BobsYourUncle wrote:
Thanks for the input everyone.
Doing my homework right now to get new batteries. Its the weekend, no rush until Monday or so. We have a cold snap upon us, lows in the minus high 20's C.
One thing I'd like to add, Optima batteries.
Some folks swear by them.
However, I swear at them. I had a go around with them about 20 years ago. Optima Red tops. I went through I think it was 7 of them in about 2 years. A pair in my big block 78 Chev truck, two in my diesel Oldsmobile, others. 100% of these batteries all failed prematurely. They were junk. I had many of them replaced under warranty, those failed too. Finally got fed up and scrapped them all, went back to lead acid. Bad experience for me, and a costly one too.
Perhaps Optimas are better than they were 20 years ago, I don't know. I am reluctant to buy them ever again based on my own personal experience. But I see through reading stuff that they are highly rated. Hmmmm....
Bob, you are not imagining about Interstate Batteries. Had a pair in my '05 Ram 3500 (75 month) and they lasted 48 and cost nearly 400 bucks. Replaced by Exide lead acid batteries from a NAPA store, they lasted 6 years before giving up. Currently running a pair of someone's batteries from O'Reilly's. The one thing I have noted over the last decade, the battery warranty on any brand is shrinking either initial absolute replacement period or pro rated warranty it it's even offered.
And Optimas? The fire department I worked for had at one point used them as replacement batteries in ambulances, most of them Ford F series chassis with the 7.3 engine. A long time ago, but I do recall being left dead on the side of the road or at a hospital more than once. The fleet maintenance people ended that 'experiment' a year later.
