How long do you guys think these things should last? Seemed this morning it took a bit longer to "catch up" on the voltage gauge. With winter coming, as well as my 3 year 45k super maint, should I add a couple of red tops to the list? The two that are in there have been in about a year. Both replaced under warranty for leaking. Luckily, neither was really bad, but I'm starting to question pushing my luck, since I rarely have any.


Thoughts?

Best time is before they leak. Did mine in their secnd yr. Noticed a lil' weeping around the molded seem of one of the oem and did it then. Use'em still for the TT (in battery cases of course) G'luk

Eric just upgraded my original batteries to redtops a couple weeks ago. I just rolled 100,000 miles on my March, 01 Max. After 3.5 years I noticed they were slowing down a little but overall they served me well and i could have gotten some more service out of them....did not want to take the chance.

I noticed that mine take a while to go over 12 or so. Wonder why, they are only 1 year old.

I have a battery tester, which is not more than a huge resistor with a current meter on it. I might test the two and see where they stand to make up my mind.

Chris, don't wait like I did until you notice the paint eaten away. It's too late then. Replaced the SS's battery when it was only a couple of weeks old. Didn't on my truck or the other Camaro and they both have damaged battery boxes. BTW both leaky batteries still tested fine, so just get rid of the darn things before you end up kicking yourself.

I always replace the Delco batteries within the first week of purchase of a new vehicle. Years ago I replaced with Interstate, but for the past 10 years or so I have replaced with Optima. Delco batteries (and other Delco branded products) were the industry standard 40 years ago, but many items have really slipped in quality inj the last 25 to 30 years. I was a AC/Delco Warehouse Distributor in the early 70's, but quality problems became so bad I changed over to other brands to carry. The last few years Delco batteries have really had a lot of problems.

Put in two new Red Tops today. The speed it turned over was much faster and the speed the voltage came up was really reduced a bunch. I was going back and forth between the red and yellow and decided that since I don't have a bunch of aftermarket stuff the red would probably be fine. Plus it has a 3 year replacement versus 12 months.

Well, you guys scared me into it, http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley9.gif bought two Optima red tops at lunch today and popped them in this evening in the last of the sunlight. My OEM AC/Delcos were doing fine, but with all the talk of sudden failure and leaking connections I decided that 3 years and 92,000 miles was enough on the factory originals. Only cranked it and pulled it into the garage after the swap, but it sure kicked over quick!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gif

I waited too late. At 48,000 miles on the truck, Last thursday, both Delcos failed. Pulled into the beer barn in the town close to my deer lease and had to be pushed out the door. At least I was not out in the woods. No warning or acid leaks what so ever.


For the record, The truck could not be jumped off going straight to the battery bypass. Batterys were dead. No way for warranty as there was no chevy dealership in 50 miles. Too new Interstates and I was on my way. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley18.gif


Edited by: gmccall

I just had one of my stockers start leaking on me two weeks ago. Did the same as GMCCall's. It sat in the garage over the weekend and when I went to start it up it was dead. Battery charger on boost wouldnt even start it. They've got about 3 years/72K miles on them so I switched both. Havnt tried to see if GM will warranty the leaker or not yet.


Jason

When the battery leaks it runs down and rots the windshield washer lines and pump.Had to replace lines and pumps on every truck in our fleet at work.

<span style="font-weight: normal;" ="bold">Idle_Chatter,



Smart move

</span>

Gees, and I thought I was anal... http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley9.gif


I bought my Grand Cherokee new in July of 1999 - Original battery


I bought my Honda used with 170,000 miles and maybe a new battery in Aug of 1999 - Yep, same battery


Yep, I'm Cheap. When I was younger and had less toys, I would do PM battery changes. Not anymore. It's too easy to get a battery at just about any time of the day, these days, and I got spare vehicles, so I can. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif


Those two vehicles have the same batteries in them for the longest time of any vehicle I've ever owned.


Now, until my wife got the Jeep, with auto accessory shutdown, she'd go through about a battery every other year. And those were the biggest ones I could fit in her Intrepid. You can only drain them flat so many times then their dead. I got tired of hunting her down to jump the car. In the end I told her to call AAA. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif


I'll run the OEM's until they either leak or won't hold a charge. You know when you're living with borrowed time with a battery. I've only had 2 surprise me in 29 years and they were both defective. That's OK for me and my vehicles. I'll probably run Optima's in the truck for sure due to vibration reliability, etc.


I don't dare be that caviler with my wife's Jeep. If she has battery trouble once with a 5 year old battery, out it goes and a new on goes in or I'm toast. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/hihi.gif


Probably an Optima, Maybe just a Diehard Gold 800 year warranty. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif

96Dragshee,


Had the same thing happen to my wife's Tahoe. About 2 years old and the battery leaked and ate the washer pump (2 on the Tahoe) and lines. I brought the battery, tray, 2 washer pumps and lines to the dealer and they replaced them under warranty.


Last week, (2 years after the initial incident) my wife calls. She pulls into school to pick up the young-uns, kills the Tahoe and nothing. Learned my lesson...replaced with a red top! Won't see that problem again.


Now I'm worried about my 3 year old DMax! I check the batteries constantly and they are doing fine...no leaks, starts great! But I know...they give no warning! Y'all have just about convinced me to replace the 2 on my truck.


MaxRock

MaxRock,


Just do it! At least I sleep better now and the price wasn't bad enough to cancel Christmas or anything.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif


C

It's funny - years ago when I first started driving you always knew when your battery was going bad. The voltage loss was gradual over time. Now-days it seems like one day they are good and the next day --- KAPUIT!!

After having 4 Delco POS side terminal batteries leak on previous vehicles, I changed the 2 on my DMax 3 months ago to Die Hard Gold's. It costs way more to fix what a leaking battery will f*&amp;^ up than is does to get rid of them. It cost $150 for new positive battery cables on my Tahoe that a Delco ruined (self install). Now I have 2 extra batteries for the boat. Funny thing is the Delco Marine batteries are some of the best on the market, if you can still find them. Everything's going to Delfi now anyway.

Hey Chris,


I do not want 2 red tops for Christmas! I would rather put that $ towards a VA box!!! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif


MaxRock

I agree with the replacement, one of mine went dead on a Saturday and I thought I might have left something on and it jumped fine. But when it did it again on Sunday morn I didn't even bother with a jump I just got some red tops , WOW it cranked so fast I think it has less rpm at idle than crankinghttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif

Where can I find the red tops. Damn if yaul aint got me worried. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif

Where can I find the red tops. Damn if yaul aint got me worried. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif



It's not if but when they leak. You can get Optimas all over.

Edited by: hoot

a bear, bought mine at an Autozone for $109 each.

Thanks Hoot and Idle, Optimas here I come.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gif

Hey Chris,


I do not want 2 red tops for Christmas! I would rather put that $ towards a VA box!!! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif


MaxRock





Finally http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif

gmccall,


You made me feel guilty at the last GTG, I have to do something to repair my reputation!!! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif


MaxRock

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gif


Box it, Hemi's beware

MaxRock,


Be like Deon and get both.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif A VA box and batteries, now that's "More Power! Ug Ugg"http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/hihi.gif

Anyone have the CCA on the Red Tops? Different-All the same ????http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif

The CCA is 800 amps on the red top with a max of 1000 CA. Much better than the two that they replaced my original OEMs with. I always wondered why they put in a small capacity battery when they replaced the leakers under warranty.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif The deep cycle (yellow tops) have 750 CCA and 9?? CA IIRC.

When I read this (and the other battery) thread last week, I popped the hood and sure enough the passenger side battery on the + terminal was already leaking. When I replaced the battery, it was already doing a job on the cable and some wires running underneath the battery box.


But, I couldn't see laying out that kinda cash for 2 optima batteries, which probably wouldn't last any longer (perhaps less) than a regular battery anyway, sorry. Instead, I just bought a couple of Autozone Duralasts 1000 CA (800 CCA) for $70 apiece, 3yr replacement warranty, 8yr derated warranty. We'll see how they work out. If they leak, they'll get em back...


Again, many thanks for pointing out the infamous AC Delco leakers.


Thanks,


Tim

Because of this thread, Sunday I checked my batteries. And just like others that have posted, one battery was leaking from the positive terminal. I tried to take the positive wire off.....the post simply twisted right off the battery.

But, I couldn't see laying out that kinda cash for 2 optima batteries, which probably wouldn't last any longer (perhaps less) than a regular battery anyway, sorry.


Not to second-guess or debate your decision, Tim - but the Optimas have the same warranty and for $30 more a battery you are changing lead-acid-plate design for advance spiral-wound gel-cell technology. The Optimas do and have demostrated that they last a LOT longer than conventional cells. Maybe something to keep in mind for your next set!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif

Unfortunately, I found there is more than $30 difference in price. I looked at Costco, Sams, Wally-world, and Auto-zone. Wally-world didn't carry them, and all the others carried the smaller red-top 75/25 which is not rated as high as the original AC Leakco battery (i.e. CCA is 720 I believe), and yeah, the price on those, the lowest I could find was $100, so $30 is right. But they are not the right batteries.


When I found out all red-tops are not equal, meaning the correct one for our trucks is not the 75/25 red-top, but rather the more expensive 34/78 red-top, which the lowest I could find was $140 a pop at Autozone (Costco and Sams didn't carry it) forget that. I was not about to spend $280 on a pair of fancy batteries. Both have 3yr replacement warranty and the Duralasts were half the price. I'll use the extra $140 for something else...


Thanks,


Tim