Good battery for under $100? Interstate?

[DaveM]

My current batt in my 2003 DC Tacoma looks a little old and the sides are bulging a little (?). Not sure if it's the original stock batt, there is no date on it that I can find. I want to get a new batt before going on a longish trip to SE Oregon this summer where I will be pretty far from help. I do not need a super high end battery like an Optima or Odyssey, just a really good dependable truck batt that can take hard use on moderate off road trips. I usually opt for Interstate batteries but I want to hear from forum members what they think of Interstate and if there are any other good brands in the under $100 category?

 

[paulj]

I think Interstate is a distributor, not a manufacturer. Johonson Controls is one of the big manufacturers, whose batteries are sold under a number of names (including house brands for Sears, Walmart, Costco, etc.). Your stock battery may even be made by them.

You can compare JC batteries with the battery selector on this page:
http://www.autobatteries.com/
I read someplace that Duralast sold by Autozone came out tops on some survey or consumer reports. Duralast is one of the JC brands.

One option is to focus on the warranty, and maybe the amps for a given size.
Some brands (sears) also make a distinction between northern and southern versions - presumably one designed to survive cold winters, the other, hot summers.

paulj

 

[chemijeeper]

Generally batteries have a life of 4-5 years. You get anomolies like 7-10 years, but those are the exceptions. So most likely its a factory battery and it would be a good idea to get a replacement. The sides bulging does not necessarily mean anything is failing but does hint to a 'well used' life. To figure out the exact date of the battery, you should look for a date code, which is normally found on the sides near the top burned into the plastic. It uses the first 12 letters of the alphabet for the month followed by the last number of the year(ie. July 2007 would be G7).

Interstate Batteries is a distributor of Interstate batteries only. They are a separate brand and design than such competitors as exide, duralast, walmart, etc. Yes they manufactured by Johnson Controls, but many of the companies you named and OEM replacement batteries are actually supplied by Interstate Batteries using different labels. Johnson Controls does not have a JC brand per se, to my knowledge.

Presently there are are the base models such as I-75s(65 month warranty), then Megatrons(75 month warranty) and the Megatron Plus(85 month warranty) when you are talking about lead acid batteries. You can get a megatron plus battery for about $75-$125 depending on the model.

If you are looking for high performance in regards to cranking power or cycle life, you can go for Optima batteries. The Optima battery uses a Spiral Cell technology that does not leak.(ie. placement options are endless). You said that you don't need the Optima but I figured I would throw out the information.

If you are running a relatively stock setup and want a good performer, I models or MT are a solid bet. If you want a top of the line model with the longer warranty, MTP is for you. If you are running a much bigger stereo( high output amps etc.), offroad lights, winches, or the like, yellowtop optimas are the ticket. High cycle life, high cranking amps, and a high reserve life. Period

I apologize for the long book of an answer, but seven years of the family battery business kinda leaves a mark. I hope it helps. Any other questions let me know.

 

[madizell]

Generally batteries have a life of 4-5 years. You get anomolies like 7-10 years, but those are the exceptions.

Perhaps that has been your experience, but it isn't mine. In the past 35 years of owning cars, I have had only one or two batteries last less than 7 years, and have had more than one last 10 years, and these were all just over-the-shelf batteries, not mega-buck new-age batteries. I had one Husky battery go 12 years in my '76 F-150, and I was disappointed when one of the cells died because it was doing so well. Not to mention that at the time I was living in Alaska with no garage, so the vehicles all sat outside in whatever weather there was, including lows between -35 and -55 degrees. I just recently gave the old F-150 away when we moved to Arizona, and it had in it only its third battery in 32 years.

 

[chemijeeper]

That is very lucky of you. I started off at my parents warehouse sorting junks picked up from different routes. Generally you would get batteries 4-7 years old. The 4-5 range was predominately original equipment.

Like anything automotive, the maintenance you put into a battery is directly linked to the longevity of its service life. you keep the fluid at the appropriate level, have a trickle charger when in storage, keep corosion in check, etc., and the battery should last you a long time.

If you happen to have any secrets, could i twist your arm to let the rest of us know:sombrero:

 

[madizell]

Kept them clean, kept the terminals cleaned and lubricated, never used more than 6 amps to charge a battery, and back when they were serviceable, I kept the water topped up. Simple and basic maintenance. When the truck was in daily service in winter, I used a battery blanket to keep it warm, and all of the vehicles had block heaters. Particularly with the Ford, I kept the starter serviced and lubricated to reduce demand and facilitate starting.

But most of the vehicles didn't have battery warmers, only block heaters, and in the past 15 years or so, most of the batteries have been of the zero maintenance type. Those I just kept clean. Terminal corrosion has been less of a problem with the newer batteries. The Audi battery was just replaced after 8 years and 208,000 miles of service, and I never even looked at it because it was buried under so much plastic. So, I have not always gone out of my way.

 

[JIMBO]

:campfire: Get a KIRKLAND (costco), for generally under $65 bucks--

--They are good quality and have a 36 month FREE REPLACEMENT--

--:coffeedrink: --JIMBO