Worst Batteries as of Winter 2016/2017?
12-21-2016, 09:09 AM
#31
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Location: Ocean County, NJ
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Given your track history on actually telling the truth I dont buy that your battery died from charging your phone. i have charged my phone for several hours using the ciggarette lighter and never killed a battery like that. Id wager that you probably left your lights on and killed it.
12-21-2016, 09:49 AM
#32
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Location: Monett, MO.
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Sorry to say but true on the cell phone.
What most need to know is that the heat of the summer is what kills the battery, by how well they were maintained but shows up in the winter.
As far as Durlast batteries I have 9 of them in service at this time 2 in diesel's the rest in gas single battery installs. They range in age from 7 yrs to 2 yrs (all 72 mo. warranty's) with no early failures except for one. That was in my XJ when the old battery hold down broke off road and I cracked the case on it when it came loose but still got me home don't know when it was broken for sure.
12-21-2016, 02:23 PM
#33
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Location: Tarpon Springs, FL / Denver, CO
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Year: '98
Engine: 4.0 I6
I have a Duralast Gold type 34 and its been great. Purchased it in ~2012 IIRC
I routinely go shooting in the mountains, and end up using the radio and interior lights for several hours while we are hanging out. Always cranks right up
Been pretty pleased with it, but 4 years later I am definitely starting to consider replacing it next winter out of best practice
I routinely go shooting in the mountains, and end up using the radio and interior lights for several hours while we are hanging out. Always cranks right up
Been pretty pleased with it, but 4 years later I am definitely starting to consider replacing it next winter out of best practice
12-21-2016, 03:21 PM
#34
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Location: Dawson Springs, KY
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Year: 1985
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5L
The factory Motocraft battery in my 96 F150 lasted until 2004 when it completely died overnight, replaced it with a silver advanced auto that lasted until 2014 then put in another one year warranty from advanced which lasted one year. I went to a store that used to carry Interstate to replace it but they no longer carry Interstate, instead I had to get a Deka which seems to be a good one and says they are made in USA which isn't easy to find these days.
So far I have only had one battery that I have had last less than eight years was the cheap autozone(if you can call any battery cheap these days). I have to keep an eye on the one in the XJ since if you don't start it about every 4 days you have to jump or charge it. It is an 85 with no power options so I am still trying to find what is causing the draw since the only thing I can find is the clock and the most I measured was 70mA. I think the longest lasting battery I ever had was a Champion gel battery I got from Wal Mart for my 88 Ranger in the early 90s and it lasted probably 12 years and that truck would set for six months at a time without being started.
So far I have only had one battery that I have had last less than eight years was the cheap autozone(if you can call any battery cheap these days). I have to keep an eye on the one in the XJ since if you don't start it about every 4 days you have to jump or charge it. It is an 85 with no power options so I am still trying to find what is causing the draw since the only thing I can find is the clock and the most I measured was 70mA. I think the longest lasting battery I ever had was a Champion gel battery I got from Wal Mart for my 88 Ranger in the early 90s and it lasted probably 12 years and that truck would set for six months at a time without being started.
12-22-2016, 10:04 AM
#35
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: TX
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I was wrong, the job was horrible. But at least it's fixed. Took more than six hours! Mainly because I elected not to jack the Jeep up. Nobody home but me and I was concerned about using jacks and jack stands on the slippery pavement a little bit, and mainly didn't want to have my hydraulic floor jack sitting in 3 inches of salt water slush by the curb (where it would have had to be to jack the Jeep up on that side). Couldn't move my arms between my chest and the bottom of the frame and stuff so I had a lot of trouble keeping the socket wrench on the bolts, and then when I could, I could hardly get leverage to wrench them. The neighbors got to hear some very colorful language as sockets got away from me and rolled into the cloudy salt water muck by the curb...
Bought a brand new starter with a Lifetime Warranty from Napa for about $102 including the tax and it cranks the engine really fast. Nice.
Cheers,
John
Bought a brand new starter with a Lifetime Warranty from Napa for about $102 including the tax and it cranks the engine really fast. Nice.
Cheers,
John
On topic, I've gotten 7+ years from die hard platinum AGMs, rebadged odysseys. But I don't live somewhere that is hard on batteries. I could probably run a ancient Mesopotamian clay jug full of citrus juice.
12-23-2016, 01:07 PM
#36
Junior Member
Thread Starter
It rained a bit on my jeep last night. Got down to 46F, had to put on jeans today. Stories like yours make my San Diego weather tax slightly more acceptable. Salt? On a road? What a strange land you are from! We only salt our In N Out french fries.
On topic, I've gotten 7+ years from die hard platinum AGMs, rebadged odysseys. But I don't live somewhere that is hard on batteries. I could probably run a ancient Mesopotamian clay jug full of citrus juice.
On topic, I've gotten 7+ years from die hard platinum AGMs, rebadged odysseys. But I don't live somewhere that is hard on batteries. I could probably run a ancient Mesopotamian clay jug full of citrus juice.
I lived in Southern California from 1982 until 1998 - I miss those
In N Out
Burger
bumper stickers with the B and the r cut out of the sticker.
12-23-2016, 06:58 PM
#37
CF Veteran
Glad you got it worked out. I only thought starter because I've had the same issue a couple times. Once I thought it was the battery. Then another time I thought it was the nuetral safety switch.
Need to get a battery for the 98 I'm driving but the cables are so $#!++¥ that I'm afraid to. Which brings me to my point. Xjwonders is offering 20% off on his cable sets until Jan 1. Hopefully I can scrape up some cash and grab a set.
Need to get a battery for the 98 I'm driving but the cables are so $#!++¥ that I'm afraid to. Which brings me to my point. Xjwonders is offering 20% off on his cable sets until Jan 1. Hopefully I can scrape up some cash and grab a set.
12-23-2016, 07:27 PM
#38
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
My '99 had a napa battery from 2011 (with a 75 month warranty) that failed last week, I've owned it for less than 6 months. Gonna see what napa Says but I'm gonna likely replace it with the AA gold battery.
But the best part of having two XJ's is when it failed I went to my '01 and popped it out clipped the old one off my 99 and had it in in less than 10 minutes.
I have my own starter story from 2 years ago. I drove from Kentucky to Colorado to OHIO in November, was moving my wife and kids back to Kentucky and the starter on my '01 died didn't have time to replace it at the time and it was gonna ride on a trailer to Kentucky so I whacked it with a hammer in a driving snowstorm it started one last time got it on the trailer. When we got to our new house in Kentucky I had to replace it on the trailer in -20 degree weather with the wind blowing. That sucked, took me about 45 minutes when it should have only taken 15.
But the best part of having two XJ's is when it failed I went to my '01 and popped it out clipped the old one off my 99 and had it in in less than 10 minutes.
I have my own starter story from 2 years ago. I drove from Kentucky to Colorado to OHIO in November, was moving my wife and kids back to Kentucky and the starter on my '01 died didn't have time to replace it at the time and it was gonna ride on a trailer to Kentucky so I whacked it with a hammer in a driving snowstorm it started one last time got it on the trailer. When we got to our new house in Kentucky I had to replace it on the trailer in -20 degree weather with the wind blowing. That sucked, took me about 45 minutes when it should have only taken 15.
12-24-2016, 12:06 PM
#39
Senior Member
Can't say that in any of my vehicles that I have had or still have that any one brand of battery was bad. I've had AC DELCO, EXIDE, Interstate and most lately Motorcraft and Energizer in my Grand Wagoneer. That Motorcraft baby is a monster battery (1000CCA). As for the comment about the plates being thinner with more CCA, it depends on the size of the box the battery is in of course. This Motorcraft battery barely fits in my Wagoneer (it would never fit in my Cherokee).
Also, make sure you have a good set of jumper cables for Jeeps. The 8 gauge ones they sell pretty cheap will not work in any vehicle I have except for maybe the small 4 cyl engines. I'm looking for some 4 gauge to replace the 6 gauge I use.
Also, make sure you have a good set of jumper cables for Jeeps. The 8 gauge ones they sell pretty cheap will not work in any vehicle I have except for maybe the small 4 cyl engines. I'm looking for some 4 gauge to replace the 6 gauge I use.
12-25-2016, 12:56 PM
#40
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
I bought a Sears
ieHard Platinum Automotive Battery - Group Size 34/78
I don't think it sold anymore
Supposely , its a rebranded Odyssey
I bought it in 2013 to replace a bad yellow Top Optima
I still have it in my Xj, running strong!
ieHard Platinum Automotive Battery - Group Size 34/78I don't think it sold anymore
Supposely , its a rebranded Odyssey
I bought it in 2013 to replace a bad yellow Top Optima
I still have it in my Xj, running strong!
12-26-2016, 05:54 PM
#41
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Year: 1985
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5L
Can't say that in any of my vehicles that I have had or still have that any one brand of battery was bad. I've had AC DELCO, EXIDE, Interstate and most lately Motorcraft and Energizer in my Grand Wagoneer. That Motorcraft baby is a monster battery (1000CCA). As for the comment about the plates being thinner with more CCA, it depends on the size of the box the battery is in of course. This Motorcraft battery barely fits in my Wagoneer (it would never fit in my Cherokee).
Also, make sure you have a good set of jumper cables for Jeeps. The 8 gauge ones they sell pretty cheap will not work in any vehicle I have except for maybe the small 4 cyl engines. I'm looking for some 4 gauge to replace the 6 gauge I use.
Also, make sure you have a good set of jumper cables for Jeeps. The 8 gauge ones they sell pretty cheap will not work in any vehicle I have except for maybe the small 4 cyl engines. I'm looking for some 4 gauge to replace the 6 gauge I use.
12-27-2016, 05:50 PM
#42
Senior Member
12-28-2016, 07:41 AM
#43
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L OBD-II
Bought a 1000cca peak, battery several years ago that failed prematurely. It was purchased at a chain auto parts store that I no longer remember the name. A highly trusted co-worker who previously worked at Exide battery schooled me on such devices. Lead acid battery technology is very simple using basically a case, plates, and acid. The only thing you can really change to make it different is the dimensions, internal and external. Simply put, he said, the higher cca (cold cranking amps) the thinner the plates are because they need to add more of them for the rating. Therefore the plates sit closer together. Thinner plates equals a more fragile battery. Hitting a big bump, a sudden stop, or even vibrations can weaken the plates. Only takes one plate to lean on another and the battery begins to die.
He told me to stick to 550cca or less for longevity and I would be all right. Well he was right as that was nearly 20 years ago and I have been trouble free sticking with cheap batteries in my rigs. However, I will throw this out there. I have noticed in the last few years, the battery cases are getting smaller. That means the plates are shrinking and prone to possible early failures.
He told me to stick to 550cca or less for longevity and I would be all right. Well he was right as that was nearly 20 years ago and I have been trouble free sticking with cheap batteries in my rigs. However, I will throw this out there. I have noticed in the last few years, the battery cases are getting smaller. That means the plates are shrinking and prone to possible early failures.
Although not directly in line with your original post, by following this rule I've never had a failure that wasn't caused by freezing or sulfation.
12-28-2016, 11:11 AM
#44
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