new battery time
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 430
Likes: 0
From: more north than south
new battery time
Hi All,
Time for a new battery. V 10, 4 x 4. Is AAA the way to go as they will do a "diagnostic"on the electrical system, your experiences at Walmart (ok or run away), other suggestions, and finally ballpark price I should expect to pay. Can't remember the last time I ever had to buy a battery.
Thanks
Time for a new battery. V 10, 4 x 4. Is AAA the way to go as they will do a "diagnostic"on the electrical system, your experiences at Walmart (ok or run away), other suggestions, and finally ballpark price I should expect to pay. Can't remember the last time I ever had to buy a battery.
Thanks
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,589
Likes: 20
I have a 6.0L diesel and I use red top Optimas. They are AGM technology (non acid) and work very well in all weather conditions. They are not cheap (about $160) but the red tops have a 3 year warranty. I have had my two red tops for 4 years. You can get some good deals on them online.
DSMMH
DSMMH
Elder User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 938
Likes: 0
From: Outside Boise, Idaho
I have Optimas in everything but my X. The stock ones are still alive. Love the Optimas which I always get at Costco. I put a Walmart battery in a bud's car because if there is an issue they are everywhere. No problems.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
I have a 2000 ex w/140k miles and I think the Motorcraft in it is original. I just priced the maxx for the ex at Walmart today and it was $80. 
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 2
From: Summit, MS
BTW, the build date on my Excursion is 10/99 and that was the original battery.
I now have an Optima in every thing I own with a battery except my stump grinder and my dump trailer. Just bought the dump trailer and PO had just replaced battery and the stump grinder battery is still good after over 3 years.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2001
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I run a Interstate Mega Tron Plus in my V10. When it was -10 in Chicago and the truck had sat a few days, it cranked over like it was a 70 degree day out. I'd also run a high end die hard, there are pretty much the only batteries I trust any more. I have owned all kinds of batteries even the big $ optima's which let me down way way wayyy to many times. the red tops HATE to be discharged a lot and do not recover very well at all, many times they wont recover at all. I had a couple yellow tops I beat up pretty well for a while with heavy discharges, but my last yellow top ended up swelling up all kinds of weird ways after it lost its charge sitting for about a year and didn't wanna take a charge. Always trickle charged em when they would go weak, they just arent the batteries they used to be. Forgot who bought em, but quality dropped significantly, and I know quite a few others that will agree.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 172
Likes: 7
From: McMinnville Oregon
Agree with "!", and have had two Optima batteries croak on me without warning.
Neither one was more than 1-2 years old, and were purchased at Costco. One in my Excursion, another in a supercharged Bonneville SSEi where the battery is under the back seat- not a harsh envirinment. Real happy with Sears Platinum P-2 AGM. 930cca.
4 year replacement warranty (not prorated).
Neither one was more than 1-2 years old, and were purchased at Costco. One in my Excursion, another in a supercharged Bonneville SSEi where the battery is under the back seat- not a harsh envirinment. Real happy with Sears Platinum P-2 AGM. 930cca.
4 year replacement warranty (not prorated).