New Battery Needed

[aldive]

Its time for a new battery. I am at 49k miles in the HOTT Florida climate.

I would appreciate any recommendations.

Thanks....

 

[offroader_69_me]

OPTIMA can't bet a gel cel

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by offroader_69_me
OPTIMA can't bet a gel cel

Reasons, please.

Thanks....

 

[mattadams]

may want to do a search for optima... they've been discussed in great detail. Basically they use gel rather then battery acid, you could hypothetically run them mounted upside down and you'd be perfectly safe. They are better and longer-lasting for high-draw applications, plus they will last longer then your stock battery (they come with a full 3-year warranty).

 

[mrboyle]

Not to step on anyones toe's, but the Optima is NOT a gel cell battery. It IS a lead acid battery. The reason it functions like it does is that instead of having plates submerged in liqud the Optmia uses plates that are covered with a special material (looks like fiberglass mat) that is soaked in electrolite. The plates are wound into a spiral placed into the case. The only contact the plates have with each other is through the contacts that bridge each cell. This makes it impossible for the battery to short out internally, as well as allowing it to be mounted in any position. I strongly recomend the Optima battery. One word of caution, for the primary battery (starter battery) use the Red top only. The Yellow top is not recomended as a primary battery.

 

[aldive]

According to the vehicle selector on their web site, Optima does not have a model for my Explorer.

I do not really want to modify the battery location.

Ideas?

 

[mrboyle]

The Optima is a little narrower than the factory battery. I just used one of the aftermarket battery hold down kits that uses j-hooks to hold mine in. You may have to drill one hole but that's it.

 

[mattadams]

my bad mike, your right . Thts what I get .
OPtimas are smaller then the stock battery, to make it fit you can get a battery strap down kit at any autozone which is basically a bar that goes over the battery and two long j-hooks that will attach to your stock battery tray. If you want to go to one with a stock fit though I'd recommend the die-hard gold, I've heard those are about the best you can get (though I'm partial to optimas)

 

[samtheham]

I just went through thie dilema 4 days ago. I just moved down here to florida, had a nightamre about my car not starting and what do you know, the next day was a lazy start then nothing, dead. Talked to some people and they say that this heat and the humidity combined with the salts in the air KILL batteries like mad. Well I went on down to PEP BOYS and they tested my old battery with a cool little battery tester ( took it bout 15 minutes to test so I didnt feel like it just says that EVRYTHING is bad) Anyway, the optima was like $120 or so and they just started carring some shnitty energizer batteries. But it has 2 year free replacement warrenty, 84 month percent value warrenty and was only like $60 so I said why not? I dont need anything real bad ass yet, so it works fine, is 875 cca and works fine.

 

[RFR2212]

Heaven forbid one uses the search function. Now, I agree that the optima is better, but it takes modification to the point of getting the aftermarket strap down kit which uses J-hooks. A monkey could install it. If not, I will walk you to Sears hardware, holding your hand if necessary, and we can look at the book for a Die Hard battery to match your specific explorer. This is of course, if an Optima is too much work.

 

[Ray Lobato]

Well I use a Yellow top and it fits right quite nicely, and it is my primary battery. The yellow top has more than enough cranking power for the Explorer. Note: This is just hearsay from some of the jeepers that I know, but they were saying that the red top has had problems of not lasting as long as it should, and that the yellow top will outlast the red top by twice as long. The red top is a smaller battery then the yellow top. I opted forthe yellow top, and so far, it works great for me. My $.02

 

[2001ExpSport]

Why are you changing the battery at 49k? I am surprised nobody has asked that as if it is normal to get a new battery at 49k. I have owned cars and trucks that have surpassed 100k and I never had to replace a battery.

 

[Dannyboy]

Maybe it is for JulieEx's Explorer.

 

[2001ExpSport]

Originally posted by Dannyboy
Maybe it is for JulieEx's Explorer.

Regardless, changing of the battery at 49k is premature.

 

[aldive]

.

Originally posted by 2001ExpSport
Why are you changing the battery at 49k? I am surprised nobody has asked that as if it is normal to get a new battery at 49k. I have owned cars and trucks that have surpassed 100k and I never had to replace a battery.

You, my friend, have been lucky,

Florida heart is a mortal enemy of batteries, And, its not the mileage that counts but the age.

 

[2001ExpSport]

Originally posted by aldive
.

You, my friend, have been lucky,

Florida heart is a mortal enemy of batteries, And, its not the mileage that counts but the age.

Aldive, you are driving a '99. You mean to tell me in 2 years your battery needs replacing? I lived in Fla for 4 yrs, never replaced a battery. If you need a battery then ya need a battery. Unless you have a huge stereo system or lots of light and maybe a winch, you'll be fine with just a regular Motorcraft battery. Something you could get a Ford or something equivalent. Don't spend the big bucks on a battery.

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by 2001ExpSport



Aldive, you are driving a '99. You mean to tell me in 2 years your battery needs replacing? I lived in Fla for 4 yrs, never replaced a battery.

You have been lucky. U change 3 batterys ever 18 months in the boat. I average 3 years on batteries here in Florida. That is not unusual for this climate.

 

[2001ExpSport]

Well, they better not try to sell any of those hybrids down in Fla then.