I will need a new battery for my 2002 Expedition before winter hits. I can get the Interstate MTP-65 through work. But, the latest issue of Consumer Reports shows that the EverStart Maxx-65N is a top-rated pick at Walmart. I did some research on that particular battery and found that 2 different companies make it - Johnson Controls and Exide. I know Johnson Controls makes the Interstates, Motorcraft and a lot of other top-name batteries. I stopped at my local Walmart yesterday to look at the 65N and the ones sold at my store are made by Exide. Same CA and CCA as the Johnson Controls made units. Are they both equal, in your opinion? I've always had good luck with any battery made by JC, but have had hit-n-miss luck with Exides. Help! Thanks!
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Tag
2002 Expedition XLT 4x4 5.4L
Sport Appearance Package
124,000+ miles
I've always had very good luck with Interstate Batteries. A lot of times when you buy batteries at retail outlets the batteries are a little long on the shelf ( or warehouse ) before you get them. Interstate rotates their inventories very quickly and monitors their condition. They recharge them if they need it to keep them from sulfating and deteriorating. Our local Interstate Dealer goes threw his inventory in about a 30 to 60 day cycle. A few years ago I went with the owner one day and bought batteries from Exide, Delco, Sears, and several parts houses and other local battery distributors and then took them back to his warehouse and tested them and checked the manufactured dates on each of the batteries. Many of them were 6 month's to a year old and several weren't even close to being fully charged. Batteries have a short shelf life so you want to use the freshest that you can find.
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Do you have access to a Costco? If you already have a membership they have good deals on JC batteries. I have their 850 in my Explorer and Crown Vic. Great battery plus it has a 3 year free replacement warranty.
No, no Costco's in my area. I wish there was, because their Kirkland Signature is a Consumer Reports rated Best Buy for the 65-series batteries. I may just go get the Interstate through work and be done with it. It's getting cold here at night and the Expy just doesn't want to turn over like she used to. Even during the day, she's still a little sluggish, but still starts fine.
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Tag
2002 Expedition XLT 4x4 5.4L
Sport Appearance Package
124,000+ miles
A lot of times when you buy batteries at retail outlets the batteries are a little long on the shelf ( or warehouse ) before you get them.
The EverStart Maxx batteries all have the manufactured date clearly on them - not coded like some companies like to do. I don't think I've ever seen one more than a couple of months old in any of the common sizes.
Just an opionion, but go with an optima yellow top, 3 year warrantee and you can drain it repeatedly with very little effect. I had one that sat for over a year, charged it, and its been working just fine. I just bought 2 65Ns for a diesel, and I haven't had any trouble with Everstarts "wal-mart" brand batteries, since I started using them, espessially since they clearly mark the manufacting date on the battery, which makes returning/exchanging it super easy, even without the reciept, which is what I have to do tomorrow with one thats been sitting for about 2 years and won't hold a charge (for free I might add). I can say that upgrading to the optima made all the electronics in my truck (AC included) really shine and work like new for some reason (this was shortly after putting a new battery in it also)...
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94' Ford F-250 7.3 IDI Custom "Baby Blue"-08' Dodge Ram 1500 4.7 Custom "the Grey Ghost"
"Because life's to short to drive a chevy."~RoD
Fresh is the key. What ever you get you want it's manufacture date very recent. NONE of them like inactivity! Sitting on the shelf waiting to be bought is NOT GOOD. Some of these places will even put a later date sticker over top of the original one. 57fomoco is right! I like Odyssey......, but VERY EXPENSIVE! Probably double the price. Check out their website ODYSSEY Batteries - Official Manufacturer's Site Big cracking amps and reserve capacity. Don't need to worry about leaving that dome light on again because it's a deep cycle and you can drain and recharge these without ruining them. Not really practical for most people though. Just my 2 cents.
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