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May 27, 2007 | 06:29 PM

boss31

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 194

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From: Elk Grove Village IL

battery

I have 1999 and the battery needs to be replaced. what kind of battery should I replace it with?

May 27, 2007 | 07:39 PM

bcseitz

Drifting

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 1,345

Likes: 3

From: Mesa Arizona

Quote:

Originally Posted by boss31

I have 1999 and the battery needs to be replaced. what kind of battery should I replace it with?

I prefer the Exide Orbital. It is an AGM battery, same as stock so it won't leak acid over your PCM. It's all black in color and looks more stock (especially if you peel off the Exide sticker off the top of the battery). It doesn't stick out like a sore thumb when you open the hood like a Optima Red Top does. (unless you like red or yellow, the Optima's are AGM's as well)

The Exide's are spendy but most good batteries are these days. You can pick one up most anywhere. I bought mine at a Checker Auto parts, only because my stock battery went dead on the road and Checker was near by.

May 27, 2007 | 08:18 PM

Dave68

Race Director

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 19,304

Likes: 85

From: San Diego CA

Although AC Delco sold AGM batteries for 3 years, they no longer do so. My guess is that this type of battery prefers frequent and long-duration charges. My AC Delco AGM is now 6 year old and as strong as ever. Unforunately, most, if not all of the aftermarket AGM batteries out there are rediculously expensive. The good news is that AC Delco has significantly strengthened their lead acid battery cases so that leakage is very remote. They have the best free-replacement warranty in the business (50 months) and I think that shows how confident they are of their new design.
Those who want piece-of-mind over anything else, can choose from Exide Orbital, Optimas, or the new Sears AGM. It's kinda like runflat tires - you have to pay big bucks for extra insurance.

May 27, 2007 | 09:00 PM

berryj

Drifting

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 1,398

Likes: 1

From: Kingsport TN

I have the Exide Oribtal and it's been great. I think I paid about $118 or so for it at NAPA. Still cheaper than the Optima.

May 27, 2007 | 09:58 PM

RIVett

Heel & Toe

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 19

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I just replaced my Optima which was less than a year old. Good news was that it had a 3 year no cost replacement warranty. Bad news is that Auto Zone told me the has many returns on this battery. Living in the North I only run my Vett 6 months a year. This battery likes nice long charges.

Jun 4, 2007 | 05:12 AM

BowTieRocket

Racer

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 431

Likes: 5

From: Chico CA

Just bought the Exide Orbital at our local NAPA store. $105.99 is their normal price. About what Les Schwab charges for a lead-acid standard unit, and what the local AC/Delco dealer charges for his 72 month batteries.

On the other hand, a friend's brother in law just bought the Optima for his pickup. Something north of $170 for that thing.

And the Orbital bolted right in. I'd read enough horror stories about leaking lead-acid batteries that this looked like a good way to go. Needed a battery in one of the kids' cars, so I gave them my year old Exide Nascar/NAPA battery and installed the Orbital. More later, as I see how it works, but it was simple to install. And has lugs so I can connect a battery tender if I'm not going to drive it for a while, without hoping the clamps stay on those little side terminal bolts...