[DML] Re: What battery is recommended?

["therealdmcvegas" <dmcvegas@xxxxxxx>]

FWIW, I had to pick up another battery from Pep-Boys. I took in the 
old Die-Hard Battery from the DeLorean, and discovered that it was 
the EXACT same as the BOSCH battery that they had for sale. Same 
case, same connecors, even had the same CCA & CC ratings on the 
label. And both were made in Mexico.

Me personally, I've been left with a dead battery in the past, and 
I've even had to run off of battery power a few times, until I 
discovered that rogue wire in my relay compartment that was blowing 
the fuse for my alternator. Contrary to factory literature with the 
original Delco Freedom battery, my car WILL NOT go 50 miles on 
battery power alone. 5 miles, and the engine begins to be sluggish. 
So I won't drive with anything but an Optima battery from now on. 
They may cost like $30 more than a regular car battery, but the 
Optima has almost 200 more Cold Cranking Amps than the Die Hard, 
doesn't leak acid, AND weighs ALOT less. Sure you're not drag racing, 
but with only 130hp, you need all the weight reduction you can get.

Don't get me wrong now. The Die Hard had a prety good run, with 
almost 5 years with me. Which isn't bad for the desert. But is 
questionable since is wasn't in a hot engine compartment (in the end, 
3 deep cycles finally killed my battery). But since I can't navagate 
their website independantly, then I guess they just don't want my 
business...

As for the "deep cycle" test, I wouldn't go by that. You're putting 
equipment thru tests that it's not meant to go thru, so it's not 
designed for the challenge. That's like saying the DeLorean isn't a 
good choice for an automobile, because you can't cross the Rubicon 
Trail in one. Same with a battery. If the Optima red-top can't 
survive repeated deep cycles, that's because it's not designed to do 
that. It's the yellow top one that's meant for those kinds of 
applications/tests.

One thing that Optima does promise is that disconnected, their Red-
Top batteries will maintain a full 100% charge for up to a year.

-Robert
vin 6585 "X"



--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Marc Levy <malevy_nj@xxxx> wrote:
> Be careful with brand names like Diehard. 
> 
> They don't make batteries, they just buy them from
> someone else and have their name slapped on it.
> 
> Who they buy the item from can change at any given
> time.  10 years ago, DieHard was a re-branded Delco. 
> They were GREAT.  In the late 90's they changed
> vendors and the batteries were awful (I started to buy
> Delco brand at that point).  
> 
> I don't know who makes the DieHard batteries now, nor
> do we know which one was tested by the website you
> talk about below.
> 
> FWIW, I just replaced the battery in 1860 with a
> "Nascar" battery from Sam's Club...  The top of the
> line battery (which is what I got) is a rebranded
> Optima.
> 
> Meanwhile, my 1995 Ford still has the battery it left
> the dealership with 10 years ago.  When it goes, I
> will likely replace it with a Delco.
> 
> --- Matt Spittle <supermatty@xxxx> wrote:
> > I myself prefer the Sears Diehard.  Not too long
> > ago, I remember
> > reading a website that compared a whole bunch of
> > different style
> > (starting) batteries and weighed their strengths and
> > weaknesses.  The
> > thing that differentiated the Diehard was that it
> > could withstand more
> > deep cycles than any other battery (even Optima
> > red-top).  I think the
> > actual number of cycles was 9 or 10.  
> > 
> > Matt
> > #1604
> >






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