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New Battery Advice

mpreisler

mpreisler

Legacy Registered User
City
Houston
State
TX
My jeep's battery is toast, so I need to replace it. The jeep is not a daily driver, but stays on the tender when parked. I was just wondering what type I should buy based on everyone's past experience.

It is a stock scrambler so no winch or extra lights. Just looking to purchase something that will work well with my infrequent use.

I was looking back through some old threads and saw where quite a few people like the Diehard Platinum AGM and not so much with the Optima. Also what is the optimal size (CCA) that a scrambler needs.

Any help or advise is appreciated.
 
I have never had good luck with Optima batteries. We have them on our equipment in the Air Force and they always needed replacing and I had two of them in my Jeep with short lifespans. I switched to Bosch batteries from Pep Boy and have had really good luck so far. I have one in my Jeep and one in my wife Lexus.
 
I have been using deka batteries lately so far good luck. My camper has agm, the jeeps maintenence free. I have tenders on when they sit.
 
I have at least 6 battery tenders. I think this is as important as a good battery. If I think any vehicle is going to sit over a week I hook up a tender.
 
Very good point. I use the harbor freight $5 ones for any battery not in a jeep and also keep almost all batteries outside the jeep for long term storage. I have seen batteries ooze acid and eat paint and all sorts of mess. I have also seen even good $100 chargers catch fire. But back to topic yes a tender is a great idea for anything sitting
 
I didn't mean that I used Battery Tender brand although I do have a couple. I prefer Shumacher.
 
I use harbor frieght tenders in the winter for years. Worth the 5 buck investment. .

Sent from my SM-N910P
 
zr10054 said:
I didn't mean that I used Battery Tender brand although I do have a couple. I prefer Shumacher.
Click to expand...

Yep, I'm running 9 of the Shumachers. They work great. Under $20 on Amazon prime.
 
cdvcj8 said:
Yep so far my DieHard has been great. I've also heard that if you have problems it's an easy swap at the store.

http://www.sears.com/diehard-platin...2851090000P?prdNo=18&blockNo=18&blockType=G18
Click to expand...

I've heard they discontinued the Diehard Plat. That's come up before in years past and was always just a temporary "out of stock" situation. They still show up on the website, but don't appear to be in stock anywhere, and won't let me add one to my cart.

Anyone have an insight on this?
 
That's a bummer. I guess you have to find the equivalent odyssey Line as they were made by the same manufacturer.


 
I don't worry so much about brand names. I've used them all and find that proper care is more important to me than brand name.
Except for one. I'll never own another Optima battery, I've tried four and have not had one last 3 months yet. Even my local NAPA store quit selling them. Here's my present line of batteries.
Motor Home..........8
Hunting Buggy......8
2 Jeeps................2
Vette...................1
Avalanche............1
ScoutII................1
Hummer..............2
Tractor, trailers,
mowers. etc.........6
total......... 30

30 Batteries in use right now. OMG My mama did raise a fool.
We don't EVEN want to talk about tires.

This is also an important tool around my shop. I use the Malco Versapower. If you have not seen one of these work you won't believe what they will do. I've jumped 10 cars without recharging. You might never carry jumper cables again.
 

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Dang that thing is tiny. I pick up a Peak booster pack every year when the local True Value Hardware marks them down to $40 and they offer a $20 rebate. I've got 6 now, the oldest being 5 years old and still going strong.

There have been "no more Diehard Platinum" scares in the past, but the line has come back. I'm hoping it's a temporary lack of supply. I have Sears nearby, but nobody carries Odyssey in the boonies where I live.
 
Guess I'm in the minority on liking optima. I use them everywhere and love them. One was appearing weak after 4 years and I took it in. They tested it on their cranking aching and it performed better than new spec. It was my terminals. Thumbsup for Optima yellow top
 
3/07 and still kickin'


b33217f36f3d75d117dfa92fa22cbbc1-1.jpg


Sent from my SM-G920V
 
If the Optima was made in the USA it is fine. The problems began when they moved production to Mexico. I've gone through 3 in 4 years. All were under warranty and replaced at no charge but I'd rather have a dependable battery.
 
I have a new red one in the z28 and no problems yet.. 2 yellow and blue top still going strong after 8 years

Sent from my SM-N910P
 
I've had an Optima in mine so long I can't remember which one it is. It isn't maintained like it should be but hangs in there. I do put a HF battery maintainer when I remember but it's not all the time.
 
I've got 6 Optimas right now. Three on Jeeps, one on a tractor, and two on pickups. I was a HUGE Optima fanboy until the last TWO I bought went tits up in less than a year. I know how to charge them, I know what they like and what they don't like, I just think their quality control is iffy now. If I want an iffy battery I'll go to Autozone or Walmart and buy an $80 battery. If I'm going to spend $200 on one it better not be dead in under a year!

The two that died were purchased in 2009. They were replaced under warranty, but that involved me driving 75 miles each way to exhange them. The others I have are actually older than that, so Optima USED to make a damn good battery for sure. I'm just not convinced that they still do.

Odysessy are the same price as Optima, and if the Diehard Plat comes back I have a Sears right down the road, so that's what I've planned on trying next.

I do agree that keeping them on a battery maintainer (I use the Schumachers) helps tremendously, but I only keep a maintainer on the tractor and the Scrambler. The others are driven fairly frequently.
 
I too have given p on Optimas after my last couple died young, since they cut the warranty way back they didnt even replace them. So I went with the Diehard thats made by Odyssey, but that wasa few years ago and its still working fine. Hopefully they will have them again when next I need one
 
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