Car battery ?

[eldirector]

^^^ Cost is part of my reasoning as well. A good Gel Cell or AGM battery can be had for 50% more (or so) than a regular lead-acid. It will last MUCH longer than 50% more, so will be cheaper in the long run (assuming you keep a vehicle more than 5-6 years).

I've found them to also be much more reliable, and able to take quite a bit of punishment. They tend to "fade", rather then just die. Every lead-acid I've owned has worked one day, and completely failed the next with no warning. I have had Optimas in several vehicles, and been very happy with them. Also look at Exide's Orbital series of AGM batteries and the same from Odyssey Batteries.

Oh, and Autozone sells Optima, and NAPA usually carries Exide. Might save some shipping!

 

[darkkevin]

my guess is this was a GM vehicle? i say that beacuse that is very common for factory delco/gm batteries to sulfate inside and start pushing the terminals out or even off completely. you'll be just fine now.

 

[bwframe]

...They tend to "fade", rather then just die. Every lead-acid I've owned has worked one day, and completely failed the next with no warning. I have had Optimas in several vehicles, and been very happy with them...

I think you have sold me! I am so tired of doing battery replacements in parking lots, then being at the mercy of whatever battery seller is the closest.

...is very common for factory delco/gm batteries to sulfate inside and start pushing the terminals out or even off completely...

Is this what the BatteryMINDer claims to solve?

 

[4sarge]

Oh, I have too... Experience has been after 3 years, don't be surprised when they fail.

Running 5+ Years on my Interstate Farm Tractor Battery and still going strong. It had a 2 year warranty and still running like a champ. I'll replace it with an Interstate Battery when the time comes

 

[Mr. Habib]

I have 10+ years on my Optima Red top in my Jeep. I put about 200k miles and about 8 years on one in a Honda van.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I have 10+ years on my Optima Red top in my Jeep. I put about 200k miles and about 8 years on one in a Honda van.

I'll definitely consider one of those the next time. Like an earlier poster said, the higher prices scared me off previously.

 

[Brandon]

my guess is this was a GM vehicle? i say that beacuse that is very common for factory delco/gm batteries to sulfate inside and start pushing the terminals out or even off completely. you'll be just fine now.

BMW ///M5

 

[A_Brit_In_Indy]

Brandon, I was hoping you'd have mentioned what car you had, I have seen this before and it was also on a BMW, Does the positive cable have the explosive release on it? if so call me here, you may have a serious problem, I suggest you do not replace the battery until we speak.
Thomas @ Autobahn Service Center (317) 888 0315 I specialize in European cars and have the ability to scan all the controllers at dealer level

 

[eric001]

I always used to brush off consideration of gel cells due to cost. A very quick search shows me that gel cells have not increased in price at near the rate of lead-acid batteries. With a new battery in the not so distant future, it looks like I may want to revisit this?

http://www.amazon.com/Optima-Batteries-8025-160-Starting-Battery/dp/B000MSBU9U/ref=au_pf_pfg_s?ie=UTF8&Model=Explorer|663&n=15684181&s=automotive&Make=Ford|54&Year=2001|2001&vehicleType=6&carId=002

$144 to my door seems like a worthwhile consideration?

Thanks for the suggestion!! You got me to thinking about my options, and the Gel Cell looks like a real winner. I hadn't even thought of putting in an Optima before, and now I think it will be the next one in when the current battery gives up the ghost.

 

[sem351]

Could have been corrosion between the plates inside to battery, or could have been that the battery was not venting properly, causing gas to build up in the battery, and distorting the case...