cclive

And of course we know that neither AC Delco nor Interstate actually manufacture batteries. AC Delco has its batteries made by Johnson Controls. Interstate Battery System is a marketing company that has its' batteries made by..........get ready..............Johnson Controls. WalMart batteries are made by..............you guessed it...........Johnson Controls.

Jack Boelte

dmk0210

When I was in the market for a new battery a couple years ago I compared specs and found the Advance Auto Parts Autocraft Gold had the best cranking amp specs and the best warranty. Better than Sears or Interstate even (I can't remember if I compared Everstart). I also got the best price with a sale on their website, so I ordered online and picked it up at the local store.


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Timothy Barth

I remember reading Everstart batteries were a best buy from Consumer reports.

88redconvert

We may get some flack but..I also use walmart batteries with very good results

88redconvert

Interesting info..wondered about it but didn't know. Thanks

Dave S

Optima Red Top & a battery tender at all times when parked overnight in the garage.

jbomx363

And Optima batteries are made by....

Yeup... Johnson Controls

At least that's what it says on my red top.

I purchased the redtop on 1.28.16 from Summit Racing, got it in 2 days.

Started to not hold a charge 7.12.16

Contacted Summit Racing at 930pm, online chat.. they sent out the new Optima red top the next morning. Gotta LOVE that service!

So far, so good on the replacement, but I was supremely bummed on having an issue in the 1st place.

The interstate battery I had sucked eggs (came with it, had issues, was replaced free by interstate and it sucked eggs). The other interstate battery I had for our other car sucked eggs too. Never own one of those again.

Orion2011

Optima Yellow top D35. Red top is not the best option for the Vette due to it's tendency to drain the battery.

http://www.bugmanweb.com/c6/c6index.html

Unreal

Couldn't pay me to run an optima. Put a new duralast gold in last week. Replaced my 5 year old car quest one that started having hot crank issues.

cartop2

Well, after reading a little I thought that I would go for the Walmart battery. Their web site leaves a lot to be desired, but I finally found how to determine the correct battery. It is out of stock at the four closest Walmarts. It is possible to order it and pick it up at the store, but I may prefer buying somewhere that stocks what I need. Probably I'll try one of the national parts stores.

Ken Dahl

Not intending to buck the Johnson Controls tradition, but I have had good luck so far with my Shorai LFX36A3-BS12 through two cold Pennsylvania winters in a (mostly) unheated garage. I just leave it plugged in to a $23 Battery Tender jr.

Oh, and the Shorai is 20 pounds lighter than the Interstate it replaced....


KD

CI GS

Odyssey 1200: smaller, yet higher amperage than my last red top Optima, which lasted 18 months, even with a battery tender on it.

victorf

Locally, Sears is no longer supplying their Diehard Platinum, among other products - sounds like Sears is dying.....

I used both Red and Yellow Top Optima, but after switching to Mexico for mfg, it is no longer the same battery I enjoyed in the past. I had a Yellow Top installed when car was donated to charity, still good after 11 years!

This I installed in '09, after 7 years, recently its internal resistance increased to 4.9 from the original 2.5, still cranking but opted to upgrade instead of wait till final last breath.



This is an upgrade to higher CCA, as well as max'd out at installed dimension and again, having initial internal resistance @2.5. Enjoying an unbelievable stronger & faster cranking from the previous 1230 model - but higher performance comes with weight penalty:

jdwk

Just to add some extra weight to this thread.

I bought a RedTop in 2003, and as far as I know it is still going. It was fine when I sold the car in 2014. Normal batteries last two years in Phoenix.

So when my oem battery in my 2005 died in 2007, I replaced it with a red top. It lasted until just now, and I abused the hell out of it. Probably depleted it a dozen times over the years. So am not disappointed, and clearly I still got a decent one, but it is now finally completely toast.

I had it on the charger all night and it tried but didn't start this morning. It was a good run.

I am actually selling the car, so I don't want to spend a ton on a battery, but even Advance auto near my house wants $170 for a lead acid battery. I think I paid about $130 for the Red Top.

What's the best deal right now? I've heard Walmart is the way to go but I can't find a D34/78 on their website.

If I was keeping the car, I'd get the Odyssey but putting $300 into a car I might have for another week or two is not good finance. Actually, my plan was to do a trunk conversion when this battery died, it just never died.

jdwk

So it appears GM went with the 34/78 because some other vehicle they make uses a 78, where the 78 terminals are on the side. So that means any D34 will fit just fine, although I still can't find any on Walmart's site other than the optimas.

outhouse

Did the old battery test out fine?


Having that issue and my acdelco test out fine by Orileys, ill use the one that actually draws CCA and see what she actually pulls.

1hander

im a big believer in interstate batteries...they are what i put in my bmw's.. bmws are motherF@!##ers on batteries...

but i got a rediculous price on a redtop.. 100.00 from a buddy who owed me a favor.. im not sure how long its gonna last , ive heard mostly great stories but have heard bad ones... i will say this...last night my 05 ot pissed of at me and wouldnt start after i did some other work... i kep trying to start it but wouldmt crank... 3 hours later the battery was dead... most lead acid batteries cant take being drained that far down..

NealS

Strictly fact, my Delco 85PS just went dead at 33 months, won't hold a charge. Warranty was 30 months.

PCMusicGuy

I am on an Advance Auto battery now. The battery warranty is not as good as it used to be and prices are more than ever.