I like purchasing as much stuff made in the USA as possible. Johnson controls makes optima, interstate, walmart, duralast, etc and their manufacturing is based in Mexico. Eastpenn/Deka and Odyssey are the only affordable batteries made in the US that I know of.
I just replaced mine with a size 34r AGM battery made by eastpenn. It has 770 CCA and a 120min reserve. They are rebranded by Sears as a die hard gold AGM. Checker/O'rielly as their super start platinum. And carquest as NGT Extreme platinum (where I got mine for $132 + tax) ...
if you choose a normal lead acid battery I think car quest has the full line of eastpenn/deka batteries.
Lots of guys on here run sears 31M platinum marine battery ... which is a rebranded odyssey AGM battery. I am a cheap bastard that lives in the desert, and works in the cold, so I am great at killing batteries and I do not "need" the extra reserve time of that large of a battery.
I would definitely go die hard before optima. And an AGM battery before lead acid.
I wanted to find a Deka Ultimate 27f advanced AGM (840 CCA and 140min reserve) ... but I couldnt find anything rebranded that was local.
After much research, I pulled the trigger last spring on a diehard gold AGM for my starter battery and a diehard platinum marine 31 for my aux battery.
best batteries out there and they have excellent warranties. They are spendy, but I feel that batteries are not an area to cheap out on
Have you removed the caps and inspected the electrolyte level?
Did they get topped off with distilled water?
If yes to all of the above you are now entering into the extended life zone thanks to good care.
However, in S.Texas as in Az or NM or any hot climate zone 4 to 5 years is considered a good lifespan for a battery and it may be prudent to just keep an eye on water level on a quarterly basis.
BTW the new battery chargers have a refresh feature. The high frequency trickle charge helps remove sulfation off the plates thus helping maintain good chemical energy transfer or helps keep dah juice ah flo'n....lol...
I switched out to the Optima Red Top and it has been doing well. My stock battery was a corrosive mess after a year and a half so I ditched it for a sealed battery.
I have installed 3 or 4 a/z gold batts in gf's fams vehicles over the years. They have all been great batteries, and they have a great warranty.
Eventually I will plan to replace mine, even though it was replaced under warranty last year. My battery now is good, just the gasses that vape out are too corrosive.
Biggest thing, avoid cheaping out, and avoid optima's.
It's a tight fit but the Diehard platinum 31m is the one to get. Wait for them to go on 20% off Sale and stack a coupon code then you can get for around $200. It replaced my yellow top Optima.
Since Optima was moved to mehico their quality control has gone down, and their failure rate has gone up. They deny it STILL even tho they are still having issues.
Deka actually has a badass line of batteries, including agm, their rep is the one that gave me specific numbers on failure rates. Deka makes our batteries that we have stickered with my companies logo and sell. We go through at least 12 full pallets a year (just at my location) and have maybe 3-5 fail of all those, which if you take electrical issues and freezing out of that equation that goes down to maybe 1 out of the entire shipment for the entire year. The battery in my tractor is at least 4-5 years old, still going strong, sits out all winter in Mi, never gets a charger or even a trickle charger put on it. Yet people keep buying crap lawn and garden batteries to save 5 bucks.
Deka is less warranty than what A/Z offers, and you can't just go in and swap it. Hence why I suggest the az's.
The die hard batts are also good mostly, in their top tier, however with the nearest sears to me closing I avoid them. No thanks to having to drive 45 min each way if I had an issue.
The die hard gold 24f looks to be a rebranded east penn/deka agm ... so its a great battery. Same with the platinum which is a rebranded enersys/odyssey ... another great battery.
If you are looking into Autozone for replacement availability the duralast platinum 34r is also a rebranded east penn ... just stupid expensive. You could see if the counter monkey would price match with sears online or carquest online which both have the battery at right around $150.
Interstate is a good battery. I just effing hate their business model. Sell you a battery for 160 dollars that lists for 220. Pro rate out the warranty so if it fails at four years you pay 165 for a replacement.
The die hard gold 24f looks to be a rebranded east penn/deka agm ... so its a good battery.
If you are looking into Autozone for replacement availability the duralast platinum 34r is also a rebranded east penn ... just stupid expensive. You could see if the counter monkey would price match with sears online or carquest online which both have the battery at right around $150.
Interstate is a good battery. I just effing hate their business model. Sell you a battery for 160 dollars that lists for 220. Pro rate out the warranty so if it fails at four years you pay 165 for a replacement.
Yep, gotta watch the warranty terms. Hence the az being a decent choice.
Deka's longest free replacement (full warranty in normal terms) is 24 mths.
AZ gold is 3 years. I know the oriellys batt I bought for the gn had a 3 year full warranty. List was 182, normal price was 139, I paid like 82 bucks... This was all according to the invoice. I get commercial discount at several autoparts stores.
It is that extra year full warranty. It might not be as good, but hell, you get at least one year more without having to pay any percentage.
I haven't heard anything good about optima in several years. Seems their quality is dropping. My vote is definitely for a diehard platinum! Had one in my 07 tundra and I really regret not keeping it when I sold it. I'll be getting one for my 14 within the next two years.
Just repeating what has been suggested above, but I have run Diehard Gold batteries in all my vehicles for 15-20 years. Dependable batteries and good no hassle warranties. That said, I currently have the Sears Marine Platinum 31M. It's a bit overkill, but I like the extra reserve capacity for camping, etc. In fact, I have two more in my RV. The only thing you need to change out are the battery terminals.
AutoZone platinum ($150). Believe it's an AGM. That thing can play the stereo for hours, and still fire up the motor. The stock (albeit old), ran the stereo for 10 mins. The JBL uses some juice too.
Advance Auto always has huge on-line coupon discounts. I use them all the time and then just order online and go pick up at the store 30min later. Most coupons are 50-150 dollars off.
They are running a special today. $50 dollars off anything over $100 dollars for the first 2000 customers. Still works, just tried it on an Optima battery.
Use code WD43 at the checkout in the coupon box.
Hope this helps!
Edit: Just saw you already bought one. Well to anyone needs car stuff I'll post another thread.
Thanks for this thread. Gonna need new one soon. I have original 07 battery still cranking strong though. Never had battery last over 5 much less 7 years.
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