Replacement for my dead Battery

[Lud]

My original factory Mopar battery made it almost 9 years. 5 with a winch. Not bad for OEM. To be honest I'm tempted to buy another one.

I'm looking at the AGM batteries from Autozone/Oreillys for $150

There's also a Platinum Sears Diehard AGM battery for $220

There's a Sears Diehard Advanced GOLD AGM for $154 online


Any other idea's?? I do not know the difference between the Gold AGM and Platinum AGM batteries. The Gold is 3yr warranty the platnium is 4 yrs. That's the only difference.

[White trash]

The platinum is made by Odyssey. Of those options it the best one period.

[TJDave]

My original battery gave up almost two years ago. I needed one ASAP because the Jeep was my only source of transportation at the time. So, I bought a Duralast Gold at the Autozone down the road. Good warranty, and I have had no problems so far.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/ ... _175979_0_

Two weeks later, I won a Optima Red Top at the Trail Jamboree.

Since I tend do things back-a$$wards, I started reading battery reviews after I bought the Duralast. Average so-so ratings.

Nothing but raves about the Die Hard platinum made my Odyssey that Trash mentioned above. If I had to do it all over again, I would get one of those.

The Optima?, not so good reviews lately. But, it is still going strong as a C-pap machine power source inside the motorhome, and a emergency back-up battery.

[iaccocca]

I love my Yellow top. That being said, from what I read they are hit or miss... you get a good one or you get a bad one. I must be hard on batteries, because I am on the third one in a 7 year old Jeep. The stock battery gave its life during the Badger Mountain truck recovery. My AC Delco seems to have offered itself up, because of my tendency to use my Jeep as my summertime sound system. (A few good hard winch pulls thrown in for good measure.)
The Yellow Top, pulls hard and recovers its charge faster than any battery I have ever had. And the Jeep is only 7, but the winch has been on another Jeep too.

Which ever way you go, keep this in mind. It would be a good phone call to make...

If anyone is battery shopping make sure you give Dave McMains a call at Standard Battery Moses Lake, use the secret Peak Putter / modified PNW4WDA handshake and count your savings. And, if you are working on a dual battery setup, pick his brain.
And, they deliver!

Contact: Dave McMains
Phone: 509-765-8246
Fax: 509-764-2392
Email: DMcMains@batterysystems.net

[Lud]

I've seen a few of these Deka's running around as well.

http://www.remybattery.com/deka-intimidator/9a34-agm-battery.aspx

Called a Deka Intimidator. AGM 72 month warranty $150


Ok went to Sears yesterday and saw the batteries for $220. The lady there told me to go online. Went online yesterday and they were still $220. Went online this morning and magically there's a sale. They are 20 bucks off.

They are on sale for 200. And I have a Sears Gift Card. Also had a few thousand Sears points to redeem that took some more off the price. So that all helps. I think I just made up my mind. lol


For anyone else looking, go online and have it shipped to store.

[OldGreen]

Having killed a few AGM batteries, I'm not entirely convinced as to their utility. They are finicky with a charger and do NOT like being discharged completely (winching??). That said, there are some good applications for them. Specifically, when you need to mount the battery in an area that cannot contain a spill.

I've kinda come full circle back around to good ol' lead acid batteries from Costco. . .

[Lud]

Wow my battery was the most difficult battery to remove. Had one hell of a time. I guess 9 years of sitting in my Jeep didn't help. lol

[Wrench]

As for battery life, any automotive battery can have it's life shortened if you are deep-cycling it. They are designed to stay fully charged with short bursts of minor amp drain. If using your winch, keep your engine rpm's up so the alternator keeps the battery from deep cycling (draining large amounts of amperage capacity). If you prefer to run straight battery with the engine off for winching, it is best to use a separate deep cycle battery just for the winch.

[Lud]

The Sears battery made it just over two years. Good thing the warranty is 4 years full replacement. Guess I'll be exchanging it.

[mattawajeep]

The Sears battery made it just over two years. Good thing the warranty is 4 years full replacement. Guess I'll be exchanging it.

Which model was it?

[Lud]

Sears Diehard Platinum model 4p I believe. I dropped it off, they're testing it. I've been driving the jeep often and there's plenty of juice for the interior lights but the starter just clicks when I turn the key.

[Lud]

The battery model is a P4 and after testing at Sears it came up dead. Got a free replacement battery with a further 4 years tacked back on the warranty. I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and run it.

[Wrench]

I would have your starter system tested. If your starter is going out and pulling higher amps than it should, it may have taken out your battery.

I have seen at least one instance where a fairly new battery I had did exactly what yours did. Best I could tell, there was something internal that couldnt handle the amp load and the connection would open when a load was placed on it.

And also be sure your battery posts/connections are kept spotlessly cleaned. Poor connections can also hinder proper charging.

[Lud]

That's a good idea. I'll have the starter checked. My jeep only has 65000 miles on it but you never know. Sears told me the battery wouldn't charge that it was bad so I don't think it was the posts. I keep those clean and just cleaned the ends of the cables too. Since I've got a new battery now I'll get the starter checked.

Might end up being excuse to go with an upgraded starter such as a mean green , ect.

[Lud]

That's a good idea. I'll have the starter checked. My jeep only has 65000 miles on it but you never know. Sears told me the battery wouldn't charge that it was bad so I don't think it was the posts. I keep those clean and just cleaned the ends of the cables too. Since I've got a new battery now I'll get the starter checked.

Might end up being excuse to go with an upgraded starter such as a mean green , ect.

[Wrench]

Did you have it parked for a good length of time?

Not saying that this is the case, but the cold could have done it. Lets say your posts were slightly corroded so the battery never fully charged, or there was a residual drain on the battery (even the acid across the top of the battery can drain it between the posts). Once the battery gets dead enough, the acid inside chemically turns to water and will freeze/swell like an ice cube. This will often split the plates apart inside.

[Lud]

No I drive it a few times a week. At most, it sits 3 or 4 days.

The Sears battery is an AGM gel battery. I thought they were made differently than your average lead/acid battery.