Battery thoughts
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 35,065
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
Battery thoughts
I looking to put a new battery in for the spring when I get her out of storage. Two more weeks or so.
There's an AC in there. Typically I like Exide. I have seen here that there's problems with Interstate service so here's my thoughts:
1. Exide- my preference unless advised otherwise
2. Optima- don't really make one that fits, have to break the tabs which I'd rather not do
3. AC Delco- terminals tend to break
4. Die Hard- Had some bad experiences with them
5. Interstate, as noted above.
What else should I look at? Is the Exide an OK solution?
Thanks all..
There's an AC in there. Typically I like Exide. I have seen here that there's problems with Interstate service so here's my thoughts:
1. Exide- my preference unless advised otherwise
2. Optima- don't really make one that fits, have to break the tabs which I'd rather not do
3. AC Delco- terminals tend to break
4. Die Hard- Had some bad experiences with them
5. Interstate, as noted above.
What else should I look at? Is the Exide an OK solution?
Thanks all..
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 2
From: East TN
Originally Posted by rws.1
I have only bought Diehards for replacement purposes. I have never had a problem with service life, reliabilty or service....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,281
Likes: 129
From: NOVA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by eschoendorff
seriously... if I were you I'd stay with exide. Go with what you know. Why change?
If you have had good luck in the past why change now.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 35,065
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
Originally Posted by XFIRED
If you have had good luck in the past why change now.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
I had an Exide(made for NAPA) gel battery, it only lasted 18 months. I have a new one in there as of yesterday. Hopefully it will last longer than 18 months.
I've always had good luck with Diehard.
I will never recommend an AC Delco battery.
BTW, you are all aware that there are only three battery manufacturers in the US? They just make them for the different companies.
I would go for the Optima, but rumor has it that they are coming out with a side post only. I'll be getting that one when it does.
The Exide/NAPA I have now, I had to cut off the top positive post(sealed it with silicone), I'd rather do that then cut away the bracket for the ECM.
As far as the two tabs in the battery tray, you'd never know they were gone.
I've always had good luck with Diehard.
I will never recommend an AC Delco battery.
BTW, you are all aware that there are only three battery manufacturers in the US? They just make them for the different companies.
I would go for the Optima, but rumor has it that they are coming out with a side post only. I'll be getting that one when it does.
The Exide/NAPA I have now, I had to cut off the top positive post(sealed it with silicone), I'd rather do that then cut away the bracket for the ECM.
As far as the two tabs in the battery tray, you'd never know they were gone.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 2
From: Obama=death for America
I've heard some not too good reliability issues on Exide batteries. I have used Sears Gold Diehard for years and years and never had a problem. I used to live in AZ, where intense heat builds under the hood. And we all know that's not a good thing for a battery. The Diehard was able to take the punishment from the desert heat and it lasted for years. If I remember correctly, it lasted for 5-6 years.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Take a look at the ......
Diehard Gold from Sears. Forum members have had great results with this one. Interstate would probably be on the BOTTOM of the list. Walmart has a whole series of batteries that is a lot of bang for the buck and come with a great guarantee.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
I ahven't used some of these other batteris, but asking around not he forum got me convinced tha the optima was the way to go. I haven't had any problems, the battery fit in fine and I haven't had problems with the top posts. I would use optima.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 35,065
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From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
Exide Orbital. I'm checking to see if they make a side terminal only. If they do, that may be the deciding factor. So I'm down to this and optima.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
I recall something from a few years back that Sears and Exide had a deal where Sears was selling used Exide batteries as new. I believe they both were fined and some people lost jobs. Prior to that I was an Exide fan. Haven't been so sure, since.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,961
Likes: 2
From: Fort Knox
Nobody mentioned Stinger, Lifelong, SVR, or even Hawker (even if Stinger rebadges these). Some of these brands are Aircraft and Military ordinance rated AGM batteries. I know, a bit overkill 
Hawker Oddessy
Lifelong
SVR
Stinger
Just some alternatives.
snoopdan
Hawker Oddessy
Lifelong
SVR
Stinger
Just some alternatives.
snoopdan
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by jsup
Exide Orbital. I'm checking to see if they make a side terminal only. If they do, that may be the deciding factor. So I'm down to this and optima.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 901
Likes: 15
From: Punta Gorda, FL
I just put in a new DieHard last night. The Interstates that my mechanic sells me never last very long. I've always had good luck with the Sears batteries. Beware that the extra plastic structure on the side to support the built in handle needs to be ground off or the body panel won't go back on.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Macomb MI
Anything but INTERSTATE. Horrid customer service. See this CF thread.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1031134
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1031134
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
I have had no trouble with Diehards, Interstate, Delco, or Exide batteries. I did have a battery post come off of a Motorcraft, and only one year of life from a battery I got at Meijer (don't remember the brand name). No experience with Optima, and I won't have any either because of my experience with other types of lead acid gel cells and one CF member got 3 bad ones in a row and Consumer's Report found the Optima did not have the reserve (amp-hour) capacity claimed and because the Optima's cost almost twice what a normal car battery costs. Its your money, do what you want. I have been driving everyday since 1966, a Corvette!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,018
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From: OR
Originally Posted by jsup
1. Exide- my preference unless advised otherwise
Thanks all..
Thanks all..
I've had a couple of sears batteries, one from k-mart, the rest from sports/auto type dept stores. Never had one that didn't last at least 5 years. If you want it to look original, go with delco. If you want the latest thing and don't mind paying 3x to get a battery that doesn't quite fit, go with optima. Other than that they all seem to be the same to me. jmo