My batteries lasted 8+ years (factory)

What is everybody recommending?

I thought I saw something about dry cell batteries?

I plan on purchasing them this week. I also might upgrade the alternator to a larger capacity? Any thoughts?

I have had good luck with NAPA Legends.

I currently have two yellow tops. They have been in for almost two years.

I have 2 optima red tops that were in it when i bought it 2 years ago. Good luck so far with many starts every day and never cleaning the terminals.(not that i'm proud to say that)

It may seem like alot of money but I highly recomend you get an AGM (absorbed gass mat) battery of some type (optima, odyssey, powermaster, ect...), they have more power, last much longer, and they are completly sealed so corrosion is a thing of the past. Much better technology than the traditional wet cell batteries of the past IMO...

I just replaced mine with Sears Die Hard Platnium... They are an AGM like an optima or odyssey, they have more power than optima more warranty than optima, cost about the same, and they were rated #1 by comsumer reports, also they aren't near as spendy and an odyssey or powermaster.

just my 2 cents.....Josh

I had to buy a set recently for one of my trucks....cheaped out and went to Costco. Their batteries suck, save your money and get Optimas or Odysseys as already mentioned.

I have been looking at the Sears DieHard Platinum P-1 - Group 34 (http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02850034000P?vName=Automotive&cName=Batteries+%26+Chargers&sName=Automotive+Batteries) They are made by the same parent company as Odysseys. This one appears to have the same stats as the Odysseys 1500t for about $50 less.

I have installed two Group size 65, 1000 CA / 850 CCA last month from Walmart for $64 apiece. They work just fine. I replaced the solenoid contacts in the starter too, and the truck never started better. For me the decision was, two for the price of one Optima, and Optimas are not invincible by any stretch, either. 3 year free replacement guarantee at any of the million of Walmarts anywhere, should the need arise is good to have too.
-P

RE: Walmart Group size 65, 1000 CA / 850 CCA

Need batteries today--decided try Walmart

Called, they said batt recc for my 98 12v CTD
is group 27N (doesn't sound right i will double check)

but that if I buy batteries that they don't have listed for my truck,
warranty is invalid--

anybody have comments?

thanks, Jenni

RE: Walmart Group size 65, 1000 CA / 850 CCA

Need batteries today--decided try Walmart

Called, they said batt recc for my 98 12v CTD
is group 27N (doesn't sound right i will double check)

but that if I buy batteries that they don't have listed for my truck,
warranty is invalid--

anybody have comments?

thanks, Jenni

Actually, Group 27 IS the Correct battery size for your truck. Make sure you get 2 new ones. The group 65s will work for you as well. They are not as tall and are a little wider than the Group 27's.

I cant see why they would invalidate a warranty - 12 Volts is 12 Volts. The only thing really different is the size of the case (I think the Group 65 has a bit more output)

thanks Dr. Evil...

I just want to make sure I'm getting the strongest cca battery
(ok, Wal Mart style)
that I could--I didn't spec N27s yet and didn't know if they had same specs as a group 65 I called and I think they are equivalent

I have Optimas now, came with truck, wasn't impressed last time I bought new for my old truck so not inclined to try them again,
but would try Odessey if the Walmarts aren't reliable...

But for today I just need batteries.

thanks alot for the quick response!

Jenni

Interstate usually has a pretty good selection of Blems. Got two for a pretty good deal and they work great. Don't remember exact numbers...

I just bought Optima Red Tops at Farm and Fleet for $129.00.
Best price around.
Picked up 3 of them, 1-for the wifes Benz diesel and 2-for my truck.

Wally world,AKA Wallmart. has been going with direct stock size on every thing from tires and batterys , to even spark plugs and wiper blades. The same goes for tires, if you want to put a bigger tire on your vehicle than came as stock, they will tell you to go somewear else. If they are going to warrantee it, it will have to be only OEM specs. And that is their corporate policy.

I personally installed the 65 size batteries at a Walmart Supercenter. In fact, I pulled into a bay and worked inside that bay myself, removed old batteries, the mechanics tested them said "shot", and I told them I prefer size 1N (anothe battery, besides 27, listed for diesel RAM). But the 1N is discontinued, they told me because it was a dual post type and they had problems with them leaking. I told them, I want larger battery than 27, like 65. They brought me one, it was too short and wide to fit directly because the battery trays have a little angle at the bottom. Mechanics and I looked at them, then pulled off plastic brackets off of my old 1N batteries, which I then clipped off with dikes right there is their service bay, to be about 1" in height, and put them underneath the 65s. The holding brackets for 1N were a bit narrow, so I used their vice and pliers to open them up a little. At that point they brought out two 65s, put them on the tester. One was not fully charged, so they took out the third one and tested it too. That one said "good battery", so I installed both of them using my improvised spacers and spread out mounts. $64 each for Size 65.
I gained a lot of respect for how they treated me, they should not have allowed me in but they did; they helped me out in a non-standard way; they did not question anything or insist that I follow their parts catalog. All was done to my complete satisfaction, and the mechanics simply helped me do it the way I wanted. When I came to the same Supercenter another day to the camping department, one of the guys from the automotive recognized me and asked how my batteries were doing! I thanked him and said "great".
Needless to say, this is an unusual example in this day and age. I will be back to this Supercenter.
-P

Interstate Megatron, just installed em, love em. $80 a piece you can't go wrong.

About a year ago I thought there was something seriously wrong with my truck.
I'd already went through the lift pump/iP deal, and it wasn't a good feeling.
Thank God it was only the batteries!
I replaced them with Staabs a little bigger than stock.
I USED to be a big Optima fan, but no more.
I have 2 vehicles that sit around all winter, the Optimas were great for them.
I don't know what happened, but in the last 3 years I've had to charge the Optimas just like a normal (cheaper) battery. They don't seem to hold their charge as long as they did when they first came out.
The main reason I still have one in my Charger is that the batt is in the trunk & the Optimas don't gas hydrogen like a wet cell.

[QUOTE=PaulDaisy;1871095]I personally installed the 65 size batteries at a Walmart Supercenter. . At that point they brought out two 65s, put them on the tester. One was not fully charged, so they took out the third one and tested it too. ]

Well, in the interest of time and convenience, I went to WalMart and bought my batteries

I know they are a good value, I just hope they run strong ....
I just don't want to be stranded with an 8 ton load or with horses.

So I put in 65's..BUT the Wal Marts in my area (Sacramento, CA)
said they would only waranty the Nxxx smaller battery listed in their
book for my 98.[/B]

Sooo I bought the 65s and took them home to install, now she fires right up, but if they fail I'll need to take themin and say they were on my 2002 Dodge, since that year calls for the 65s..bummer, but I wanted the extra cca

They were a little tight for my battery box, but i managed to squeeze them in and they are tight.

The batteries I was replacing were Optimas, they got 5 years of life...
I've never had great results with Optimas, I won't fork out the money for them again.

Wouldnt mind trying Odessys, but not for the money, unless my WalMarts turn out to be junk.

I have bought a number of batteries from Walmart, that I just picked up off the shelf and paid for, then took it home. They never asked me what I was going to put it in, and on the occasions that I've had one go bad, they've never asked me what it was in. It may be different in different areas.

I just last week put in 2 seconds from a local discount battery store, $30 each and they are great. These things have no name or sticker on them, but who cares, they start the truck right up!

I have bought a number of batteries from Walmart, that I just picked up off the shelf and paid for, then took it home. They never asked me what I was going to put it in, and on the occasions that I've had one go bad, they've never asked me what it was in. It may be different in different areas.

Don,
That's what i ended up doing--just picked them up off the shelf and put 'em in.
And when I take them back if they need to get checked, I know i'll have no problems with the warranty, etc.

But I just can't drive my truck back in and have them checked--in my area, they will tell me that they couldn't warranty those batteries in my truck.
So I just need to remember not to drive them in, but to take them in...
and if they ever ask what i was driving, it was 2002 ...

and if they ever ask what i was driving, it was 2002 ...

Not an 02...the 02 still takes a Group 27. 03 and up take the Group 65's.

Looks like it all depends on the people working at the automotive department. Like I said, in Walmart I went to they were only happy to help me set up larger batteries, said, of course bigger'd be better. Never questioned the warranty.
-P