Need new battery, what to get?

WWV · **Joined:** Mon May 15, 2006 1:01 pm **Posts:** 121

Ok, my orig battery finally died. What are my options? Where to look?

Thanks,
WWV

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sat Jun 22, 2013 2:49 pm

Group 34 800+CCA. Technically it's a 34R but a 34 will fit if you just turn it the right way although the - cable may need a bit of bending. I'm running the pricey Sears P1 as are a lot of other folks; my son stoutdog is running an Interstate megatron 85 which is ca. $100 cheaper and has almost as good a warranty. Others are running a variety of batteries that meet the noted specs. Word on the street is the current Optima Red Tops are not built up to par and their warranty is apparently not rather poor.

I prefer an AGM battery but that's just me as I believe some have had not issues with a regular lead acid battery.

I will note that some members have reported issues, usually at big box places, getting a battery. Seems some of those places look at "the" book and claim only the pricey OEM Red Top will fit and refuse to install anything else. They are flat wrong. If necessary at your location just pickup the battery; install it; turn in your old one.

Leeann · **Joined:** Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:19 pm **Posts:** 523

I got a Bosch Group 34 from Pep Boys; 950CA/770CCA with a 96 month warranty for just over $100 with a coupon. Mine's a 3.7L, though...it's been great, even just sitting in the yard for a couple months.

dirtmover · **Posted:** Sat Jun 22, 2013 3:06 pm

Costco, 795CCA, ~$100. I figured what's in 5CCA? Works fine below -25°C.

ebbnflow · **Posted:** Sat Jun 22, 2013 6:46 pm

X2 on the Costco 795cca. Been working great for me for over a year.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 22, 2013 8:28 pm

After almost 6 years my odyssey PC1500 still puts out over 1000cca's,same battery as the Sears Diehard Platinum P4.

LMWatBullRun · **Posted:** Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:59 pm

Put in a Sears P1 when the old battery died on #1; Starts noticeably faster in cold weather.

Hexus · **Posted:** Sun Jun 23, 2013 12:01 am

I have a Sears P1. Would recommend.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:47 am

3 years ago I put in a $60 lead acid battery from Walmart.
Havent even thought about it till now.

kissfan79 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 23, 2013 9:20 am

I went with the Sears P1 Platinum as well and love it. A bit pricey but I know I won't have to worry about it.

Jim

WWV · **Joined:** Mon May 15, 2006 1:01 pm **Posts:** 121

I ended up buying diehard with 700 cca. I talked to dealer and they said no issue. AZ and don't need cold cranking specs often. Anybody see trouble coming my way for doing this?

geordi · **Posted:** Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:52 pm

You won't have any problems until you do... Yeah, I know, not helpful.

It should work OK, but if you need the glow plugs at the same time you need the starter, the computer (notably fussy about power) might not have enough and it might reboot in the middle of the cranking attempt. That will be annoying.

Any group 34 should work, or anything that will fit. I "modified" the battery tray area in mine and stuffed in a BIG honker 1000+ CCA battery, because I was using my CRD as a portable inverter generator at the time. Always started up just fine.

WWV · **Joined:** Mon May 15, 2006 1:01 pm **Posts:** 121

Well shoot, turns out it's most likely the alternator. Same thing happened to this new batter.

So, it died on wife and I went and grabbed battery for slow overnight charge. Then home, then alternator change. I'm sure it's a royal pain to change???

WWV

papaindigo · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 8:22 am

Hardest thing on the alternator change is reaching the serp belt tensioner to get the belt off and back on. Alternator itself is just a few bolts.

Srytrucker · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 8:50 am

Whatever floats your boat but costco batteries are a major success with their warranties as when they croak you basically get the next battery for free.thanks.

EAB · **Joined:** Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:39 pm **Posts:** 141

I know everybody loves the dealer, so don't forget they have a 800cca lead acid #bbh34800aa. It has a 24 month free replacement policy too.

geordi · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 4:10 pm

EAB wrote:

I know everybody loves the dealer, so don't forget they have a 800cca lead acid #bbh34800aa. It has a 24 month free replacement policy too.

Sure... If you like getting a re-branded Autozone store brand lead battery for three times the price and half the quality.

I'm all about the Costco battery program, I would have gotten the 1000 CCA battery from Costco, but where I was at the time there weren't any. That made me a sad panda for many reasons, battery included.

EAB · **Joined:** Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:39 pm **Posts:** 141

geordi wrote:

EAB wrote:

I know everybody loves the dealer, so don't forget they have a 800cca lead acid #bbh34800aa. It has a 24 month free replacement policy too.

Sure... If you like getting a re-branded Autozone store brand lead battery for three times the price and half the quality.

I'm all about the Costco battery program, I would have gotten the 1000 CCA battery from Costco, but where I was at the time there weren't any. That made me a sad panda for many reasons, battery included.

Its made by Interstate. I think around $100.00.
I looked for an Interstate MTP-34 which is 850cca but was told they didn't have them anymore, oh well...

BigfootHunter · **Joined:** Thu May 31, 2012 10:46 pm **Posts:** 43

Diehard Platinum here as well, replaced a "new" looking Mopar branded battery that couldn't hold a charge (and was bulging).

At the time I bought it Sears was actually giving $5 credits for each "bad" battery you brought in (excluding your original exchange core), so if that's still running, it's helpful to defray costs.

dirtmover · **Posted:** Tue Jun 25, 2013 8:02 am

BigfootHunter wrote:

At the time I bought it Sears was actually giving $5 credits for each "bad" battery you brought in (excluding your original exchange core), so if that's still running, it's helpful to defray costs.

Except you probably get closer to $10 each at your local scrap metal recycler.

Need new battery, what to get?

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