Battery Suggestions

I've purchased 4 batteries for 4 different vehicles in the past 2 years, all AGM. Two of them have already failed. One was a $250 Duracell AGM from Batteries+ Bulbs for our 2007 Yukon XL, which they replaced with no questions asked, and one was a $200 Autocraft from Advanced Auto for our 2005 Infiniti G35X, which they would not replace because it tested good in the parking lot on their 1990's tech tester. Never mind that I had to jump the thing for the 4th time in a month to get it there, after sitting for all of 8 hours. I replaced it with a regular old lead-acid battery from Autozone down the street and it started fine yesterday after sitting for 10 days.

So I'm not sold on AGM batteries, and am leaning on going back the other way - or only going with an AGM when it's what the car came from the factory with. I've read that older cars aren't set up to charge AGM batteries properly. Also, I'm going to skip Advanced Auto for a while.

Geotrash said:

I've purchased 4 batteries for 4 different vehicles in the past 2 years, all AGM. Two of them have already failed. One was a $250 Duracell AGM from Batteries+ Bulbs for our 2007 Yukon XL, which they replaced with no questions asked, and one was a $200 Autocraft from Advanced Auto for our 2005 Infiniti G35X, which they would not replace because it tested good in the parking lot on their 1990's tech tester. Never mind that I had to jump the thing for the 4th time in a month to get it there, after sitting for all of 8 hours. I replaced it with a regular old lead-acid battery from Autozone down the street and it started fine yesterday after sitting for 10 days.

So I'm not sold on AGM batteries, and am leaning on going back the other way - or only going with an AGM when it's what the car came from the factory with. I've read that older cars aren't set up to charge AGM batteries properly. Also, I'm going to skip Advanced Auto for a while.

Click to expand...

Thanks for that.
I am swaying away from AGM after reading that some don't think their vehicle fully charge the battery and we don't go long distances often and the truck sits for many days every week.
Advance Auto seems to be more expensive for batteries here so that moves them down the list.
Napa's upper end non-AGM only has a 24 month replacement term before prorating. Odd that a $180 battery only has 24 month confidence period. It's too bad because they have a 20% off store promotion now.

EddieC said:

Our replacement AC Delco Professional 42 month battery just bit the dust at 7 years old. It was acting up a year or two ago by dying from just leaving the dome light on but recharged and kept chugging until now.....3 miles from home out in the forest, 30 degrees and light snow! My wife was less than amused.

It has been a good battery but was $145 about 7 years ago so I can only imagine how much they are now.

On a whim, checked the Walmart website and all batteries are "out of stock", all sizes. Imagine that. I want something better anyways.

What batteries are you having good service and life from?

Would an AGM hold up better with minimal usage, more sitting than driving?

Click to expand...

Your battery did it's job and was telling you it was getting tired. It didn't strand your wife, you did! LOL

Walmart is out of batteries because they are changing skus and prices are doubling, an $88 battery for the Montana Saturday night was now $125 or so on Sunday. We went to O'Reilly's and put an $88 ACDelco battery in it instead. I can't imagine that car last another 18 months! But then again, I thought we'd only have her another year, 6 years ago!

Anyhow, the 42 month ACDelco 48PG is $166.99 at O'Reilly's right now and the 48HPG is $173.99. The latter has a higher reserve capacity (15 more minutes) and a little more than 6 amp hours more juice in it.

I think it great that you got 7 years out of any battery. Down here in Florida we were lucky to get two years out of them before RVC was put into the cars. My last 30 month ACDelco battery went 48 months, 48K miles and 1700 hours. It was replaced with a 48HPG last Christmas.

The charging systems in the 900s were not programmed to handle AGM batteries and judging by the comments on this and other forums, they do not last as long as they could have because, if memory serves, they like to be re-charged at a faster rate. This may be why GM uses 220 amp alternators now. ACDelco makes AGMs too, but they are not listed as compatible with our trucks though plenty of folks use them without issue.

swathdiver said:

Your battery did it's job and was telling you it was getting tired. It didn't strand your wife, you did! LOL

We went to O'Reilly's and put an $88 ACDelco battery in it instead. I can't imagine that car last another 18 months! But then again, I thought we'd only have her another year, 6 years ago!

Anyhow, the 42 month ACDelco 48PG is $166.99 at O'Reilly's right now and the 48HPG is $173.99. The latter has a higher reserve capacity (15 more minutes) and a little more than 6 amp hours more juice in it.

I think it great that you got 7 years out of any battery. Down here in Florida we were lucky to get two years out of them before RVC was put into the cars. My last 30 month ACDelco battery went 48 months, 48K miles and 1700 hours. It was replaced with a 48HPG last Christmas.

Click to expand...

I didn't get the chance to strand her. I offered to make the hike home but she phoned a friend down the road so I missed my chance!

I have Oreilly's checking to see if they can get those AC Delcos. They are on their website but as an "order" item.
I will definitely go down that road again if they can get them. Mine is the 48PG. I see from the chart that the HPG has quite a bit less CCA and we get a cold winter here.

EddieC said:

Question on the AGM battery proponents; have you had them into a long life?

Click to expand...

I have an 8 yr old Optima red top in my Toyota FJ Cruiser. It's probably nearing the end of its useful life.

Last yr a replaced the four 8 yr old NAPA group 31 commercial wet cell mx free chassis batteries in our Prevost bus/mh. None were bad, just down on capacity. I replaced them with the same.

I also replaced the 8 yr old Duralast gp27 wet cell battery used for starting the generator. Again, down on capacity. I replaced with a Duralast gp 29.

The 3 Lifeline agm gp 8DL house batteries in our Prevost bus/mh are getting low on capacity. I'll probably change them to lithium soon.

EddieC said:

I didn't get the chance to strand her. I offered to make the hike home but she phoned a friend down the road so I missed my chance!

I have Oreilly's checking to see if they can get those AC Delcos. They are on their website but as an "order" item.
I will definitely go down that road again if they can get them. Mine is the 48PG. I see from the chart that the HPG has quite a bit less CCA and we get a cold winter here.

Click to expand...

The rating for our cars was 600-615 cranking amps but you might want to stick with the 48PG again instead of the HPG. In Florida it's not as critical.

Anyhow, 84 months on a 42 month battery, you done good! I'd say you got your money's worth!

donjetman said:

I have an 8 yr old Optima red top in my Toyota FJ Cruiser. It's probably nearing the end of its useful life.

Last yr a replaced the four 8 yr old NAPA group 31 commercial wet cell mx free chassis batteries in our Prevost bus/mh. None were bad, just down on capacity. I replaced them with the same.

I also replaced the 8 yr old Duralast gp27 wet cell battery used for starting the generator. Again, down on capacity. I replaced with a Duralast gp 29.

The 3 Lifeline agm gp 8DL house batteries in our Prevost bus/mh are getting low on capacity. I'll probably change them to lithium soon.

Click to expand...

8 batteries in the Prevost? We used to change out the Group 8Ds in the boat every two years, that was 1990s and 2000s. 108 pounds comes to mind, each! They were a bear to haul out from below.

swathdiver said:

8 batteries in the Prevost? We used to change out the Group 8Ds in the boat every two years, that was 1990s and 2000s. 108 pounds comes to mind, each! They were a bear to haul out from below.

Click to expand...

I feel your pain. Our ole 1996 Prevost only has 3 house batteries. The gp 8DL Lifeline house batts are 4 1/2 yrs old, 150 lbs ea, and very difficult and dangerous to get to and change. Some of these Prevost have 8 house batteries
I don't want to do this change again. Lithiums should out live me

swathdiver said:

The rating for our cars was 600-615 cranking amps but you might want to stick with the 48PG again instead of the HPG. In Florida it's not as critical.

Anyhow, 84 months on a 42 month battery, you done good! I'd say you got your money's worth!

Click to expand...

Yes, I'm have no complaints. Looks like I'm headed back to the Chevy dealer for $20 more than OReillys (who isn't getting back to me) but atleast they have them in stock. I had thought maybe OReillys would swap it out just to save the back strain but I'll bite the bullet and hoist it out of there.
Funny that the Advance Auto website warns that it is a difficult swap, not to do it and get a professional to do it. I guess it's rocket science to take 4 bolts out of the fender brace and use a swivel in the hold down bolt. What a world this has become.

I charged mine overnight and it immediately tested good but an hour later tested NG so it's done.

EddieC said:

Yes, I'm have no complaints. Looks like I'm headed back to the Chevy dealer for $20 more than OReillys (who isn't getting back to me) but atleast they have them in stock. I had thought maybe OReillys would swap it out just to save the back strain but I'll bite the bullet and hoist it out of there.
Funny that the Advance Auto website warns that it is a difficult swap, not to do it and get a professional to do it. I guess it's rocket science to take 4 bolts out of the fender brace and use a swivel in the hold down bolt. What a world this has become.

I charged mine overnight and it immediately tested good but an hour later tested NG so it's done.

Click to expand...

Dealer's price usually includes installation, if you have time. They also have coupons on their website every other month sometimes for them as well.