There are only two major battery manufacturers in the USA, Exide and Johnson Controls. Even if it says Bosch, Motorcraft or Delco on it, its from one of those two. It becomes a matter of convenience, price and warranty. Everyone now uses a computerized load checker to tell if a battery is bad. I returned one to Pepboys and they said the machine was in use and Id have to wait until the next day. Told them I had already hydrometer checked it and had two dead cells. Total blank look from salesman. Manager overheard and ordered him to replace it without doing the computer check.

Another point about batteries. Heat kills them more than cold. There are usually a cold climate and hot climate version of the same model # depending upon where it is sold. Do not fall for getting the highest Cold Cranking Amps as being the "Best". What you really want to look at is Reserve Capacity, what used to be rated in Amp Hours. That is the true measure of capacity, not cranking amps. High CCA ones are the first to die from heat or vibration because the plates are too thin and delicate in order to deliver a lot of current for a few seconds. If your engine needs a 500 CCA battery, 1000 CCA is NOT twice as good. A 120 minute RC battery IS 50% better than an 80 minute RC one.

 

Those are great points about batteries Jim&Mandy---very excellent! Even here in Ohio its so rare our weather gets cold enough to really tax a battery---heat both weather wise and under hood temps is more destructive.

I've been using NAPA's better line of batteries for the past 10 years, not a single failure from at least 4 of them. For me once they reach 5 years old I think they've served their purpose, extra time is just good luck for the time being. One reason I use NAPA is a good working relationship I have with my local store so they're not prone to bicker and argue this especially if its still eligible for their no-cost 18 month warranty period.

I guess the only real difference is the warranty period---the more you pay the longer it is!

 

Speaking of batteries - It's been my experience to avoid recycled batteries at all costs - they don't last for crap, especially in extreme weather conditions. Here in this part of Idaho, the temps can swing from the 80's during the day to freezing temps at night (doesn't happen that often, but it has happened.)

Exide produces a lot of recycled batteries under different labels - not all of these batteries are labeled as being recycled, so you don't really know if you're getting one or not.

The Mal-Wart Neverstart (Everstart) batteries are one such example - I went through 3 of them one summer for no apparent reason - kept taking them back for free replacement. Finally, after the 3rd one quit, I did some digging around and found they were recycled Exide batteries. I've not purchased a recycled battery since. Surprisingly enough, though, I found the Neverstart Maxx to be a fairly decent battery - I guess the Maxx's aren't recycled...

The best batteries I've found around here are Interstate batteries. However, it seems saying "best batteries" is based largely on brand reputation. From what jimandmandy just posted, it sounds like Interstate's are non-recycled Exide's...

I don't know if I've ever seen a battery produced by Johnson Controls...

 

Cardone sucks.

I went through 2 dizzys on the Mustang before they started giving me ones with the TFI mount built into the dizzy body. It will not fit in a 94-95 car because the TFI is remote mount.

They tried to tell me that it was the exact same dizzy. I called the guy on the carpet and hung up. Idiots.

 

Thats too bad. I've had nothing but good luck with thier rebuilt parts...and I've used a lot of them.

 

I've bought two walmart batteries, one served very well and the other failed prematurely. No hassle getting it replaced for free.

I've now moved to only AZ batteries. Great warranty and the price is about the same.

 

Autozone seems to have a wider selection of battery sizes than most. The old Ford 27F is what I needed recently and AZ had them at a reasonable price. Pepboys selection is also excellent, but the "Bosch" sticker on them raises the price. I breifly considered an AGM battery, such as Optima, but the price in that size was more than double and the warranty shorter. Reserve Capacity is also 25 minutes less for that size.

 

Autozone for batteries, alternators and starters. Other then that, I have had more bad luck with autozone not having the part I needed in stock, or unable to get it. Oreilly's in my neck of the woods seems to have the cheapest prices on fel-pro gaskets, and the better parts stocking selections in the stores versus autozone or advanced auto parts. We lost our pep boys about 4 years ago.

 

Been happy with Advance Auto recently. They've got an older man down there that has been in a car and knows what one is. He is a wealth of info and doesn't have to rely on the computer to tell him his shoes are on the right feet.

 

Autocraft (Advance Auto Parts)
Bosch
Champion

There is a third major US mfr, Delphi (used to be part of GM)

Delphi makes the better Sears DieHard Gold and Walmart Everstart Maxx batteries, among others, but apparently not the cheaper ones from those retailers. Interestingly, they make many, but not all, AC Delco branded batteries. This may explain another poster's luck with the Maxx, but not other Everstart batteries from Exide.

 

I have to agree. I recently went to AdvanceAuto to buy a evap flow sensor for the Cougar. Opened the box, the part had the Ford logo and part number on it. For less than anywhere else, including Amazon for a Motorcraft part.

For brakes, buy the part with the brand name, like Wagner.

Simply going back to Ford and paying top dollar is one way to go. One that I do not choose often

 

Interesting. VW/Audi forces OE suppliers to obliterate the logo on aftermarket distributed parts.

 

I've seen the Ford logo on many many things sold in the aftermarket. Makes me wonder if it's Ford selling the stuff at steep discounts.

 

No, it's probably their Chinese supplier selling excess production.

 

If it is rebuilt, then it shows that the part was original Ford cast. Typically that is the only way you will get company castings in the aftermarket.