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funkill · 05-29-2009, 01:45 PM

Can't seem to get one item finished without another, of higher priority, cropping up....

My '00 Yukon XL left me stranded at the grocery store last night. All I heard was *click-click-click* in rapid fire and noticed the lights dimming substantially. After taking half the front end apart to remove the battery, I took it to a nearby chain auto-parts store to see if it was the culprit. They had to put a quick charge on it to tell --- results are in: it is bad - something about having an interior, direct short. I need to replace it ASAP but hesitate to buy one of their batteries. It's a side post style. Anyone have one that they particularly like, but that isn't a small fortune? I still got to get my tires - which I hadn't budgeted-in, so I'm starting to feel a pinch.

laura (who might be exaggerating about needing to remove half of the truck to get the battery out

- but was sweating bullets and ill-equipped tool-wise at the time)

overlander63 · 05-29-2009, 03:09 PM

If the battery was more than 3 years old, you got its expected lifespan out of it, at least in Florida. Heat, humidity, salt in the air, all contribute to a short life.
I would recommend against Napa batteries, or Walmart (I think they are called Everstart, aka Neverstart) batteries. Even though I believe in OEM replacements, Delco batteries aren't all that great, either. You could get an Interstate, or even a Die Hard. Side post batteries seem to have more than their fair share of problems, so really, the most you can hope for is to find one that has a good warranty, and replacements are easy to come by.

Mike Leary · 05-29-2009, 03:15 PM

I've been using AC Delco batteries for years, swear by them, not at them. Of course, there may not be a AC Delco come this monday.

vswingfield · 05-29-2009, 03:20 PM

One consideration is the difficulty in exchanging a bad battery. Most require you to leave it overnight for them to charge and evaluate the next day. No help if you need it now. WalMart swaps them right out.

overlander63 · 05-29-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander63

If the battery was more than 3 years old, you got its expected lifespan out of it, at least in Florida. Heat, humidity, salt in the air, all contribute to a short life.
I would recommend against Napa batteries, or Walmart (I think they are called Everstart, aka Neverstart) batteries. Even though I believe in OEM replacements, Delco batteries aren't all that great, either. You could get an Interstate, or even a Die Hard. Side post batteries seem to have more than their fair share of problems, so really, the most you can hope for is to find one that has a good warranty, and replacements are easy to come by.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

I've been using AC Delco batteries for years, swear by them, not at them. Of course, there may not be a AC Delco come this monday.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vswingfield

One consideration is the difficulty in exchanging a bad battery. Most require you to leave it overnight for them to charge and evaluate the next day. No help if you need it now. WalMart swaps them right out.

Hopefully this won't turn into one of those axle/tire/tow vehicle thread. What one person swears by, another one swears at. Probably the best thing is to find a battery brand that is considered reliable, with a liberal warranty policy

vswingfield · 05-29-2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander63

Hopefully this won't turn into one of those axle/tire/tow vehicle thread. What one person swears by, another one swears at. Probably the best thing is to find a battery brand that is considered reliable, with a liberal warranty policy

Amen to that!

I am not bragging on the WalMart batteries. They are by no means the best, but I have had good luck with them and the only time I had to exchange one it was pain free.

Hi Terry, Marie, and Sophie!

funkill · 05-29-2009, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vswingfield

Amen to that!

I am not bragging on the WalMart batteries. They are by no means the best, but I have had good luck with them and the only time I had to exchange one it was pain free.

Hi Terry, Marie, and Sophie!

So there's something at Walmart that is pain-free

Thanks for the views guys... as usual, it's great to have some opinions to weigh and to help in the research. There's a Walmart and tire store (carrying Interstate) closeby --Closeby the grocery store where's it still sitting. Publix manager said no problem to leave until tomorrow. Too bad I wasn't shopping at Walmart or I'd be almost there!

richie rich · 05-29-2009, 05:01 PM

Any port in a storm.If you're near a Pep Boys try a top shelf BOSH w/maximum cold crank time.Good luck,be safe.

Ganaraska · 05-29-2009, 05:18 PM

The best batteries are Delco, very hard to kill. Best value I ever had was a Sears Diehard that I bought on sale 7 or 8 years ago and am still using. It cost no more than the ones that pooh out after 3 years.

jimmickle · 05-29-2009, 05:43 PM

My vote is for delco. Based on personal experience and tests I have seen, they are the best. Die hard are not on my list of good units.

overlander63 · 05-29-2009, 05:51 PM

Strangely enough, it seemed roughly 2 out of 3 batteries that I found to require replacement, for one reason or another were Delco. Roughly half of those were side post batteries that the positive terminal was leaking acid all over the place. When we moved out here, both Inland Andy's and his daughter's car batteries required replacement soon after we got here. Both were Delco. Andy's battery was leaking acid, and his daughter's had an internal short.

Mexray · 05-29-2009, 06:58 PM

Being in the battery sales business, I'd recommend looking in the yellow pages for a Battery Specialist in your area, as I've mentioned here on the forum's before...

Battery Specialists usually have Heavy Duty batteries for sale, and will give you the straight scoop, info wise...

I'm not a big fan of Delco batteries - they use an expanded sheet alloy lead plate, not as strong as a cast alloy lead grid, which most other Mfg's use...

I'm also not a big fan of Exide Batteries, they make many lighter duty batteries with fewer plates inside the case - check their spec's carefully, as they do make some HD types, that are in the same price range as many other HD brands...

Most other National brands are mfg'd regionally due to their high shipping cost, and if you choose a brand with good performance specs, you should be OK...

All lead-acid batteries are more expensive these days due to junk lead being exported, causing shortages in our domestic market...the last two years have seen price hikes greater than we've seen in the previous 10-15 years!

GM is the only auto maker that has used the 'side post' battery in most all their automotive/light truck lines...I guess they thought they had a 'better' idea, when in reality, everybody else in the automotive world uses top post batteries!!! Guess what - GM has gone to the top post battery type in it's pickups, as of 2008 - don't know about the autos...

Side post batteries, by design, are prone to leakage around the lead insert in the side of the plastic case - the level of the electrolyte is above the side post! When it leaks, corrosion follows shortly, and if left unchecked, forms a bond that is almost impossible to separate - I've had to actually break out the side post to remove the cable in some cases - a real mess, indeed! You can only get so much torque with the side post bolt to hold the cable against the lead side post of the battery, causing more problems...believe me, it's really a bad design...and I hope GM will give up on this white elephant!

Get the heaviest battery you can find/afford - more weight means more plates...look at the specs...warranty is somewhat of a sales gimmick, in my way of thinking...in most cases, if your new starting battery performs good for a few months, it's going to do it's job for you as long as it's maintained by your vehicle's alternator - usually, if there's a mfg problem with the battery, it will show up early in it's life...

We sell our batteries with a 2 year, pro-rated warranty for commercial use (start and stopping multiple times a day), and the same battery is warranted with a 4 year, pro-rated warranty for typical personal use...if a battery is built with some quality standards during it's mfg, it will last 4 - 6 years in most typical service situations - extreme cold or heat cases will of course modify the battery's ultimate life...

I know, more battery blah, blah, blah...seems batteries get more forum time than many other subjects...and in reality it's kind of a basic product, that doesn't get much care until it's used up (or the alternator isn't working)...

I always advise that if your engine turns over slower in the morning, than it usually does - it's time to have it checked out - weaking cells will sort of 'bleed down' overnight, causing the slower start the next day...and it's almost always the battery that's at fault...unless you left a light on overnight....

wiegabr · 05-29-2009, 08:16 PM

Another country heard from--I've had very good experience with Optima batteries. Less likely to have any leaks, and work well on vehicles that sit idle for a long time.

Mexray · 05-30-2009, 03:11 PM

Like I said above...check the specs on the battery you are thinking of purchasing...the higher the Amp Hr rating, the longer you can run your stuff...

Optima's are OK for starting, but they just don't make it for Deep Cycle applications....their 10 in (group 24 size) DC model has ONLY a 55 amp hr capacity rating...

Regular flooded cell group 24's have about 85-90 amp hr ratings, far more than the Optima...

If you want a completely sealed battery, you might want to look at the AGM types, the Gr-24 sizes are up to about 80 amp hr rating...

I'm sorry, but for our trailer type uses, I don't think the AGM's are worth the extra money...If you have a good 3-way converter/charger that monitors the 'float' charge of your batteries, you won't have excessive fluid loss...and the flooded cell Deep Cycle batteries give you the most Amp Hr rating per dollar spent...

It all just comes down to your own personal choice...

woppa 4 · 05-30-2009, 04:33 PM

Impressed with your battery logic.Do Battery Sp have names, or just heavy/med etc. My AS oem is interstate. woppa4

overlander63 · 05-30-2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woppa 4

Impressed with your battery logic.Do Battery Sp have names, or just heavy/med etc. My AS oem is interstate. woppa4

Your trailer would require a marine deep cycle battery, as opposed to a marine cranking battery. There is a big difference. A cranking battery is designed to start something, like a boat. It will have high cranking amps, with a lower reserve capacity. A deep cycle battery is designed to run something, and will have lower cranking amps, and more reserve capacity. You cvan find reserve capacity and cranking amp rating on the battery label. Also, a true deep cycle battery will say so.

Mexray · 05-30-2009, 06:21 PM

Just check your Yellow Pages under 'Batteries'...most battery specialist shops are listed there...

wiegabr · 05-31-2009, 07:38 AM

Yes, as this thread is about a TV battery, Optima may be a good choice.

woppa 4 · 05-31-2009, 07:56 AM

Thanks: I am interested in TV B. I mentioned my OEM AS B, because, Interstate, was talked about earlier. woppa 4

niftypkg · 05-31-2009, 08:28 AM

Thought about 'what to do' when I needed 2 new batteries for my 2000 F250 diesel. Though still turning over engine they were 6 years old and I didn't want to get stuck and end up with Interstates. Read all the stories but I wanted a no hassel convenient return policy. That meant plenty of service centers. Walmart was the answer. Got 2 with a 3 year free replacement policy if it goes bad. Best battery I ever owned was a Ford. Lasted 7 years and was still turning over engine.