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Battery prices...

Mastiff

Mastiff

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So the battery went out on my Jeep. I have two Die Hard platinums in the K5 and so far so good, the last one I bought was $220. I was going to get one for the Jeep, but now they want $250. Holy crap. I see I can get an Optima from Amazon with free shipping for $180 (actually, $150 for top post only). I'm not sure what to do. I take the Jeep into the boonies and it has one battery, so I want it to work. I've heard bad stuff about Optima recently though... any advice? Wasn't there something about Walmart having an AGM?
 
Optima is garbage. I would go with interstate or odyssey if you want to spend the money. Walmart batteries are a joke as is their warranty.
 
My friend is a battery engineer for Johnson Controls. His advice to me is to buy the aftermarket battery with the best/longest warranty. I wouldn't bother with an optima or other expensive battery. THat's my $.02. Try to get one with a 3 year warranty. I see you live in Tucson- extreme heat can damage batteries, so if it craps out in 2-3 years, you get a new one free! Different stores offer different warranties on their batteries, but many of them are the same battery with a different name. I don't recall who offers the best warranty (Walmart, Sams, Autozone etc). JCI and Exide are the 2 major players in the battery world so the battery you buy was most likely built at one of their plants.
 
...and keep your receipt! The store will most likely require it in order to honor the warranty.
 
Walmart doesn't pro-rate their batteries anymore. Many other places do. Heck I replaced the battery in my 05 mustang not long ago and Motorcraft offers a 36 month free replacement and a 72 month prorated period. Optima stopped being a decent battery 7 years ago and a good one over a decade ago.
 
we sell interstate deep cycle #27's at the marina for like $107


that's a beefy battery...
 
Are the interstates gel cells? Or are you guys down on that, at least for the money? I really prefer them, though the premium is getting crazy.

A warranty isn't much use when you're stuck out in the boonies.
 
Mastiff said:
Are the interstates gel cells? Or are you guys down on that, at least for the money? I really prefer them, though the premium is getting crazy.

A warranty isn't much use when you're stuck out in the boonies.
Click to expand...

They have an AGM battery. But, i was referring to a standard one.
 
Mastiff said:
Are the interstates gel cells? Or are you guys down on that, at least for the money? I really prefer them, though the premium is getting crazy.

A warranty isn't much use when you're stuck out in the boonies.
Click to expand...


True but when you get back to civilization you don't need the second kick to the nuts when you have to pay through the nose for another battery.
 
Mastiff said:
Are the interstates gel cells? Or are you guys down on that, at least for the money? I really prefer them, though the premium is getting crazy.

A warranty isn't much use when you're stuck out in the boonies.
Click to expand...

That is why I recommend Odysseys. AGM, and they work well. Good warranty too.
Should outlast most regular batteries.

But, as far as I am concerned, I have run my last wet cell battery in any type of offroad equipment.
There is enough damage done from the fun stuff without having to replace battery boxes and do corrosion repair all the time.
My pickup and tractor both have an Odyssey. The pickup has its 5th battery box in it despite regular neutralizing and cleaning. Won't have to replace that one, and no cleaning necessary.
The tractor is brand new, and was already showing some signs of corrosion.

I replaced the brand new wet cell with an Odyssey.
 
Another vote for Interstate batteries.

Iirc, gel batteries need a special charger too.
 
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I have a 3 year old interstate failing in my Tahoe.

I bought a couple batteries plus batteries, haven't had them very long but I've heard good things.
 
it is not true anymore.

I have not had any issues with the four Optimas that I have. I have one that the positive terminal melted on, it is a dual terminal and the other one works fine. I had one that fell into a manual fan cut it in almost a quarter off of it still worked fine.

I would get an AGM in what ever you get.
 
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