Battery Replacement

[GTGallop]

Guessing I'm near or going to be near the end of the lifespan of the OEM battery soon. Most batteries last about 2 years in Arizona and then without indication - POOF - they are dead. Given my Auto Start / Stop I don't want a dead or dying battery to leave me on the side of the road. So I'll be replacing it soon while I still have the time and ability to shop around and get a good deal instead of getting a K-Mart Special because that was the closest thing when I died.

My last off road vehicle I ran an Optima Yellow Top in. But they shifted manufacturing from Colorado to Mexico and in the transition, started having quality issues. Not sure they are the king of batteries any more.

What say you? What is a good off road replacement battery?​

I need one that will support accessories and give the kind of confidence you need to go into the back country without having to worry about the battery? Is it still Optima? I liked Interstate in the past, are they still good? I seem to be able to find the AutoZone Duralasts in my size and close by but always considered them crap (no empirical data why), are they OK?

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[AZLightning]

I was thinking about grabbing an Odyssey battery for mine before spring. They are still made in America and some of the jeep guys I've talked to love them. The most important thing to remember is that our trucks use an AGM battery. That said there is only two or three battery manufacturers anymore so pretty much anywhere you go you get the same battery.

 

[Bkfore]

Guessing I'm near or going to be near the end of the lifespan of the OEM battery soon. Most batteries last about 2 years in Arizona and then without indication - POOF - they are dead. Given my Auto Start / Stop I don't want a dead or dying battery to leave me on the side of the road. So I'll be replacing it soon while I still have the time and ability to shop around and get a good deal instead of getting a K-Mart Special because that was the closest thing when I died.

My last off road vehicle I ran an Optima Yellow Top in. But they shifted manufacturing from Colorado to Mexico and in the transition, started having quality issues. Not sure they are the king of batteries any more.

What say you? What is a good off road replacement battery?​

I need one that will support accessories and give the kind of confidence you need to go into the back country without having to worry about the battery? Is it still Optima? I liked Interstate in the past, are they still good? I seem to be able to find the AutoZone Duralasts in my size and close by but always considered them crap (no empirical data why), are they OK?

Just replaced a 6 yrs old OReilys superstart battery in my Buick. Of course it is inside the cab and no clue on where they are made today, but a battery lasting 6 years was a first for me.
AAA replaced with a 6 yrs battery, 3 yrs full replacement, but of course the receipt doesn't say the brand and too inconvenient to dig under the rear seat to look. Not sure how they would hold up in off road environment.

 

[Frenchy]

I myself plan to get an Odyssey Battery for my tuck when the time comes. The quality is nice and is close to the cost of am optima. Also unlile the waisted space from spiral cells they use every bit of space to maximize avalible power.

 

[Mustang2Ranger]

when mine dies I plan to replace it with a factory battery which is already a good quality AGM, or if AutoZone offers it a comparable Duralast AGM battery.

Duralast are good batteries and I stay away from Interstate. Always been a fan of Optima

Will research Odyssey more, preliminarily seems like a good manufacturer

 

[dtech]

I was thinking about grabbing an Odyssey battery for mine before spring. They are still made in America and some of the jeep guys I've talked to love them. The most important thing to remember is that our trucks use an AGM battery. That said there is only two or three battery manufacturers anymore so pretty much anywhere you go you get the same battery.

yep, except at some places you will pay more, sometimes a lot more for essentially the same battery. I go to Wally Mart, theirs are made by Johnson Controls who IIRC is the biggest player.

 

[Obijack]

Walmart doesn’t test your batteries when you bring it in prior to replacement period ending to get a new one.

 

[JaysOnTheEDGE]

I’ve had good luck with Napa batteries. Put one on my fathers Saturn Sky and that lasted about 5 years. That car requires removing the fender to change the battery. 5 years in FL for a battery is outstanding.

 

[Mustang2Ranger]

I’ve had good luck with Napa batteries. Put one on my fathers Saturn Sky and that lasted about 5 years. That car requires removing the fender to change the battery. 5 years in FL for a battery is outstanding.

I hadn't had much experience with NAPA until recently however my parent's motorhome takes two commercial size AGM batteries. When we replacing the old NAPA with new NAPA batteries the date code on the old ones was 2010! 10 years is a ridiculously long time

 

[JaysOnTheEDGE]

I hadn't had much experience with NAPA until recently however my parent's motorhome takes two commercial size AGM batteries. When we replacing the old NAPA with new NAPA batteries the date code on the old ones was 2010! 10 years is a ridiculously long time

yeah that's a bit old, my buddy works there so he made sure I got the freshest one they had. Johnson Controls makes them, same as most chain auto part stores

 

[painter1]

Guessing I'm near or going to be near the end of the lifespan of the OEM battery soon. Most batteries last about 2 years in Arizona and then without indication - POOF - they are dead.

when mine dies I plan to replace it with a factory battery which is already a good quality AGM,..<snip>.

<snip> ... the date code on the old ones was 2010! 10 years is a ridiculously long time

Interesting to see a Motorcraft battery mentioned as replacement, you don't often read that in battery threads.

The oems in my Superduty diesel lasted 10 years, so I replaced them with Motorcrafts. The oem on my '98 Escort (which I still have) lasted 13 or 14 years. It was still good but was changed as a precaution for a winter trip I had planned. I guess cooler weather has some benefits ?

If the oems are only lasting 2-3 years in hot climates is it common for owners to make warranty claims with the car dealer ? even though prorated ? Or if they last 'til the 3 year warranty is it the replacements that typically last only 2-3 years ?

 

[NWRanger]

I have never heard of replacing a new battery after 2-3 years. I've been in North Idaho for 12 years and the average seems to be around 7.

I think most batteries last longer in the cold, at least in my case from AA/AAA, phones/ cars everything. Most instructions say to protect from heat.

My second vehicle was a 2002 Durango I had purchased from my uncle (he had bought it new) I replaced the battery after owning it a year and half even though I didn't have any issues- it was the 14 year old original battery.

 

[Frenchy]

I have never heard of replacing a new battery after 2-3 years. I've been in North Idaho for 12 years and the average seems to be around 7.

I think most batteries last longer in the cold, at least in my case from AA/AAA, phones/ cars everything. Most instructions say to protect from heat.

My second vehicle was a 2002 Durango I had purchased from my uncle (he had bought it new) I replaced the battery after owning it a year and half even though I didn't have any issues- it was the 14 year old original battery.

Depending on where you live will depend on battery life. When I lived in Arizona it was common to see batteries last 2-3 years on average. If you got more than that you were considered lucky.

Now that i live in Colorado I see batteries lasting longer which is nice.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Depending on where you live will depend on battery life. When I lived in Arizona it was common to see batteries last 2-3 years on average. If you got more than that you were considered lucky.

Now that i live in Colorado I see batteries lasting longer which is nice.

Hi Chris,

My vehicles are garaged here in Southern Arizona and we get between 3 to 4 years. Heat is a battery killer, but better for AMG than flooded cell which are lucky to make 2 years.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[GTGallop]

What is our battery group size any way?
I'll go look it up in a bit if no one answers.

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