Car battery

ca.detailchick

ca.detailchick

New member
Whats the best?

Im getting an Interstate put in .Anytime Ive used Pepboys batterys they sucked.

I learned something new ,that alot of short trips shorten a batterys life. Most of my driving is within 10 miles.

Mine has only lasted a bit over 4 years since new .I have been faithful about checking water levels and using only distilled water and keep the terminals are battery itself clean.

But I have been bad and forgot to turn the key off after using accessories and had 2 dead batteries this year.Thats probably whats killed it.Good thing I paid my triple A bill!
 
ca.detailchick said:
Whats the best?

Im getting an Interstate put in .Anytime Ive used Pepboys batterys they sucked.

I learned something new ,that alot of short trips shorten a batterys life. Most of my driving is within 10 miles.

Mine has only lasted a bit over 4 years since new .I have been faithful about checking water levels and using only distilled water and keep the terminals are battery itself clean.

But I have been bad and forgot to turn the key off after using accessories and had 2 dead batteries this year.Thats probably whats killed it.Good thing I paid my triple A bill!
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Interstate makes as good of a battery as any. 4 years is about all you can expect out of one unfortunately

You say 2 dead in 5 months? Are these both Pepboys?
 
Trouble said:
Interstate makes as good of a battery as any. 4 years is about all you can expect out of one unfortunately

You say 2 dead in 5 months? Are these both Pepboys?
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I live in a pretty moderate climate so I think batterties should last longer here. Ive heard even some lasting 7 years.

No ,this is the original battery that came with my van, not Pepboys.
 
The problem with short trips usually is they battery never gets fully recharged. Lead Acid do not like to be left in a near discharged state. You need to get a battery charger to keep it topped off. It may on it every weekend you hook it up and it will get charged up over night. This is especially true if you run the accessories (lights, heat/ac) since this is extra load and slows recharge process.
 
+1 for Interstates. Consumer Reports recommends Interstates in all of the different battery "Groups". Picking up a battery tender is also a very good idea. I use two of them by Deltran - one on my garage queen and the other on my tractor. Super easy to use.
 
+1 on the Interstate Battery AND the Deltran Battery Tender.

I drive less than 25 miles/day, so I use the Battery Tender Jr. once a week to "top off" my battery at the recommendation of my mechanic.

Be sure to check the Deltran website for details, there are certain models not available for sale in California if that's a concern. Amazon has great prices so you can get the Autopia Store to price match.
 
ca.detailchick said:
I live in a pretty moderate climate so I think batterties should last longer here. Ive heard even some lasting 7 years.

No ,this is the original battery that came with my van, not Pepboys.
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7 years is unheard of IMO

You said you've gone through 2 this year. I assume the 1st was OEM. Where did you get #2?
 
I would look into getting an optima brand battery. They are stronger, more maintance free, they won't be compromised by being discharged like a lead acid battery, have more energy, there are other reasons I like them but you can look into them to see if they fit your needs. That said interstate is a good battery, and I also use them with good results.
 
I am in a cold climate and 5 years is pushing it. Even the hot climate, batteries get warm when they charge, and heat takes its toll on batteries. So 5 years is usually about the normal life span. When the batteries were drained completely and if they sat for a few days that was hard on them to. Sometime when they go completely dead you may end up with one of the cells in the battery reversing polarity and then that cell won't take charge.

I bought a battery tender Jr for keeping my garden tractor and ATV batteries topped off through the winter. I take them out and bring them in the house to keep them from freezing and keep them topped off. The ones I bought is the cheapest one that Deltran sells($25 I think) and it comes with leads that can be bolted in and they have a quick disconnect on them. They also come with the alligator clips.
 
Years ago when I worked for Ernst & Young I did a consulting job for a battery company. I learned some interesting things. One is that Interstate does not manufacture batteries. They buy them from a company that does and they brand them as Interstate. I'm not implying Interstate batteries are not good, just saying they don't make them. Same goes for many brands and companies like Sears. There are only a couple of manufacturers and they sell batteries to different companies. Most are manufactured in Mexico across the border as the environmental laws in the US are too stringent.

To me, the key is to buy based on the warranty. All batteries will run down and if you live in a place like Texas with high heat, no battery is going to last the stated number of months. Last battery I bought was at Sam's wholesale and so far it has been good.
 
Reddwarf said:
Years ago when I worked for Ernst & Young I did a consulting job for a battery company. I learned some interesting things. One is that Interstate does not manufacture batteries. They buy them from a company that does and they brand them as Interstate. I'm not implying Interstate batteries are not good, just saying they don't make them. Same goes for many brands and companies like Sears. There are only a couple of manufacturers and they sell batteries to different companies. Most are manufactured in Mexico across the border as the environmental laws in the US are too stringent.

To me, the key is to buy based on the warranty. All batteries will run down and if you live in a place like Texas with high heat, no battery is going to last the stated number of months. Last battery I bought was at Sam's wholesale and so far it has been good.
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This is the same thing with oil filters. A few years ago I did research online on who made the best oil filters. There are only about 5 oil filter manufacturers but they brand them for all the different car makers and brand retailers out there. There must be about a hundred different brands out there. I was using Fram and now K&N. I can't remember now who makes either.
 
DC -

I have also used Deltran Battery Tenders for over a dozen years and they really help keep the battery charged but not overcharged like a bigger battery charger will do.. The very small size of the Deltran Charger is handy too, as it does not get in the way, and is easily stored..
You can look at them easily on Amazon.com

This helps the Battery work better and live longer... Used them all the time when I lived in the Northwest and they really helped..

What I would do is get the quick disconnect harness that will connect to the 2 battery terminal bolts, then run the end of this quick disconnect cable down the front if possible of your vehicle, or wherever it can be accessed easily, perhaps behind the grille.. The end of this cable has a rubber plug that keeps the connectors clean..

Then, buy the long other quick disconnect end to connect to the charger and the quick disconnect end coming off the Battery.

Now, plug it in, and dont worry about your Battery for a long, long, time !

It is a Float charger and charges very slowly and safely, and shuts off when the Battery is charged, and turns back on when the Battery starts discharging..

I like the newer Lithium Ion batteries for vehicles as they are wow - way better and lighter, but they also lighten your wallet by several hundred dollars.. Hopefully, this technology will come down in price someday and that would be great...

I can give you more info on the Deltran's if you want - let me know...
Dan F
 
Interstate Batteries is a privately owned company that markets automotive batteries manufactured by Johnson Controls through independent distributors. From I recall, ohnson Controls and Exide make the majority of the auto batteries under many brands.

Of course, many are tailored to the seller needs.
 
Trouble said:
7 years is unheard of IMO

You said you've gone through 2 this year. I assume the 1st was OEM. Where did you get #2?
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My ex had a honda civic with a battery that was 7 years old .I was on him to replace it but he wasnt going to till it died and it went another whole year. I was shocked it lasted that long!

There was no "2 batteries" . I had my original battery go dead 2 times. make sense now?
 
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