The battery in mY 96 Is getting weak from lack of use. i was contemplating going with a Motorcraft one.

I am also a DEKA fan but no dealers near by

Any suggestions other than Interstate or Exide

 

Dont buy an exide, every single car I ever put one in or had one in they failed miserably rather prematurely.

I like dekas, we install alot of them at work with no issues. Go to your local parts store and see-alot of them are rebanded dekas.

 

I've read excellent things about the Diehard Platinums. Pricey but better than Optimas.

 

I believe Motorcraft is made by Johnson Controls who makes Optima. I have had great luck with MC batteries in the past/current.

 

Deka has been making NAPA batteries for a couple years now.. I have three of the NAPA batteries made by Deka and they are doing well.... (didn't have a Deka dealer close by either)

Exide used to make them for NAPA and they were not worth carrying to the truck...

 

Yea I buy my batteries at Napa, while they don't last quite as long as an original Motorcraft does, I have yet to have one fail before its just ages out. About half the money a Motorcraft goes for.

 

I will probably get laughed off this website, but I have an Advanced Auto Titanium I bought in April of 2003 still in my '97 F250HD. I have played my stereo (Pioneer w/ amp + 10" subs) for hours at a time at softball tourneys over the years, and have never had any start up issues.
........... of course, after this post, I will probably be needing a jump start now in the morning .............

Hawk

 

I've seen napas bad same month they where put in the junk last a year if your lucky optima isn't made by Johnson there made by interstate top three in my book motorcraft acdelco interstate

 

O and advance auto has one hell of a battery too

 

Ive had an Optima yellow top and now a red top. Great batteries but not worth the $200 IMO. I bought the yellow top when running a 200 amp alternator and 3500 watts rms to my old subs.

The interstate I gave to my friend is still doing great.

My next battery will be a Deka intimidator.

 

Delco used to be good, not so good anymore.

FWIW Instead of working in the shop or driving the tow truck Im back in the battery truck. Were an AAA shop and sell them insanely priced batteries off the truck. Anyways, What fails the most-exides, delcos (both oem and off shelf), diehards, optimas SUCK these days too. I have an exide in my old toyota, somehow it has never let me down, not sure why but its like a ford-barebones with nothing on like a modern car.

Currently were using dekas for AAA batts, used to use exides and ALWAYS had issues. Things would die like no other in short time for no reason, tons of bad cells. Been using dekas for awhile now and cant say much bad about them. No issues and they last. Interstates are also pretty dang good, friend of mine has an old bronco that basically sits now and has a 34 in it..that sucker cranks his 300 up everytime no matter whats.

 

i'm currently running a Northern brand battery in 6 of my trucks ... no idea who makes them, but they've been starting fine for me for 4+ years ...

It's what we sell at my little mom and pops shop that i wrench at...

 

I had the same one from Advance Auto for years. I now have a Autocraft Gold as of last year. It has the same cranking amps and part number as the Titanium. I think they just changed names. Its a good battery. I think it is also Johnson Controls and believe it is identicle to the Motorcraft battery.

 

As for Optima, I don't particularly care for them. I tried one about 6 years ago and was not impressed at all. I sold it and bought the one before the one I have now.

 

I have Duralast Gold batteries in the SHO and the Centurion. The one in the Centurion was swapped over from my old 93 F150, and is about 3 years old. Never had an issue with either, and both of these vehicles sit for months without being started. As fate would have it, I started both this past weekend without an issue, after both had sat for about 6 weeks.

Though I've never used one myself, I've heard that a "battery tender" will help extend the life of batteries in vehicles that sit for long periods of time.