I have 1991 Coupe with most power options available.
I have a 140 amp power master alternator from Ecklers which is working fine. I seem to get no more then 3 years out of a battery , even with a Battery Tender hooked up all winter.

I need to buy a new battery now as mine just won't hold a charge anymore after 3 years of use.

Does anyone have any recommendations as to what is a good battery or at least what is a battery you have liked ?

Thanks,
Graham

 

what brand battery do you buy? and are you buying a 36,48,or 72 month battery?

 

I know I will get flamed for this, but it is my experience.

WHen I first got my Vette, I did not get more than 2 years out of a battery. Sometimes they went in less than a year. It was nice that I could get new one from the warrenty, but still - replacing them was a PITA.

So I did two things. I moved the battery to the storage compartment behind the pass seat and replaced it with an Optima Red top. The Optima battery went finally last year. When I removed it, I found the receipt. It had given me 10 years of service. I replaced it with another Red top.

Flame suit on.

 

Go to Wally World and buy their best battery. It may not last longer than 3 years but your cost/year will go down. Optima is not worth the money IMO.

 

My opinion is buy the best,lightest battery.Save some weight & have a good warranty at same time.Braile makes small,lightweight batteries but not sure of CCAs

 

only reason I asked there a few batteries that are new. most are reman, they replace what they need to make them function. That is why the prices are so low then they count on you not keeping you arrenty papers if something goes wrong. Delco, Motorcraft, Interstate are a few that I know of that are new sure there are more out there and unless you do a lot of ressearch you will never know.

 

If you've had numerous batteries that never last more than three years, I'd recommend you look at the charging systems before you do anything else. Odds are that something's overcharging - either the alternator or the tender.

The battery in my '94 has been in the car for over six years.

Live well,

SJW

 

If the winters are severe with cold temps and you don't drive the car, then consider removing the battery and bring it inside where temps are milder. And you wo't need to attach a tender either. Cold will reduce a battery's ability to deliver power and stay charged.

What's the reason for the 140A alternator? The factory GM alternators didn't have that level of output. Have you checked the output to see what the typical amperage is? It may be that the voltage regulator is not working right and there is too much amperage going to the battery and cooking it.

I'm not a real fan of Optima batteries because they had some real bad issues a few years ago, but so did AC Delco with a bad batch of Korean-made batteries.. And if the Optima's get nearly fully discharged they need a special charger made for that type of battery; for whatever reason, you can't use a regular charger.

What brand of battery are you buying? I would suggest staying with a name brand such as Interstate, SC Delco or even a Sears DieHard. The cheap batteries from chain parts stores, Wal-Mart or similar stores are junk for the most part.

Batteries have different group sizes but sometimes the cse size will be the same. Your '91 should take a Group 75 battery. In this group, you should be able to find batteries with close to 700 CCA and 850-900 CA. That more than enough for any C4 regardless of factory installed optional equipment on the car.

Back in 1997, I bought a '92 vert and it had the original AC Delco battery in it. In 2003, I went back to Bowling Green for the 50th Anniversary deal. Before I left, I had the battery load tested to make sure it would not be a problem on the road. Did a load test 3 times in a row with a carbon pile tester; the battery never got below 75% of capacity.

Wanting to be safe, I replaced it anyway with a new AC Delco battery just before leaving. I gave that original battery to a friend who put it in his work truck. It stayed there until 2008 when he sold the truck and his truck was a DD.

 

I don't think this is correct. A reman battery must be labeled as such. There are very few remans out there. This is one of those "old wives tales" that get repeated over and over. It is true there are very few manufacturers left in the U S, but they private brand for many outlets under contract.

 

I buy mine from the Zone and I get the best one they sell. I have one thats about 10 years old and still going.

 

I like the original look, but a few years back AC Delco batteries were no longer sealed and were made by Johnson Controls. They last 3 years for me and with a one year warrantee it gets kind of costly replacing them.
So I'm going with WallyWorld now - their batteries are also made by Johnson Controls and have a 3-year free replacement warrantee.

 

I have a Delco Voyager 24 series starting battery in my duck boat. I bought it for a new 25 Mercury in 1994. It has worn out two boats and two motors and is still going! Sometimes it's hard to figure battery life. Wally World has the best deal now IMO.

 

I was researching the same topic for another vehicle. Consumer Reports has 2 "Best Buys" for group 75. The Bosch Premium Power 75-730B available from Pep Boys, with an approximate retail price of $80, was the highest rated. It claims 730 CCA but is not maintenance free. The second "Best Buy" was the Kirkland Signature 12869 from Costco with an approximate retail price of $63. It claims 700 CCA and is maintenance free.

 

I have tried several batteries over the 9 years I've owned this car. AC Delco and also a Battery from Canadian Tire (Canadian version of Pep Boys ....well sort of ) The Canadian Tire Battery was a Spiral Cell blah blah,blah. I have never cut corners on the maintenance of this car so always the best Battery available.

I think I'll give Costco a call and see if they have any Kirkland Batteries in stock. If it's only going to last 2 years , why spend the extra ???

Thanks again guys !!

 

Thanks, The 140 amp alternator was installed only 6 months ago so I don't believe that is the issue. The AC Delco battery that has just recently been pronounced dead was 3 years old. That has been the about on par with the previous batteries.
By the responses I see posted here , this does not seem to be an unusual issue. So I will go and buy the best possible cheap battery and see what happens !!

 

i have a free maintenance Hankook 55 amp battery and i don't know if its because i have a kill switch which i use it all the time my car is parked, it has lasted for 3+ years
One year with the car completely parked (sept 2009 to sept 2010) and i was using power windows all the time to work on the car (i need to do that because i park in a very tight place) and im amazed at how long it lasts !!!