasty looking original one.
I also alway replace the insulator while changing batteries. Helps keep the temps more regulated and I don't have look at a nasty looking original one.
I spent a couple weeks in an Exide plant and noticed they were building Exide brand batteries, Toyota batteries, and Sears Diehards. I asked a guy about the Sears batteries and he said they are made to Sears specs and are built better than the average battery. I don't remember if they made the gold, silver, etc. They may not even have the contract now since this was back in 96. I've used almost exclusively Sears and one Exide but by the time I need a battery I usually trade cars in the next year or two so I can't say how they lasted.
Johnson Controls made the Die Hards for years. Exide got the contract in the early 90s and got caught slapping new labels on returned batteries. Then shipping them out as new. Two top Exide executives got prison terms and Sears paid millions in fines. Johnson Controls now makes them again.
I prefer the Odyssey batteries. Best I have ever seen. Completely sealed and light weight yet still very powerful. odyssey factory
I prefer the Odyssey batteries. Best I have ever seen. Completely sealed and light weight yet still very powerful. odyssey factory
My pop is a mechanic of 40 years. In his opinion there may be better batteries than Interstate MegaTrons, but he's not aware of them.
That being said, I've heard good things about Optima. Additionally, when out of state for an extended period (school), my wife's car needed a battery. I bought an Exide. And then another, and another (3 total) over the course of 3 months. The first two went bad. The first basically splattered acid all over the place. The second just went dead. The third lasted until we sold the car 2 years later. The second and third we acquired due to warrantee issues on the prior batteries. Never again.
Also, read this:
http://uuhome.de/william.darden/batbrand.htm
That being said, I've heard good things about Optima. Additionally, when out of state for an extended period (school), my wife's car needed a battery. I bought an Exide. And then another, and another (3 total) over the course of 3 months. The first two went bad. The first basically splattered acid all over the place. The second just went dead. The third lasted until we sold the car 2 years later. The second and third we acquired due to warrantee issues on the prior batteries. Never again.
Also, read this:
http://uuhome.de/william.darden/batbrand.htm
Duralast Gold! The same battery has sat on the floor of my garage for over 5 months during a rebuild.
It started my engine right up with no recharge at all!
It started my engine right up with no recharge at all!
mine lasted a little longer than 6 years. hopefully the one in my newest car will last just as long. when i need a replacement, i'm going to consider the cost of the other batteries and then try to find a delco dist. or just go to the dealer.
the battery that came in my dodge caravan was the worst piece of crap that i've ever seen. it barely lasted 3 years/or less.
it's worth it to get the better battery. i'm not a fan of acid leaching from the terminals.
check the water levels in your batteries!
the delco's i've had (95 honda and new) had a lid you could pry off to access the battery acid. i've never checked them, but i'm sure i should have. it was fat and bulging by that time anyway.
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