× 1-800-946-2642 Home My Account Social / Forum Articles Contact My Cart
Shop Now
Select Your Car Type Sale Items Clearance Items New Items
   Forum Width:     Forum Type: 

 Posted: Sep 21, 2014 01:13PM
Total posts: 2100
Last post: Oct 22, 2023
Member since:May 1, 2007
Cars in Garage: 1
Photos: 220
WorkBench Posts: 0
US

My new in '08 Diehard just went flat, so went looking for a new one today. Tried to find an Odysey/Diehard Platinum, but after 40 minutes of trying to find anyone working in Sears, I went accross the street to Batteries Plus. They had a higher priced AGM but after two trips and trial fitting the only one I could find that fit in the battery box was a Duracell. So we'll see how well it works. Fired up the VTEC on the first try anyway.

 Posted: Sep 20, 2014 08:03AM
Total posts: 313
Last post: Nov 3, 2019
Member since:Jul 3, 2003
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 6
WorkBench Posts: 0
US

My Odyssey PC 680 battery weighs 18lbs , generates no fumes, holds a charge over the winter and is 30 lbs less than the previous battery in my Mini.  It starts the car quickly every time.


 Posted: Sep 19, 2014 09:21PM
Total posts: 473
Last post: Nov 21, 2019
Member since:Jun 29, 2011
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0
US

The battery in my mini is an 8 year old Wal-Mart battery. It is only now giving me signs that it may not last once it starts getting cold. 

For 90 bucks that's not bad.

 Posted: Sep 18, 2014 04:11PM
Total posts: 659
Last post: Mar 24, 2024
Member since:May 18, 2002
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0
US
Quote:
Originally Posted by jeg

I installed an Optima yellow top (YT R-2-7), says Johnson Controls on it and so far it's been fine.

+1 for the Optima yellow top. Got a dud with an old date code on it they replaced it with a new one no hassles. Has worked fine for over a year.

 

 

 Posted: Sep 18, 2014 03:21PM
jeg
Total posts: 7075
Last post: Nov 5, 2019
Member since:Apr 25, 2000
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0

I installed an Optima yellow top (YT R-2-7), says Johnson Controls on it and so far it's been fine.

The peasants are revolting...          

"Gone with the Wind" - a brief yet moving vignette concerning lactose intolerance

 Posted: Sep 17, 2014 12:45PM
Total posts: 2510
Last post: Sep 5, 2015
Member since:Jul 15, 2010
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0
US

Reading this with interest as I'm figuring my 8 year old Optima Red Top is going to give up sooner or later....

Apparently, they don't build 'em like that anymore.

 Posted: Sep 17, 2014 12:36PM
Total posts: 1065
Last post: Feb 10, 2023
Member since:Oct 2, 2008
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0
US

I will also get on the OPTIMA band wagon that they suck. Had em in my Mustangs, and Mini's 10-14 years ago, lasted fantastic. The last 3 I put in were duds. Mini one lasted a year, in the Lincoln Navigator 10 months, and the newest one only a few months. I have reverted to just a middle grade battery now and it's doing just fine. It's a shame that the quality went crap. One day I will look into the other more exotic batterys to replace this one.

 Posted: Sep 17, 2014 10:56AM
Total posts: 545
Last post: Nov 5, 2018
Member since:Aug 19, 2006
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 1
WorkBench Posts: 0
US

I have Optima Red Tops in my minis. 

 Posted: Sep 17, 2014 10:46AM
 Edited:  Sep 17, 2014 10:47AM
Total posts: 1268
Last post: Feb 23, 2020
Member since:Oct 30, 2008
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 46
WorkBench Posts: 1

Odyssey it is, AGM type I believe, they make the sears ones too. I'll check on who else they produce for - Thanks //www.odysseybatteries.com/

 Posted: Sep 17, 2014 07:49AM
Total posts: 595
Last post: Feb 22, 2023
Member since:Apr 21, 2012
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0
US
Optimas are duds anymore, I have a turbo mustang and it went through batteries like crazy,put the battery in the trunk figuring the heat from the turbo was killing it,same issue...

Switched to the autozone kind and never had an issue soo far.duralast?

 Posted: Sep 16, 2014 05:20PM
Total posts: 
Last post: Nov 14, 2021
Member since:Apr 7, 2000
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 1
WorkBench Posts: 0
US

24F72 interstate batteries

 

 

 Posted: Sep 16, 2014 04:21PM
Total posts: 1309
Last post: Feb 13, 2024
Member since:Jan 28, 2005
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0

Odyssey batteries if I can afford it. Really good for cars that see only occasional use. Same principles (AGM type battery) as Optima, but the quality has never diminished to my knowledge. No worries about leaks (keeps the battery box area from corroding as so many Minis suffer from) since it's an AGM type. The main drawback is cost and fewer size choices.

 

DLY
 Posted: Sep 16, 2014 04:01PM
Total posts: 598
Last post: Dec 29, 2023
Member since:Sep 6, 2014
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0

i use marine battery, last a lot longer. 

 

 Posted: Sep 16, 2014 12:53PM
Total posts: 193
Last post: May 19, 2015
Member since:Feb 5, 2013
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 0
WorkBench Posts: 0

I used to be religious about Optima batteries until they started being manufactured in Mexico.  The dead giveaway is if there is a "johnson controls" reference on the front of battery - if so then it's crap and if not it was manufactured before Optima switched manufacturing.  I have old Optimas that have lasted 5+ years in Arizona (pretty much unheard of) and new ones that have only lasted 10 months.  Maybe they fixed their quality issues but I won't buy another one.

As for my preference, I found that Duralast Gold batteries from AutoZone are very good as standard automotive batteries.  I replaced my crap Optima with one years ago and haven't had any problem.  They're cheap, they're reliable, and they have a good warranty.

On my Mini (the Duralast battery is in my Chevy pickup) I have a half-size Braille battery.  It's about 17 lbs lighter than a standard automotive battery and has as much if not more starting power than a conventional battery.  Expensive but worth it for the Mini since I try to keep weight down where I can.  I bought the Braille online through Amazon with free shipping.  Only downside is that I have to fabricate a custom hold-down bracket for it.

 

 Posted: Sep 16, 2014 11:47AM
Total posts: 1268
Last post: Feb 23, 2020
Member since:Oct 30, 2008
Cars in Garage: 0
Photos: 46
WorkBench Posts: 1

What's everyone's favorite battery brand? Used to be Optima but lots of complaints about them now - thoughts? I have bought a couple of them and the orig one I bought 10 years ago is still powerful, shows no sign of doing anything less than it's supposed to, got moved over to a tractor.

I need to put a premium battery in my mom's Jeep Liberty as dealer called out replacing battery and my dad is recuperating from heart surgery for the next 6 weeks and told me to get the best.... I just get the cheapest myself, unacceptable in this case...