Need an inexpensive Group 65 battery w/3-year replacement warranty?

[UtahX]

Optimum's used to be good, but their quality has gone way down in recent years. I wouldn't touch one today.

The one I use to have I bought in 2010 died in 2017 (maybe). Never had a problem with it. Thanks for the info.

 

[jr230]

It's been in the mid-low 20's here in North GA the past few mornings. Yesterday I tried to start our semi-retired '00 Mountaineer 5.0L (265,000 + miles and counting) and it's already weak battery had bitten the dust. I decided that putting an expensive battery in this old gal just didn't make sense. I checked AutoZone for a cheaper (but decent) battery and found they wanted $99 for their ValuCrap group 65 battery, which only came with a 12 mo warranty. I considered their "red-top" battery, which was $140 and now only comes with a 2-year replacement warranty. I checked TSC (too expensive). I checked Napa, $99 for their Legend battery that I think had a 2-year replacement/75 month prorate battery, but I've never got more than 4-5 years (at best) out of 3 previous Napa Legend batteries. I didn't even consider Walmart. Then I recalled that Home Depot sells auto batteries and I'd just gotten a "$5 off any purchase" coupon. Home Depot sells Excide batteries, which are a pretty good brand. They had 850 cold cranking amp, Group 65 batteries in stock for $99 with a 3-year replacement warranty (less the $5 coupon). There were also lots of excellent customer reviews. So this was a no-brain-er. I'd installed a Home Depot Excide brand battery in my hot-rodded 12V '54 F100 about 3-4 years ago. This truck is rarely driven (maybe 5-6 times a year) and that Excide battery has never even required charging after sitting for 6 months (the previous Durlast red-top batteries I'd had in it were noticeably weak after just a couple of months of inactivity).

So, if you need a good, inexpensive battery for your Explorer (and many other Fords), consider Home Depot Excide Group 65.

your mountaineer has computers a anti theft system and clock so it uses power sitting
vs a 56 f100 so if its rarely used either put a disconnect on battery terminal and program clock and radio
or use a maintainer trickle charger or a 5 watt solar panel to get the longest life out of the battery
i been using with success the Walmart 49.99 battery only 1 yr replacement but on 1 of my cars they wanted $110 and up for a size 121 but the 26r was same size in economy at wm for 49 only 1 yr warranty. so if it lasts over a yr and has even if it dies in the next yr its still cheaper now heavy use off road lights etc go for the better one

 

[Deleted member 348523]

Walmart. Everytime, Always. 3 year 100% replacement, prorated for year 4 and 5.
I have had Optima, Interstate, and others. After having 4 in the boat, replaced every year out of pocket for marine batteries, I converted to Standard MAXX Walmart batteries and they were solid for 2+ years, and would die before year 3. 100% replacement.
I did this for 10 years after 10 years of paying yearly.
All my vehicles I have moved to Walmart Batteries. They just simply work.
Advance Auto seems to want you to believe that CCA don't matter anymore, and all of theirs have been reduced. You can find a 800 CCA battery at Advance Auto any more.
I use them in the RV, Boat, Bronco, EXP's, Hotrod. All of them just work.

My .02, I just replaced a 3 year old Ghetocraft in my 2016 Sport about 3000 miles into a 10,000 rv trip. I knew I should have replaced it before I left the house. First cold night killed it.

And Optimas, all be good batteries, most charging systems are not designed for them, that includes RV's and Boats, and even Explorers, as if you play with Forscan, you know there is some tricks to tell the PCM its an AGM battery.

 

[toypaseo]

Exide not available at my local Home Depot

 

[mic98xlt]

Exide available in Connecticut Home Depot's, but I just went with Walmart's 3 year replacement MAXX battery. It's just less than $94.00 here, and just too good of a value with easy 3 year replacement. Had these in past and they lasted plus easy return should you accidentally abuse a good battery somehow by mistake.

 

[RandomNerd2000]

I personally love the Walmart batteries, I've never had one I was disappointed in, I've got one in my Eddie Bauer that's four years old I bought for $20 off a yard sale, guy said it wasn't good, was still under warranty then, took it to get it warrantied and they told me it was in perfect health. Cranks my V8 easy. The ValueStart ones they have for $50 are a real bargain though, I get 2.5 years out of those normally, never had a complaint.

The biggest thing about most car batteries is whatever warranty replacement you get, you normally don't restart the warranty period. I rather just give the $50 every three years roughly and not worry about it. I don't recommend Carquest brand batteries, whoever makes them needs to improve them. They last forever but the terminals suck.

 

[J_C]

^ Still beats the side terminals on GM's.

I've had good luck with Johnson Controls upper-tier (850CCA/ group 65N) flooded batteries, used to get them from Advance Auto back when they had better (40% off) coupons, or Autozone, but now the best price nearby is the Walmart Everstart Maxx, about $100 w/tax.

I also like that the local walmart is open 24/7. The automotive dept is closed (unattended) but that doesn't stop me from going back, grabbing a battery and paying at the front registers.

I get about 5 years out of them, got 6 out of the last one in my '98 but really I was pushing it, don't take it on long trips and have jumper cables so I wasn't too stressed about it.