battery advice
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: NW Chicago
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15
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I replaced my Optima Red Top that died right at the three year mark with a Sears DieHard Platinum. Been four years and not one problem.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 389
Likes: 25
While CCA are important, because of all the electronics going on in the background, the RC is even more important. I had an interstate and it crapped out after 4 weeks. It had an RC of 93.
I bought AC DELCO 78-6YR 700CCA RC 120 for about $108 at the dealer. This is the factory recommended battery. It has worked perfectly for the last 3 years.
As others have mentioned, the issue of acid leaks are from waaaay back. Not an issue any more.
Get the factory battery, it works, it fits, and is not even the most expensive.
I bought AC DELCO 78-6YR 700CCA RC 120 for about $108 at the dealer. This is the factory recommended battery. It has worked perfectly for the last 3 years.
As others have mentioned, the issue of acid leaks are from waaaay back. Not an issue any more.
Get the factory battery, it works, it fits, and is not even the most expensive.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,376
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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
[QUOTE=QCVette;1585218491]I went to a seminar at Funfest a few years ago. I think it was a Paul Koerner one, but I don't remember. One of the topics was the amount of current draw while the C5 is shut off.
The conclusion was that many of the problems seem to come from a battery that is not good enough. His recommendation was at least a 120 reserve capacity rating.
My local stores will always suggest a battery, but many times they can not tell me what the reserve capacity is or what my car requirements are. I would recommend that you decide what specs you want and make sure the one they recommend meets them, or go somewhere else.
...that would explain a lot of the small issues and quirks my car was having, that are gone now.
The conclusion was that many of the problems seem to come from a battery that is not good enough. His recommendation was at least a 120 reserve capacity rating.
My local stores will always suggest a battery, but many times they can not tell me what the reserve capacity is or what my car requirements are. I would recommend that you decide what specs you want and make sure the one they recommend meets them, or go somewhere else.
...that would explain a lot of the small issues and quirks my car was having, that are gone now.
7th Gear
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Waite Park MN
Sounds familiar - I bought my '97 a couple weeks back - after few days the red top took a dump. Took it to a local Odyessy distributoor to have it load checked - it was fried. Replaced it with an Odyssey PC1500 - they are a bit pricier than an Optima, but I have used them in a lot of high performance vehicles and they have held up well. One good thing is my car has on on board maintainer right next to the battery, so once it goes into storage it will will left on the tender.
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