Truck Battery Help Please

gwstang

Well-known Member
Hope the OT police don't get me.

My '08 F150 4.2L battery has about bit the dust. You fellows sure seem up on the latest/best (or besstes as one of my boys would say many years ago (about 5 back then) the funniest thing he would say when it was "foggy" outside was it is "Froggie" out there...lol. [b:d842bd5d7a]Could you recommend a good battery that would last about another 5 years or so? I don't mind spending $150 if that is what it takes, but like most I want to do it right and do it once![/b:d842bd5d7a] Thanks so much, Gary...where it will be 22F tonight and I am working 12 hr shifts this week. I will be off Friday and can purchase one then. Meanwhile I have my batter charger/boost starter hooked up to the truck out front at work so it will start in the morning. It hasn't failed yet, but getting very weak at starting. Not too bad for the original Ford battery (5 yrs).
 
I'm a bit prejudiced, but I have found the JD
batteries to be about as good or better than
anything else I have found for longevity. I use
tractors every day, so I prefer a dependable battery
in them. That has carried over to my personal
vehicles. They aren't really any more expensive
than outside batteries, but last far longer for the
money.
 
For the money, ease of warranty and the fact they last about as well as anything else
try Wally World, I have changed a few in their parking lot,(they sell cheap wrenches
too!, if you're a jerk they'll take back the wrench when you bring the core in). There
are only about 3 or 4 companies making car batteries in the US, the largest being
Johnson Controls who currently makes Wal-Mart batteries. And yes as someone else will
point out the retailer like Wal-Mart or Sears will have a battery made to their
specifications as far as longevity, warranty return percentage/failure rate and other
basic quality parameters. So the Johnson Controls battery you by at Wal-Mart may be of
a different quality than one bought a Sears, Auto-Zone or even a Ford or GM dealer.
 
Lately I have had good luck with the higher end NAPA batteries. I have a 6V and 12V that are going on 5 years now with no signs of trouble brewing.

Pretty good life on your Ford battery. A friend had the battery in his 98 Dodge last until 2 years ago, and I had an Interstate last 11 years in a Diesel Mercedes (but my Mom had a newer Interstate only last 3 years in her car).

Remember to put the new battery on a slow charger before installing it. That will greatly increase its life, starting out on a full charge.

Josh
 
Best deal, considering the battery, warranty, etc is Costco. 3 year free replacement. I mean original price, sales tax, completely refunded up to 3 years later. No problems. Tom
 

Thanks everyone. I do have a wally world battery in my '66 mustang that has been great for about 4 years. Still works fine but it was one of the more expensive one's. I'll check out Costco this weekend as swmbo likes to go there every other week or so and spend all of my money quickly...lol
 
Rural King 5 year battery (choice of quite a few
numbers/sizes) $49.99 on sale.
They seem to do well in my vehicles.
(Keep the terminals clean.)
 
I just bought a brand new Interstate for my 99 Navigator with the 5.4 engine yesterday. The 7 year old Wal Mart one was cranking pretty slow with the cold weather. I wanted to buy locally so I have a local car repair with the Interstate batteries so that's what I got. They had the big one I needed. I think it was a MT-65 and has 1000 cold cranking amps. Was $115 bucks and really suprised me how fast the engine spins over now. It must have been getting pretty worn out.
 
I buy my batteries from Walmart like in this picture. They have a 3 year free replacement. Just keep your receipt. Hal
PS: If it's very cold in your area I would use a coolant heater to preheat the engine.
a136585.jpg
 
Have been using Wally World batteries for about 35 years in a variety of trucks/cars/tractors. Generally get 8+ years on "daily use" auto/truck applications; 5-7 years on other seasonal/intermittent use apps. Very similar to what I've gotten on OEM batteries in a couple of new vehicles. All-in-all, very satisfied with Wally's. Batteries have improved greatly, 50-60 years ago we thought 3 years on Western Auto batteries was very good.
 
I would say it depends on whats close something near by for warrantee would be a plus. get a die hard,or interstate something good sometimes its worth it to spend a bit more for a quality battery than end up stranded somewhere cold and dark
 
I wouldn't ever get another Walmart battery, no matter how cheap. Had one in my '94 Sierra. Was suppose to be a 5 year battery and the largest CCA that would fit in the truck. The first one lasted about 2 years. Got a full replacement warranty battery. That one lasted about 3 years, had to be pro-rated. I felt I was locked into Walmart batteries as long as I had the truck. Worst part was that the batteries would quit without any warning whatsoever. Very inconvenient when this happened away from home. If you do get a Walmart, make sure you know where the receipt is at all times.
 

Thanks for all the replies. One thing that might be a factor is that I only live 3 miles from work. I work 7 days at 12 hour shifts. It doesn't get too cold in central Alabama in the winter. But, it did get down to 24F last night and 27F tonight, then it will moderate for a week or so. I don't drive enough when working to really work the batter any. You know like really charge it up. I've been cranking up and letting it run for about 10 minutes or so until my relief arrives. I assume this would help in battery recovery?
 

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