When I was shopping for a battery last year, I could not find a single one locally that had a proper vent tube. Ended up getting an Optima because it's sealed more than most.

 

AGM (absorbed glass mat) lead acid batteries do not outgas while charging like old school flooded batteries do. I'm lucky to live within driving distance to the DEKA battery plant in Lyon Station, PA. They make AGM batteries like the Optima but without the round cells so you get more plates in the same footprint. Lots cheaper price, too.

 

Deka..makes some good stuff...best battery ever for a Lawn mower.

I once thought I had batt. issues with my 74 vette. Didn't want to turn over when hot. Turned out , that the original cables were internally bad , even though the plastic coating look good. Wasn't getting the amps going under certain heat conditions. They had built up corrosion and it took a almost new battery to start the car. When I changed the cables , the battery has lasted 5 yrs now. I use the Delco batteries.

In my work van , a Ferd, I put a gold label Advance Auto Parts brand battery in it 7 years ago and I fly electric RC planes off this battery as well. So it has taken quite a beating or stress. It was their best battery , so I can't say if the quality is in the their cheaper lines .

GOt a Sears battery for wifes Lexus ..it died bad cells is about 4 years.

I think cars , like my wifes lexus with small tight , cramped no air flow modern engine compartments is extra hard on batteries.

My Ford full size Van has plenty of air flow and space to breath ,batt sits up front near grill thus stays cool.

I bet alot of C3 owners have been replacing batteries like me , not knowing the cables were bad.

 

Only SOME good stuff? American made for one.

I've been doing business with East Penn Manufacturing for more than 30 years. From motorcycle and riding mower flooded batteries to the really big ones in tractor/trailers, farm tractors and construction equipment. AGM in the Vette, and gel deep cycle battery. And most are what DEKA calls 'second.' They have skids of them in the retail store. Fresh, first quality on the inside but some minor cosmetic damage to the outside of the plastic case gets them rejected.

They also sell rebuilts which have new guts that somehow don't work properly. They have a small crew who cut them apart and fix the problem, test them and then sell them for cheap...like 6 bucks cheap, depending on size. With a 1 year warranty. I've had rebuilts go 9 years.

The only first quality battery I ever bought there was a top post battery with recessed posts in a M-F farm tractor to fit in a step box. They didn't make that many of that screwy style so had no seconds on the day I needed two.

Just MHO, but I feel beer and wet cell batteries are a lot alike...the fresher, the better!

 

Thanks everybody! The current battery is 10 years old, and has went through a few winters without being charged, so I think it needs to be replaced - its not holding a charge very well. I'm worried about my battery cables, too, since they were original - that's why I replaced the two negative cables. But I don't see how to get the positive cable out without dropping the trans or lifting the body, especially with the rusty nuts on the retaining clips. I'm going to try a new battery first, since I think I need that anyway, and then if I still need to(I just get clicks when I turn the ignition key, and I've replaced the starter already) I'll probably try replacing just the heads of the positive battery cable.

 

Yea I was a tech and saw optima's die a lot in the first year or 2.

I was going to ask if they have got better since being bought out, I guess not.


But yea either Costco or use an online coupon for Advance auto Gold battery for pickup.

 

Only Deka for my cars.
Had Optimas in the past but never cared for their case design, which never fits a factory battery tray properly without having to modify something or making spacers and their stupid terminal locations that never properly fit with your stock cables.
Elm

 

most batteries are the same, some a little cheaper, some better service and replacement warrantee. every battery loses a certain percentage of power per year, get the biggest CCA battery you can find. generally, the bigger the battery, the more years of service you buy.

 

I'm in my second year with an Autozone Gold battery. C3's came with a 74 series battery but can accept the 78 series which is slightly larger in size but provides more CCA and reserve capacity. I also have the gold battery in my Avalanche with 6 years on the first one I installed and I use the Autozone marine batteries in my boat, success with all of them.

The Gold battery in my corvette sat disconnected for just over 3 months last year while in the body shop. I hooked up the cables without charging and it had plenty of power to start the engine though it didn't want to fire up immediately due to sitting so long. It took a good 2 or 3 minutes to get it to start but the battery never failed. I was really impressed. Good Luck with your purchase.

 

Any battery will need the special caps and vent hoses. Lacking these, the outgassing of a regular battery will destroy interior parts. An Optima battery prevents this (as long as you get one that doesn't leak). My Optima has lasted several years with a Battery Tender Plus.

 

The battery being in the passenger compartment causes concern (smell and leakage) that would cause concern for me. Sealed or red top solves that. The coating you have on your floor would also dictate sealed or not. A battery is a battery, the damage it creates when it fails should be the determining factor. I have always used Optma Red (in th Corvette) and have been happy.

 

Look into optima before you buy. It's my understanding they do not do well with a trickle down charge scenario like bad wiring or a clock that's always hot. Not a great choice for an older car with older wire harnesses. Unless you tend the battery or unhook it when not in use. JMO.

 

All sealed batteries including optimas have a pressure relief valve which will leak when opened.

Any parts store should have batteries with vent tubes.
Look for as battery for a BMW 325 You may have to use adapters for top post though.
700 cold cranking Amps (875 cranking Amps)
Battery Length: 278 mm - 11 in
Battery Width: 175 mm - 6 15/16 in
Battery Height: 190 mm - 7 1/2 in

 

What is an AGM battery?
An AGM battery is a lead-acid electric storage battery that:
• is sealed using special pressure valves and should
never be opened.
• is completely maintenance-free.*
• has all of its electrolyte absorbed in separators consisting
of a sponge-like mass of matted glass fibers.
• uses a recombination reaction to prevent the escape of
hydrogen and oxygen gases normally lost in a flooded
lead-acid battery (particularly in deep cycle applications).
• is non-spillable, and therefore can be operated in virtually
any position. However, upside-down installation is not
recommended.

 

Nope.

 

I put an Autozone Duralast Silver in my '75 when I bought it in 2000. Replaced it last summer before I sold the car, well over 11 years of use. No drastic failure either, it would just discharge on its own after a week of non use.

I also put an Autozone Duralast Gold in another car of mine back in 1995 when the 5 year old OEM battery failed. I replaced it last summer while I was replacing the Vette's battery. That battery never did fail, I just didn't trust it anymore after 16 years.

Neither battery had an easy life. Both were in summer use cars and never kept on a float charger. Both drained flat many times for one reason or another.

 

I would think with all the Bimmers in Cali, it would not be an issue.
Adbvance Auto and Autozone has them here.

 

I used a Napa Gold battery (75 or 78 series, can't remember) to start my 1970 after sitting for 20 years. It took about 7-8 times to crank, but the battery did the job.

 

Hi guys,
I have read this thread and the linked thread also. Karol, the guy that started that thread with the leaking Optima was taken care of by us and he confirmed that with me via PM.
While we are always striving to be perfect, as Karol said, we are not immuned to an occasional factory defect or as one guy said in the other thread (wasn't the case with that particular battery) over tightening of the bolts.
Any battery can vent gasses or acid. This is why it is so important to buy the proper battery for our cars, including one that has venting provisions if it is installed in the interior or trunk, so you can avoid issues or injury down the road.
Of course, I think we have the best battery on the market and appreciate all the positive comments. I would encourage anyone looking for batteries to find out whether the battery is made with recycled lead. Not all AGM batteries are created equally and we do not use any recycled lead in our batteries. If other brands use pure lead, they'll probably be happy to tell you, because it does make a difference in performance and longevity.
Jordan89, I would like to know which O'Reilley store you are working at in Oakland if you don't mind sharing here or via PM.
Thanks guys, and again, don't hesitate to ask if you have questions about our products.
Bill Howell
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.

 

Unless you have an engine that is difficult to crank/fire, a C3's battery location has it about as good as it gets: protected from the elements, never really gets a full cold soak, etc., etc.

So, about any sealed battery (of the correct size), NOT MADE IN CHINA , will get the job done. I'm in agreement with the suggestion of buying a Wal-Mart battery. Decent quality, good price, good warranty.

Unless you have an NCRS award winner (and need to spend $200+ every few years for a Delco-Energizer 'look-alike'), save some money for the gas tank.