New Battery

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NViejeP

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Considering I have to jump start every morning, I think it's time for a new battery. I bought the car used and the person who had it before never changed the battery.

This is my first car so I don't know much.

How much do batteries cost and what are the good brands that will be reliable?
 
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interstate are ok bat, but if you are thinking of putting any audio amps i would get an optima. but there expensive. optima is the way to go if you have the money, but they will last and take a beating so in a way there well worth it.
 
If it's brands you're looking for, Diehards have a great reputation. However, I have found that a quick trip to the local auto parts store, (Track, Auto Zone, even Pep Boys, etc.) Those guys can hook you up with the appropriate battery for you vehicle for around $50 with a decent guarantee and those batteries work just fine. Diehards are very expensive. Also, if you remove the battery from the vehicle, you can take it down to the auto parts place, they will test it for you for free so that you don't buy a battery when the problem may be something else. I am saying this because often, it is something else. But if your battery is over 5 years old, it could very well be the battery but it could also be a bunch of other stuff so I would still have the battery tested for free before purchasing a new one.
 
if you have to jump start it every morning.... it is time for a new battery. i personally run an optima red top under the hood, and a blue top in the back for running my winch/stereo/ anything else i need to run. red tops are the best for cranking power and i would not run anything else... unless i had a car, then i would run whatever in it.
 
Yah. It's been the same battery since 2000. I have to jump start it every morning or every other day.

I plan on adding amplifers and subs and I also plan on cranking music quite a bit.

Hows the red top and blue top work?

How much do Optimas cost?

Would a normal battery at a local auto shop work just fine for cranking music and stuff? Or would you recommend an optima?
 
I have a 'high-end' Alpine HU in mine with a couple of Kenwood 'high output' amplifiers powering 6 speakers plus two 10" Infinity subs. I run that system for hours outside with the motor off and I have never had a problem starting my truck...ever. When I first had that system installed, just because I was a little nuts about power, when I purchased the battery, I got one that was the next level up than what was recommended just to be safe...or you could spend a bunch of money for the name on the battery.
 
well the first reason that i got the optima batteries was when i had quite the system (4 JL w3 15" with 2400 watts and a flip out screen and new doors with amps on the doors - 150 front, 150 rear) and didnt want my headlights to dim... needless to say they didnt. now, even with winching (requires ALOT of battery power) my headlights barely dim. i have downgraded my system ALOT (2-12" eclipse aluminums with 1200 watts) but would much rather pay for the "name" and be able to have a warranty on the battery and know that i have the "best" and not worry about it... i was offered some diehards and whatever... but i picked the red top because i believe it is the best battery out there for cranking power... and it just makes your engine bay so much cleaner...

hours with the motor turned off and playing your system? are you looking to kill your battery? sure, it may not happen the first or second time, but each time you do that, you kill a little part of your battery... but do what you wish
 
NViejeP said:
Yah. It's been the same battery since 2000. I have to jump start it every morning or every other day.

I plan on adding amplifers and subs and I also plan on cranking music quite a bit.

Hows the red top and blue top work?

How much do Optimas cost?

Would a normal battery at a local auto shop work just fine for cranking music and stuff? Or would you recommend an optima?
Click to expand...
www.optimabatteries.com

red top should do you fine. it's the typical starter battery.
yellow top is a deep cycle battery.
blue time is actually a marine battery.

but it depends on your planned audio equipment for which one. red top should suit most people fine, but then yellow top can be better if you have a lot of audio equipment. but also depends on caps and if you upgrade your alternator or not.
 
Thanks guys, Im debating on a red top or just a normal battery haha.

Sometimes I'd like to just chill with friends playing music. Not anymore than like 2 hours though. Right now I just got a head unit but I will be adding subs and an amplifer or two.
 
hours with the motor turned off and playing your system? are you looking to kill your battery? sure, it may not happen the first or second time, but each time you do that, you kill a little part of your battery... but do what you wish

Get serious! It's a battery, not a break-up. 'I kill a little part of my battery???' If the battery dies, I go down to the little ATM machine, pull out $50, and get A-N-O-T-H-E-R one! For that I get another 4 or 5 years of, 'doing whatever I wish.' In response to the car audio contest, the system I have is more than sufficient for the little people compartment in my 4Runner. I saved the home entertainment system for the T-H-E-A-T-R-E I had built into my house. I thought this was supposed to be fun. I didn't realize that in sharing my own experiences, that I was taking a shot at someones nuts. Chill Funnerup. It's just a battery. Really it's just not that big of a deal. :dancin::lmao:
 
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hey, im not trying to get all upset with you over this. ive got way more important things to worry about

but seriously, if you like spending 50$ on new batteries, thats your deal. i was just saying that you kill your battery like that, not that you are hurting me by doing it... so go ahead and play that music loud...

i wasnt attempting to start a contest either, but perhaps you are too close minded to realize that i was just telling him how much power they have by explaining what has been run off of them...

i dont get why you are upset... and trying to start a contest with me, congratulations on having a T-H-E-A-T-R-E built into your house.

I thought this was supposed to be fun. I didn't realize that in sharing my own experiences, that I was taking a shot at someones nuts. Chill

see, thats all i was trying to do, and you took it the wrong way, so why dont you stop accusing me of doing the same thing you are doing, which is what this board is here for. i was offering you advice, not scolding you like your mother would do.

i can tell by your post and all the caps that you got quite upset over this, so take a chill pill and realize that not everyone is out to get you...


:headslap:
 
optima's cost anywhere between 80-120 for the red tops...

normal batteries will work, and im not contesting that, but for better cranking power and to keep your headlights from dimming quite so bad, a red top will provide a little more resistance to fading, i would recommend the optima just because it has served me so well, i know the blue top is for marine use, but it works fine for my needs.

having two batteries is also real nice just because you never worry about putting too much strain on your battery, which decreases the life, but unless you plan on having something as crazy as 4 15"s, then dont worry about dual batteries
 
If you have the battery tested make sure they do a "Load Test". don't let them just put a volt meter on it and say "It reads 12.5V that looks good to me." Thats is BS.

As far as the optimas go. Pick up any off road/Four Wheeler or audio mag and you will find a number of Readers Rides with Optimas. They are a qaulity Battery for the Money. If you are going the Large audio system route add a couple of Capacitors in line with the power to your amps they will help with the head light dim and they discharge quicker than the battery and my help your system hit a little harder.

Good luck. It sounds like a battery issue like other posters said above thou.
 
My last redtop optima lasted 5 1/2 years on a hard starting old Jeep CJ (I worked that battery hard). I got about $25 towards a new one on the 6 year warranty. That was around 2002, and the 2nd redtop I bought is still on the Jeep and going strong. My family has them on almost every car we have now and so far all of them have been great. 4wd parts had them for $108 with free shipping about a week ago but I think that deal ended Jan 31. Get the redtop, you won't be sorry.
 
NViejeP said:
Considering I have to jump start every morning, I think it's time for a new battery. I bought the car used and the person who had it before never changed the battery.

This is my first car so I don't know much.

How much do batteries cost and what are the good brands that will be reliable?
Click to expand...

As others here have said the age of your battery may be your problem HOWEVER you should not overlook some other obvious causes.

- You mention that your 4Runner needs a jumpstart every other day. Have you actually connected a auto battery charger to the battery and charged it? If not, you might wasnt to give it a try.

- If the battery in your 4Runner is not a sealed, maintenance free, one I recommend that you check the water level in each cell of the battery. If the metal plate in each cell is not covered with water buy a gallon of distilled water and fill the cells so that all the cells are at least covered. Then use a battery charger and charge the battery.

- Have you checked the ground cables to make sure they are clean and rust free? If they are rusty or dirty the 4Runner's charging system will not function properly.

- Is it possible that an electrical device, light, etc. is still running after you stop and park your 4Runner for the night which is running down the battery?

You might want to look into a few of these things before you go and purchase a new battery.

FYI, Sears Diehards and some other batteries sold nationally vary in quality depending on the manufacturer. The Diehard line changes manufacturers periodically when Sears negotiates a new contract. When that happens battery quality has been known to suffer.

BTW, I had a Diehard that lasted 9+ years. When I bought a new one the salesman said 9 years was good but the store record was 15 years old.
 
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If you have a wholesale memebership card i.e. costco or sams, check them out. They also may carry some optimum batteries.
 
Costco's standard battery is$39 with no tradein required. For 36 months it has a full exchange warranty and a 100 month prorated total warranty.
 
thanks for the advice guys, looks like I'm goign to get an optima red top.

I need it ASAP too, I pulled the car into the drive way, washed it. Tried to turn it back on, needed to jumpstart it again haha
 
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