Battery talk

WA-Wheeler · Jan 11, 2015

crash said:
Mines a little corky for a few minutes but clears up but I have heard on the fords thats kinda common..

Mines the same way. After I start it, she shakes a bit and doesn't like to idle but clears up soon enough.

99redtj · Jan 11, 2015

crash said:
Who did ya go thru judd? The only reason I hate to run something different is my mounts are pretty tight and built around the optima's.

4wheelparts in lynnwood

99redtj · Jan 11, 2015

CHOP SHOP said:
You wheel and WINCH allot. DONT hook your winch leads to the side posts. They will melt right off.

Hook up to the top posts for any high current draw. :awesomework:

I learned that lesson along time ago with my 96 dodge short bed,melted the side positive post

99redtj · Jan 11, 2015

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crash2 · Jan 11, 2015

Skid Mark said:
Threw the adventures of trying to squease every living drop of life out of a battery either bought new or used in a vehicle Ive purchesed. The best thing Ive found is what a few people said Jump it in paralell to a solid plate lead acid battery and then I hook up a slow solid state charger and let it sit for a day or two.

I have found optima gel sprial.. to be easly over charged shorting battery life if not used much then charged for a long time on a high volt/amp charge.

Ive brought batterys with no voltage back and used them for years By a 24v series high volt shock start and having a second battery used like a capactor for amperage with a charger on 12.6 volts I got the Idea from reading how to shock start power tool batterys.

I decided to try this trick. The battery would not take a charge but after a shock with another charged battery and high amperage--its come back...:awesomework:

toyodaaddict · Jan 12, 2015

The battery in my dd took a dump as well. Im leaning towards a costco interstate for around $80. I just found out I can get a new red top for $80. Its tempting at that price but I dont trust optima after all the failure reports. Im wondering if the costco interstate's are built to different standards than other interstate batteries, but for a $50 savings I think im willing to gamble .

zukkev · Jan 12, 2015

They are built to their own specs...Like was said before, Johnson Controls builds batteries for many end users, but the specs are their own. Might be close, but they are likely not the same.:awesomework:

hlb3 · Jan 12, 2015

Given my experiences, I would take a Costco battery every single time over an Optima.

I have had 2 red tops, neither of them lasted like they should have. Aside from 1 car that still has the factory battery, all of our vehicles have Costco batteries.

Harvester of Sorrow · Jan 12, 2015

I am now forever back to a good old "wet" battery. They are so much better than they used to be back when the gel batteries were being pushed.

I am currently using a Walmart special. When I am not driving the rig I just disconnect the battery and then plug it in to a cheap HF floater.

The rig can sit for 6 months and then bam fires right up.

Totalled · Jan 12, 2015

OBD1 Fords need to idle for like 10-20 min without interruption to relearn the idle or it can take up to 200 miles of driving to build its live data table again...

Interstate batteries IIRC are also now Johnson controls... so they ain't what they used to be...

The walmart everstart maxx had a top rating by consumer reports... but have been reported to be not as good as a few years ago...

Costco batteries are also Johnson controls...

Buy a deka, or pick your (Johnson controls) poison...

zukkev · Jan 12, 2015

I am very pleased with Deka's...If you put an interstate MT, or MTP, and a Deka of the same group size (Example: group 65 Ford batteries) side by side, and pick them up, the Deka is MUCH heavier. Same goes for group 34's (Chrysler/Jeep)....more plating...For less money even! My next batteries for the tow pig will be Deka, the Smaurai has a Deka already...Wife's Grand has Deka, and the YJ will get a Deka when the time comes.:awesomework:

crash2 · Jan 12, 2015

What series Deka are ya running Kev?

zukkev · Jan 13, 2015

Running a Gold in the Sami, and the Wife's Grand, will be going with the Ultimate series or Gold for the tow pig when the time comes...I personally think the AGM's are not for sitting around...If you use the rig every day, then ok...but in my experience they have not lasted if used occasionally...

Jeepless · Jan 13, 2015

crash said:
Who did ya go thru judd? The only reason I hate to run something different is my mounts are pretty tight and built around the optima's.

99redtj said:
4wheelparts in lynnwood

I bought my last red top off Amazon, it was the best price. I now leave mine on a tender. As mentioned best when it sits for long periods of time.

Don't Judge me.:flipoff: