What kind of battery?

VortecJeep

VortecJeep

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Aug 24, 2005
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Concord, NC
Wanted to know everyone's thoughts on what kind of battery I should get. I am ready to drop my freshly rebuilt engine in the YJ and need a new battery. I had a Deka 1000 cranking amp before. It was a great battery, but it is 6 years old now and finally kicked the bucket. It won't even take a charge. Are there other alternatives to the Optima batteries for off-roading that you guys like???
 
Why would you want another option when the Optima works so well?
 
Optima does not work as well as everyone wants to beleive. I used to be a optima dealer, spent more time replacing them than selling them.
 
I have three red tops in my Jeep. One main, 2 auxiliary, all together unless I am gonna use them to weld. The main one is unknown age, still works fine. The two auxiliaries are 2 years old, zero issues. I do like the 7 year warranty though.
 
The one in my FJ has been in there for ~4 years and is perfect. It's been killed a few times by me being a dumbass and leaving something on for a week, but a nice slow charge has always brought it back.

Alot of people are seriously misinformed when it comes to batteries anyway, thinking "I just added 20 new off-road lights, I need a bigger battery".. Uh, no. You need a bigger alternator, unless you plan on using them only with the engine off..


edit: That said, I'd still love to hear about a less-expensive alternative, especially since I'm needing to replace the batteries in the tow rig..
 
MrShoeBoy said:
Cause an Optima is almost $180 now. I would like a cheaper alternative myself.
AARON
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ProComp makes Red Top, Yellow Top and Blue Top...

I ran a Blue Top for several years with no issues...

basically the same specs and same warranty as the Optimas...

and they're priced $20-$40 less than the Optimas...

when I bought mine, the Optima Blue Top was in the system at 4WP for $199...and I paid $119 for my ProComp...;)


Greg
 
Anyone here sell Interstate Batteries?

I was at a shop in Asheville and he has 2 yellows sitting there, he said he got them for his race car from the Interstate guy, $125 each. That's a deal
 
upnover said:
Anyone here sell Interstate Batteries?
I was at a shop in Asheville and he has 2 yellows sitting there, he said he got them for his race car from the Interstate guy, $125 each. That's a deal
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my father-in-law does here in Charlotte...which is why the new ones in my CTD look like this (hold down not finished in the pic):

DSCN2546.JPG


Greg
 
Go with Duralast from Autozone....Rated best by consumer reports and personal experience in it's category unless you got an extra 50 to 100 to burn on an Optima.


Delphi makes ACDelco and some EverStart (Wal-Mart) models. Exide makes Champion, Exide, Napa, and some EverStart batteries. Johnson Controls makes Diehard (Sears), Duralast (AutoZone), Interstate, Kirkland (Costco), Motorcraft (Ford), and some EverStarts.

Summary article
http://money.aol.com/consreports/sm...t-shopping-car-batteries/20051202114309990001
 
I'll vote Optima. I ran smack into a tree on Rocky Mount loop when my front tires left the ground. Hit hard enough that the battery came loose from it's previuosly sorry ass hold downs. Rode all the way back to Arrowhead not knowing that the battery was now upside down and laying on the header.

Found it after getting to Arrowhead while running pretty rough. ends up the battery pinched a Spark plug wire between it and the header.

Put everything back, fixed the wire and haven't had aproblem with the Optima in 3-4 years now.

Good Battery in my book.
 
I have the optima red top. I got it two years ago when they were $109 at autozone. I like it and you can't beat the warranty. :beer:
 
I go with the optima. I won't put a lead acid battery in something that I will flip. It costs more, but my safety is well worth it. Never had a problem with any of the ones I have owned. The tow rig won't get them, but I am not wheeling it.
 
mbalbritton said:
Good Battery in my book, if your gonna let your rig sit in the driveway like I have.
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Fixed it for you! :flipoff2:

FWIW, I had a redtop for 5 years and it died. It was replaced 1.5 years ago with an Exide Spiral... which is now smoked due to parasitic drain and now will NOT hold a charge for more than 1 day :rolleyes:

I'll probably go back with an Optima...
 
I vote a new "old" optima... 60 bucks with a core. I think the offical name is enco or something but go to a optima dealer and you can get one. Mine has worked just fine for me. tho it is only a few months old
 
jeepbme said:
You mean their on knockoff version of Optima

Because Johnson Controls owns/makes OPTIMA

http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/bg/products_brands.htm


and Procomp knockoff's version are built by Exide which are 2 different companies altogether.
http://www.4wheelparts.com/4wp/images/imagebank/procomp/procomp_battery-starting_c.jpg
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didn't intend to imply they were the same...

just saying they made offered their own in the three versions:

Red - starting
Yellow - deep cycle
Blue - deep cycle marine (has second set of terminals, very useful)

Greg
 
The Optima is a gel right? Are the others that you guys have recommended like that too so that acid doesn't leak everywhere?
 
VortecJeep said:
The Optima is a gel right?
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Technically, I think they're called AGM, something like active glass mat or something? Someone correct me here please..
 
Anybody know where to buy a Deka? That is what I had and it worked great, but never seen them in the parts stores. I bought it back around 99 or 2000 from a shop in Kannapolis. I found it and it was just an old man that worked there and he built alternators for several different NASCAR teams. I couldn't find that place again if I tried. Anyone know where I'm talking about? I checked Deka's website and it said the closest dealer was High Point, but surely that can't be right.
 
Napa sells a generic Exide optima. I have one and I like it. I also have two 1000amp duralast batteries in a truck and they seem to do fine, but the gel cells can take a beating if you are rough then that's the way to go. Also when you roll on your side the gel cell still puts out full voltage unlike the std battery. (experience there)
 
Rich said:
Technically, I think they're called AGM, something like active glass mat or something? Someone correct me here please..
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Pretty close. Absorbant glass mat.

Anybody know where to buy a Deka? That is what I had and it worked great, but never seen them in the parts stores. I bought it back around 99 or 2000 from a shop in Kannapolis. I found it and it was just an old man that worked there and he built alternators for several different NASCAR teams. I couldn't find that place again if I tried. Anyone know where I'm talking about? I checked Deka's website and it said the closest dealer was High Point, but surely that can't be right.
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That first link I posted talks of dekas and where to find them..
 
The last two lead plate batteries I had in a wheeling rig were Dekas. Neither one of them lasted a year. Got rid of them and bought a Hawker dry cell (aka Odyssey or whatever). I still have it.
 
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