Need help on a battery purchase

[Skullmurphy]

Hello all, This is my first post so please be gentle. I have a 2003 explorer V6 stock and it needs a new battery, I was wondering if you all have any suggestions on a good battery. I live near Chicago and the winters can get pretty cold here. Any help would be appreciated....

 

[armysoldier30263]

in all honesty i always try and get the best warranty to price ratio ... thats my main concern ... are you looking for stock or something more?

 

[Skullmurphy]

Thanks Armysoldier for getting back so quick, I am looking for a little more than stock, I have been looking at the Die Hard Gold so far.

 

[Maxstealth04]

Optima!!!! I had one in my Mustang and loved it. You can run your radio ALL day before you have to start your car to recharge it. I live in Michigan so I know about the cold.

 

[2002GreyHD150]

sears diehard is the ultimate pro-rated warranty scam... its not a question of If it will die under warranty... its a matter of how much $$ you will pay out to get another one.

Stock replacements: Orielly auto parts Super Start, Autozone Duralast, or Walmart's brand.. all equals all fine. I went to Walmart becuase they had a sale on batteries.

Be sure to look at your cables and terminals. Do not use the cheapie/quickie replacement terminals. If a cable is questionalble, replace the entire cable including a quality terminal on both ends. Coorosion and failing clamping bolts cause lots of strife.

Don't forget in this modern day world its "E-L-E-C-T-R-O-N-I-C fuel injection" as well as the rest of your engine... EVERYTHING depends on the battery and alternator to be in tip-top shape. Cables included.

Rob

 

[Skullmurphy]

Thank you all, So far I have deleted the Die Hard from my list and I have been reading about the optima batteries, I will need to check out the optima battery better. I am glad i came on this site..

 

[Blee1099]

find the battery with the highest CCA rating with the best reviews...

 

[2002GreyHD150]

be careful with optima's... I ahve 5 in my household "collection" and they are great... BUT.... if the car/truck/suv sits for more than 2-3 days without being driven... the Optima is NOT the battery for you.

Optima's and other AGM batteries simply don't like to be deep-discharged over time. If the vehicle will sit, undriven for more than 1-2 days, than you want a AGM spec trickle chrager and plug it in EVERY night.

Rob

 

[leftlane36]

I agree with Blee1099 everything I own has the largest CCA battery I can get to go under the hood safely. I just like to know that it is there when I need it. Plus it makes me feel better knowing I have the extra reserve since everything also has at least a 400 watt power inverter in it, the Ex has a 2000 watt in it.

 

[Maxstealth04]

be careful with optima's... I ahve 5 in my household "collection" and they are great... BUT.... if the car/truck/suv sits for more than 2-3 days without being driven... the Optima is NOT the battery for you.

Optima's and other AGM batteries simply don't like to be deep-discharged over time. If the vehicle will sit, undriven for more than 1-2 days, than you want a AGM spec trickle chrager and plug it in EVERY night.

Rob

I know it seems like it, but I am not singling you out in every post, lol. I had my Mustang in a unheated garage the WHOLE winter, starting it once a month and never encountered a starting problem. I do not know alot about batteries, just giving my experience.

 

[FaStTwItCh]

Hey skullmurphy what part of chicago do you live in?

 

[2002GreyHD150]

I know it seems like it, but I am not singling you out in every post, lol. I had my Mustang in a unheated garage the WHOLE winter, starting it once a month and never encountered a starting problem. I do not know alot about batteries, just giving my experience.

No worries Max... Just sharing my experiences too... its all good... I have 3 dead optima cores...

the starting once a month is the key... Optima's and others seem to not like the deep discharge... at least once a month is a given... without a trickle/support charge, that is with any battery.

I was just trying to point to what has been discussed on many other forums and optima has even acknowledged, deep discharge is no-bueno... then you ahve to go into crazy recovery charging dances to save them...

All good... no worries... no hard feelings...

Rob

 

[4dlover]

interstate, nationwide warranty and they are the best, good luck getting that kind of warranty and they have thousands of dealers

 

[Skullmurphy]

Hey skullmurphy what part of chicago do you live in?

South side

 

[Skullmurphy]

Thank you everyone for your input, I know one thing for certian that Die Hard is out of the question, After looking at consumer reports I am narrowing it down to a Duralast (autozone), Possibly Interstate.. Also Kirkland (Costco)

 

[not8taxi]

i have an optima in my 02 ex but all my other cars have interstate batteries...for me thats def the best one....goodluck with it

 

[HiImBrian]

IDK... I've got a Sears DieHard battery in my ex and I've NEVER paid a dime to warranty it out... And the only time it's ever died it was purely my fault. I don't live in the cold, BUT it sits under a black hood next to a V8 through Florida summers and runs just fine...