Greguw

Hi Guys

I am getting to the electrical part of my new to me truck ... The terminals are kind-s beat up , but I feel I can save the positive cables ... I need to replace the cable that crosses the rad support ...I picked up welding cable that should work just fine .

My question is about the batteries ... they work but there old ...but its still not cold out yet , they are mismatched , one's a deka and other is a no name ...

I am going to replace them , what is a good dependable battery that won't break my bank...I'm allready over buget ...LOL
The one's in there don't even fill up the battery tray ... I figured they were not the right batteries for this truck .

Thanks Guys

Greg

displacedtexan

I'll probally get flamed for this... Optima red tops.

And if you want cheaper my dad gets really good service from the Wally World Everstart batteries.

SoTexRattler

Optima Red tops! Sealed, no acid leaks...

Slightly shorter than some std grp 34 batts and the holddown bolts sorta run out of threads...
BTW, the morons at Sams club didn't carry any of those cute plastic fitment adapters that Optima makes to make their fine batteries fit in bigger spaces...
I had to take care of that myself after they "installed" the new batts.

K.

4doogie

Yea I jus did mine and optimas are the only way to go, i got ripped off on the cables, i had to get all new ones and that cost me a good 400 bucks just there, and then went to costco to get the batts. good luck, do it now not like I did where I had to beat on the cables with a hammer to start the truck.

chris

SmokinFive9 4x4

$400!!!!!! What the heck?! that's ridiculous. You could've made your own for under 100 I'm sure, way under. I think I have 50 bucks in mine and that's including ground wire too. That's insane! Come to think of it, I rewired my entire truck for right around $400. that's an 18 circuit painless kit, extra wire, new switches, everything I put in the wiring I think I have 600 all together. EVERYTHING is new, key switch, heater, light switches, everything electrical.

Greguw

The Optima 's ... what battery model # , I was looking at summit and they did have some ... they were like 125 each ... dose sams carrie the batteries that I should use ...I like the sealed batteries .

Will I have to change my terminals for the new batteries ...?

Thanks Guys

Greg

displacedtexan

Group 74/38...

I'm not sure if Sam's carries them or not.

Dr. Evil

Right numbers - wrong order....Group 34/78

TxDiesel007

if money grows on trees

Optimas, if not try dihard golds from sears, or Nascar Exides, not bad for the buck.... Ive had tehm both...

Tx

Greguw

Hi guys

I was just looking on summit racing they have the Optima 34/78 , they are 129.00 each ...its a 800 cold cranking ... will I have to change my battery terminals ...?
Will I have to do anything to my battery boxxes or will they clamp in with the old hold downs ...?

Thanks
Greg

infidel

You can use the same terminals.
The redtops will fit right in the box with no mods, just watch out that the hold down bolts don't hit any wiring looms under the batteries when you screw them down. The bolts will protrude further out the bottom since the redtops are shorter than the stockers. Any looms in the way can just be pushed aside.
Don't use any spacers under the batteries, it's important that the battery temp sensor (round disc at the tray bottom) make direct contact with the battery bottom

Greguw

Sensor , I never heard of that ... Dose the truck know that there is a battery present ...?

I have try the autozone to see if they have the red tops , I was on summits site , They only have model 34/78 ...I would guess I don't have to pic the postive and negitive sides on the batttery .

Thanks

Greg

Greguw

I don't wench on to many peoples cars any more ... I'm young with alot of miles ...LOL .
I had to do the brakes on my sisters jap piece of crap ... My local parts dealer still gives me list on everything ... which is nice .
I asked if he was a Optima dealer ... he was not but he told me that Exide makes a gel battery , I could put my hands on them for around $65 each ... anyone ever used an exide ...?
Later

Greg

infidel

The sensor measures the temperature of the battery and regulates the rate of charge accordingly. Where a gap in-between the battery and sensor can really reek havoc is when the temps get below freezing, the sensor will think the battery is frozen and cut off the charge.

I had a pair of Exides in one of my tractors for a little over five years before they failed. They were fine but as I recall the warranty was half of what a red top has.
The Excides didn't corrode, which is my main reasoning for using gels, especially in a tractor where you have to spend two hours taking the front end apart to get at the batteries.

Greguw

My truck has been in side my shop for over 2weeks ... I was doing kdp , vacume pump seals , all the new cooling hoses , belt , and lots of other parts that were showing signs of wear.
I was only running the truck on one battery ... The charging system was acting a little weard ... like it was thinking before it started charging ... and that explans it .
So I guess my truck dose have a PCM ...?

I am thinking about the exide gels ... I can get two for 130 ... thats not a bad price , but like you said the optimas have a better waranty .

Thanks

Greg