What should I look for when buying a replacement car battery

[finkle636]

Think my batterys on its way out. Should i just get a OEM battery or is there something in particular i should look for?

[GX3]

DO NOT just use an OEM lead acid BAT



Everything you wanted to know about Batteries.

http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html#2

[cojones]

Kinetick is my personal fav.

[Irongoats]

Optima Yellow Top for me

[HoseHead]

Get an Optima.
Yellow is deep cycle and allows you to play your system longer with the car off.
Red will give you more reserve cranking power.
I have one of each in similiar cars and both have performed flawlessly for 4 years now.

These units have both side and top posts, allowing you to get a proper connection for both the car itself and the audio system.

Optimas are a little more expensive than a stocker, but worth it in the long run. They run about $195 CAD @ Wally's up here.



My setup - Top post for vehicle, side post for audio.........

[stipud]

I too have an Optima, though I went with Bluetop, since it has handy wingnut terminals that you can put your audio gear on. With a yellow or red top, you need to buy the terminals for the side.

Starting batteries are good at delivering FAST power, while deep cycle batteries are slower, but capable of being drained and recharged many times. Stats you want to look at are cranking amps (how much power it can produce -- higher is better) and amp hours (how long it can produce power -- higher is better).

I had a starting battery first. It died after 2.75 years, and the battery was replaced free of charge (3 year no questions asked warranty). The replacement battery I got was a deep cycle version. Despite having less cranking amps, it has no trouble starting the car in the cold, and I have no problems with the stereo blinking my headlights. It's good peace of mind when you want to listen to your stereo while you work on the car, without worrying about draining and killing the battery.

I used to swear by starter batteries, but the convenience of this deep cycle has me in the air.

[cojones]

Kinetick has more power then the Optimas, and it discharges faster. Optimas are usualy 800-900 cca and the kineticks are 1400-1800 oem fit and go up to 2400 cca. The 1400 is 60 ah and fits in a honda! Deep cycle and the are 13.5v batteries instead of 12v.

[fuzzysnuggleduck]

Kinetik's do have higher CCA models than the Optimas, but those models also cost more (MSRP that is, never seen them on a store shelf). Makes sense, I guess!

[gridracer]

My yellow top lasted 10 years before it died I will definately get another one.

[stipud]

I will not argue that Kinetiks are a better starting battery. I can't think of much that beats them in the speed/amperage department. Odyssey also makes some good ones.

Assuming your charging system is up to the task, you should not be running from the battery anyways. In this case, it doesn't really matter what you have installed, and I would take the security of a deep cycle over cranking amps that wouldn't be used anyways. I suppose... pick whatever fits your needs, and your wallet

Deep cycle and the are 13.5v batteries instead of 12v.

This doesn't make any sense. If they were 13.5 volts, they wouldn't get charged. No automotive battery should be above 13 volts at a full unloaded charge.

Deep cycle batteries simply have thicker plates of lead, so they can be drained and reused many times without being worn out. If you completely use up a starter battery, then you are lucky if it accepts a charge again, and even then they will never be the same.

[finkle636]

"you completely use up a starter battery, then you are lucky if it accepts a charge again, and even then they will never be the same."

Thats why i'm having to replace it.

Thanks for the input guys !.