Have 97 12v with 255k-hard starting-checker auto said need a charge only-that did not take-which is best battery for the $ and the best regarless of $$ and should I replace both or just one ?
Appreciate ur help folks-great web site and excellent info from members <99%>.at least!
geb
High Knoll Az

 

I replace my original batteries last winter with mopar brand ones. I wanna say they were $69 each. I've had them over a year so far and have been very good to me. I would have bought optimas but they weren't in my price range.

 

I have a pair of Interstates that are now six years old. I have discharged them accidentally about three times and they have taken a charge and still crank me on cold mornings.

Ronnie

 

I like my Optima red tops. You can notice a differnce in starting, and they wont puke acid all over.
Dont know if you have Farm and Fleet down there, but I got mine for $130 each.

 

Have die hards, that died in 2 years, but got them replaced with two new ones, I would stay away from die hard.

 

I replaced my originals with interstates @ about 175,000 miles. Replace both, rotate them once a year, clean your terminals in bakingsoda & water solution and coat them with dielectric grease. https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/.../guitarist.gif

 

I have some gold series from Autozone (7?? CCA or so). So far as I can tell they are good batteries. I like thier warranty and the store is nearby.
ALWAYS replace both batteries when the times comes. Usually what will happen is one battery will develop a bad or shorted cell and it will drain the other battery as they are wired in parallel. You want your batts to be of the same age, time of use and brand/series/rating.

 

I have found with the Mopar replacement batteries, they like to barf out acid and corrode the connections and hold-downs. I agree with replacing both batteries at once.

 

Try NAPA, I have been useing them for about 45 years, and get very good life and performance. They are in the middle of the price range, but my last set in my '96 3500 RAM flat bed diesel lasted 4 years. I will stick with NAPA. I know NAPA doesn't make batterys, but whoever the get them from makes a good battery.

 

I went with CAT batteries when I replaced mine two years ago. Have several friends with CTD's and that's all they use. Price was good too, about $120-$130 for both.

 

I like the Orbitals I bought at NAPA. In the last 5 years I have subjected them to temps of -25 to 120 and they never faltered, plus they are sealed (and are shaped like) Optimas so no more acid on the fenders. More bucks than conventional lead-acid but well worth the cost IMO.

 

I can put another vote in for the OPTIMA RED TOPS. I replaced both my batteries last winter and I think it probably saved me from a long walk out.

I was back-country skiing at the Marriot Basin and the Wendy Thompson hut and left the truck (see sig) parked at the snowplow station of the Duffy Lake road for two (2) days at -20°C. When we skiied back out to the truck and tried to start it is sounded like...

chu-chug... wait... chu-chug ... smaller wait ... shu-shug

I took several tries and many minutes of cranking to get it restarted because I didn't have any additive in the diesel fuel for low temps.

Cheers,
Sean.

 

Search "battery" or "optima" and a ton of threads should come up, this is discussed about once a month.