Odyssey? I've never used one, but all the reports I've read are good. Given the price, they'd better be...
The Best Automotive Battery Is...
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I was going to buy a W*M Everstart MAXX for my daughters 06 Mazda3 as there is still the OEM Panisonic in there and the car is approaching 5yrs old.
Someone here at Bob's had posted a discount code# LC123 in the Rebate, Sales & Promo's section of $40.00 off a $100.00 purchace at AdvanceAutoParts(AAP). Jumped on line and entered the code# after selecting the top of the line, Autocraft GOLD(650 cca's and 3yr free replacement) and it came up to $71 & change after tax/core. I still have to return the core yet. The total will end up being $63 & change...Final Answer!
Oh yeah, if you are not logged on, you'll have to set a password along with your email. Doesn't take long and they except all major CC's and PP
I don't know how long the code# is good for but, it's in the "Rebate,Sales & Promo's section with other #'s that may work if this one doen't.
Someone here at Bob's had posted a discount code# LC123 in the Rebate, Sales & Promo's section of $40.00 off a $100.00 purchace at AdvanceAutoParts(AAP). Jumped on line and entered the code# after selecting the top of the line, Autocraft GOLD(650 cca's and 3yr free replacement) and it came up to $71 & change after tax/core. I still have to return the core yet. The total will end up being $63 & change...Final Answer!
Oh yeah, if you are not logged on, you'll have to set a password along with your email. Doesn't take long and they except all major CC's and PP
I don't know how long the code# is good for but, it's in the "Rebate,Sales & Promo's section with other #'s that may work if this one doen't.
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The resemblance to JC WM batteries is uncanny... same octagonal vents, same plain date born-on stickers. (I got a 6/10 but am not complaining at 40% off...)
AA lets me buy without logging into my account... good thing because one of those codes expired after three uses.
Originally Posted By: ekpolk
By contrast, the OEM battery in my 98 Regal GS failed in under two years. And it's not as if down here our batteries get frozen on a regular basis. I suppose our summers provide their own challenges, but still -- less than two years from an OEM????
Someone already posted the map, but the major cause of shortened battery life is heat. That is why many vehicles come with a battery insulating wrap (which should be re-installed on the new battery if you want it to last longer).
The heat increases water loss. It's possible, and even advisable, to regularly check and add water if necessary to increase the battery life, especially in a hot climate.
However, some batteries don't have removable vent caps to allow this. The OEM battery that came with the '98 Regal would probably fall into that category.
By contrast, the OEM battery in my 98 Regal GS failed in under two years. And it's not as if down here our batteries get frozen on a regular basis. I suppose our summers provide their own challenges, but still -- less than two years from an OEM????
Someone already posted the map, but the major cause of shortened battery life is heat. That is why many vehicles come with a battery insulating wrap (which should be re-installed on the new battery if you want it to last longer).
The heat increases water loss. It's possible, and even advisable, to regularly check and add water if necessary to increase the battery life, especially in a hot climate.
However, some batteries don't have removable vent caps to allow this. The OEM battery that came with the '98 Regal would probably fall into that category.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
The resemblance to JC WM batteries is uncanny... same octagonal vents, same plain date born-on stickers. (I got a 6/10 but am not complaining at 40% off...)
Both are made by Johnson Controls.
The resemblance to JC WM batteries is uncanny... same octagonal vents, same plain date born-on stickers. (I got a 6/10 but am not complaining at 40% off...)
Both are made by Johnson Controls.
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
I'll pay the extra $30 or so for an Optima. I like the slow self-discharge rate (especially for the classic car which sometimes sits for up to 2 months) and the lack of any corrosive gasses- no more fuzz on the battery terminals or hold-down brackets.
FWIW, their prices seem to have dropped back down a bit. When I bought my first Optima (red top starting battery) back in the 90s, they were kinda silly expensive at $110 when at the time a good 750 CCA conventional battery at the time was $60-70. Then they just went stupid at $200+, but at the same time a good conventional battery went close to $100. The last conventional battery I bought was $120 out the door, and the most recent Optima Red Top was $160. That's not such a bad split given the advantages.
FWIW, the Optimas are not what they used to be. Johnson sold the division a while ago as they considered the "spiral wound" technology obsolete, and they are made cheaper now by the company that bought the name. Best bet if you want a AGM are the Odessey brand....IMHO much better battery for the $$.
I'll pay the extra $30 or so for an Optima. I like the slow self-discharge rate (especially for the classic car which sometimes sits for up to 2 months) and the lack of any corrosive gasses- no more fuzz on the battery terminals or hold-down brackets.
FWIW, their prices seem to have dropped back down a bit. When I bought my first Optima (red top starting battery) back in the 90s, they were kinda silly expensive at $110 when at the time a good 750 CCA conventional battery at the time was $60-70. Then they just went stupid at $200+, but at the same time a good conventional battery went close to $100. The last conventional battery I bought was $120 out the door, and the most recent Optima Red Top was $160. That's not such a bad split given the advantages.
FWIW, the Optimas are not what they used to be. Johnson sold the division a while ago as they considered the "spiral wound" technology obsolete, and they are made cheaper now by the company that bought the name. Best bet if you want a AGM are the Odessey brand....IMHO much better battery for the $$.
I have had three Costco batteries prematurely go bad on me. The last one corroded battery terminals so badly that I had to put a C-clamp around it so that I could drive to the shop to get it fixed. I finally gave in and had the shop put in Interstate battery rather than taking the old one back to Costco for replacement.
Not everybody has such a bad luck with Costco batteries. One of my friend has no problem with Costco batteries and he replaces them every five years on the dot.
- Vikas
Not everybody has such a bad luck with Costco batteries. One of my friend has no problem with Costco batteries and he replaces them every five years on the dot.
- Vikas
Only issue with Costco batteries is that they're not real good about stock rotation. I have a Costco battery in one of my cars, it's almost 5 years old, no corrosion issues but it tests weak (still turns the engine over though), so I'm going to return it and get a new one under the pro-rated warranty.
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
I'll pay the extra $30 or so for an Optima.
Myself and many Corvette guys who use an Optima battery have had HORRIBLE luck with them. I think the newer ones are not the same as they use to be for some reason.
I'll pay the extra $30 or so for an Optima.
Myself and many Corvette guys who use an Optima battery have had HORRIBLE luck with them. I think the newer ones are not the same as they use to be for some reason.
Originally Posted By: brianl703
Originally Posted By: eljefino
The resemblance to JC WM batteries is uncanny... same octagonal vents, same plain date born-on stickers. (I got a 6/10 but am not complaining at 40% off...)
Both are made by Johnson Controls.
The EverStart Maxx I got at Walmart was made by Exide (on the sticker). I think some might also be made by Johnson Controls ... might depend on the battery group size.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
The resemblance to JC WM batteries is uncanny... same octagonal vents, same plain date born-on stickers. (I got a 6/10 but am not complaining at 40% off...)
Both are made by Johnson Controls.
The EverStart Maxx I got at Walmart was made by Exide (on the sticker). I think some might also be made by Johnson Controls ... might depend on the battery group size.
The reason Optima batteries went downhill is because they were bought by Johnson Controls.
Johnson Controls shut down the US plant and they started making the batteries in Mexico using cheaper lead.
Johnson Controls shut down the US plant and they started making the batteries in Mexico using cheaper lead.
ls1mike
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Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
I'll pay the extra $30 or so for an Optima.
Myself and many Corvette guys who use an Optima battery have had HORRIBLE luck with them. I think the newer ones are not the same as they use to be for some reason.
Had the same experience in my Trans Am, currently it has a 6 year old Duralast Gold in it.
I have a 5 year old Wal-mart battery in my truck and it sits most of the time.
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
I'll pay the extra $30 or so for an Optima.
Myself and many Corvette guys who use an Optima battery have had HORRIBLE luck with them. I think the newer ones are not the same as they use to be for some reason.
Had the same experience in my Trans Am, currently it has a 6 year old Duralast Gold in it.
I have a 5 year old Wal-mart battery in my truck and it sits most of the time.
Factory battery in my 96 TBird lasted 7 years to 2003, the factory battery in my 03 LS finally died this past winter after 6 years.
I replaced the battery in the TBird with a DieHard Gold, and it was fine when I sold the car a couple years later. Still running with the Duralast in the LS. It's been fine so far... we'll see how this next winter goes. I'm a little curious to see how it works out, as I couldn't find the correct battery for the car (trunk mounted, vented, group 66) nearby for any reasonable price. I used a different, slightly smaller sized vented battery and made it work. It was like 40-50 CCA higher than required by my car, so I'm guessing it should be OK. Oh, and of course, I saved like $60 over the crazy Lincoln/Jaguar spec battery.
I replaced the battery in the TBird with a DieHard Gold, and it was fine when I sold the car a couple years later. Still running with the Duralast in the LS. It's been fine so far... we'll see how this next winter goes. I'm a little curious to see how it works out, as I couldn't find the correct battery for the car (trunk mounted, vented, group 66) nearby for any reasonable price. I used a different, slightly smaller sized vented battery and made it work. It was like 40-50 CCA higher than required by my car, so I'm guessing it should be OK. Oh, and of course, I saved like $60 over the crazy Lincoln/Jaguar spec battery.
Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
I'll pay the extra $30 or so for an Optima.
Myself and many Corvette guys who use an Optima battery have had HORRIBLE luck with them. I think the newer ones are not the same as they use to be for some reason.
They sucked after Johnson Controls bought the company from the original (startup, USA-based) owners, most likely not for the technology but to keep them from undercutting Johnson's market dominance. My early ones were fantastic- never had a better battery since. I'm hopeful the new ownership will put them back more to the pre-Johnson Junktrolls quality.
Also- don't be suckered by the "yellow top" deep cycle and "blue top" combination versions- the real strength of the Optima is the low self-discharge rate, and the Red Top is the best in that regard. If you need a true deep-cycle battery, there are many better options.
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
I'll pay the extra $30 or so for an Optima.
Myself and many Corvette guys who use an Optima battery have had HORRIBLE luck with them. I think the newer ones are not the same as they use to be for some reason.
They sucked after Johnson Controls bought the company from the original (startup, USA-based) owners, most likely not for the technology but to keep them from undercutting Johnson's market dominance. My early ones were fantastic- never had a better battery since. I'm hopeful the new ownership will put them back more to the pre-Johnson Junktrolls quality.
Also- don't be suckered by the "yellow top" deep cycle and "blue top" combination versions- the real strength of the Optima is the low self-discharge rate, and the Red Top is the best in that regard. If you need a true deep-cycle battery, there are many better options.
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Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
The EverStart Maxx I got at Walmart was made by Exide (on the sticker). I think some might also be made by Johnson Controls ... might depend on the battery group size.
If it's got the octagonal vents, it's made by Johnson Controls. Wal-Mart is phasing out the Exide batteries, but there are still some left on the shelf.
The EverStart Maxx I got at Walmart was made by Exide (on the sticker). I think some might also be made by Johnson Controls ... might depend on the battery group size.
If it's got the octagonal vents, it's made by Johnson Controls. Wal-Mart is phasing out the Exide batteries, but there are still some left on the shelf.
The Everstart Maxx at my local Walmart's is made by Johnson Controls, one thing stands out is the same price of $77 for all sizes. My E430 size is a large 49 and at $77 is about 1/2 the price at MB dealer. They have the size 27 but not 27F that is what I need for LS400. Costco doesn't carry sizes 27F nor 49, Sam Club has size 49 at more than $90 but no 27F. Size 27F is hard to find.
Originally Posted By: brianl703
Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
The EverStart Maxx I got at Walmart was made by Exide (on the sticker). I think some might also be made by Johnson Controls ... might depend on the battery group size.
If it's got the octagonal vents, it's made by Johnson Controls. Wal-Mart is phasing out the Exide batteries, but there are still some left on the shelf.
Yeah, some areas have had JCI batteries for years now. We just changed over this month. We will get our first JCI batteries this week.
Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
The EverStart Maxx I got at Walmart was made by Exide (on the sticker). I think some might also be made by Johnson Controls ... might depend on the battery group size.
If it's got the octagonal vents, it's made by Johnson Controls. Wal-Mart is phasing out the Exide batteries, but there are still some left on the shelf.
Yeah, some areas have had JCI batteries for years now. We just changed over this month. We will get our first JCI batteries this week.
What's best? I don't know. Less than 2 weeks after I bought the Dakota, the factory battery died, after well over 7 yrs of service. I replaced it with a Johnson Controls-built, Wally World Everstart Maxx. An almost-forgotten gift card trimmed over $30 off the price, & all's been A-OK so far.
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