I've been having cold start issues, and I've been running down the list addressing possibilities (air in the line, fuel filter, lift pump filter, etc.). Last night I removed the Optima Red Top 34/78 that was in it when I purchased it four years ago. I figured four years was long enough for a battery, but found a sticker on the side that you couldn't see while the battery was in the bay that said "9/09." So... I'd say 7 years is pretty good for a battery, especially as much as I drain it to nothing since my CRD has such trouble starting in the cold. After such a great performance for so many years, I was tempted to put another Red Top in, but they're $200 at Advance (though you can get them for $155 on Amazon).
Money's a little tight, so I've been thinking Costco. They don't have the Kirkland re-brand with the Kirkland warranty anymore (100 months!!! are you kidding me?!), but the warranty is 42 months, it's a Costco replacement warranty (swap it out at any location), they are Interstate, and they are much cheaper than at the Interstate store (go figure).
When you go in to Costco, they have "fitment codes," and they'll want to sell you the "number 4" (it's kind of like ordering a meal at McDonald's). However, the number 4 only has 800CCA. The number 9, with 850CCA, looked better to me. It's bigger (which seems like a good thing), but with some slight modification to the battery pan, it will fit pretty easily. I've got it in there now, and my CRD fired up without a blink. The batteries made for our CRD's are 7x10 at the base, and this one is 7x12, so I just trimmed the edge of the battery pan on the motor side to let it stick out over the edge. The battery still clamps down with the original base clamp, since it's the same dimension across, and there's still plenty of clearance between the battery and engine cover.
The battery was $93. Seriously. With the 42 month warranty from Costco, I can't imagine getting a better deal on a national brand battery with 850 cold crank amps.
I guess time will tell if I take a hit in quality/performance making a decision based on money, but right now, I'm pretty freakin' happy.
p.s. The Sears Platinum series batteries are no longer available (the "gold" is now top of the line), and that Odyssey 1500 is a wopping $275, and I just can't bring myself to spend a third of the cost of a new Suncoast TC on my battery.
_________________ 06 CRD Sport (silver), factory skids, Fumoto Valve, DIY cross bars, LT245/75R16, Hayden fan HD clutch, lift pump, ProVent.
05 CRD Limited (black), factory skids, Fumoto Valve, ARP Studs, Hayden HD fan clutch, EGR delete, Seyfert CRD Stage 2, 225/70R16, EGT gauge
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