When is it time to buy a new battery?

[dach95]

I've been jumping my battery every other day now. Good thing I have a jump start battery. I wonder if I should take out the battery and recharge full and see if that would help.

If I do need a new battery, which battery should I get. I like to be able to use accessories and run my radio without the engine running.

[chivistb]

In my :m2: you should get an Optima Yellow Top a little bit expensive (around $150 but I think is worth it). That's what I got a couple of months ago. I've been listening to the radio for 1 hour straight (I have an amp and a sub) and I didn't have any problems starting my TB.

[Blulytes]

are you giving any time to recharge? Any long distance driving? Or just jumping around from one place to another?

I agree w/ the optima for replacement.

[deathbynosleep]

you might also have a bad battery. After i had my car few a few months my battery died out of nowhere. The dealer recharged it and said it wouldn't happen again...a week later it died again. I ended up having a friend just swap one out of a new trailblazer, and it hasn't died yet.

[bmm354]

As for how long car batteries last, it varies of course but many start to get tired at 5 yrs. Your '02 TB might very well have been built in 2001, even early in 2001 so it's getting close to the 5 yr. mark anyway. You can check the label on the driver's door to find out the build month; the battery is probably a few months older.

Optimas are pretty much the best you can buy but they are pricey. They're great if you have a stereo / video setup, and I've only heard positive things about them.

Personally I've had very good luck with Wal-Mart batteries. Never had a problem with one even at subzero temps. These were the heavy-duty versions but still only ran about $60. I know it sounds strange to trust a Wal-Mart battery, but Wal-Mart doesn't make the batteries they sell. At least a few years ago Johnson Controls made almost all of Wal-Mart's car batteries, plus some Energizer, DieHard and a bunch of others I don't remember. I also remember reading about a test of car batteries a few years ago and Wal-Mart's hvy duty version did pretty well.

[Envoy Fan]

I think your battery is trying to tell you something. :undecided At the age it is it is time for retirement :yes: There could also be a risk to your electronics with jump starts. :eek:

I understand Sears sells good batteries.

[turbomike]

Batteries usually last about 3 yrs. I would only recommend a Delco replacement since it is the only true maintenance free I've found with no removal caps (except for optima). If you notice, caps are not accessible with battery cover and fender brace in place.

[dach95]

OK, I guess I'm due to get a new battery. Yeh, I've seen Optima batteries. which yellow top will fit our tb? anyone got links to it? Thanks.

[dach95]

It happened again today. Had to jump to start.

[chivistb]

If I'm not mistaken http://www.dcbattery.com/optima_yellow.htmlthe correct model for our Tucks is the D750U, check the link for more info though...

[dach95]

I'm shopping around online for the battery. I'm confused as to which Optima to get. There seem to be two types RED and YELLOW. I suppose YELLOW is better option since its rated as dual purpose, both starter and deep cycle.

Now comes to the size. D34/78 seem to be the likely candidate. (Former model number is D750U, as mentioned by chivistb) Size is 10"(L)x6-7/8"(W)x7-13/16"(H).

Here is the direct link to Optima (http://www.optimabatteries.com/publish/optima/americas0/en/config/product_info/automotive/deep_cycle/technical_specs.html)in case you wish to look them up.

Any comment would be appreciated.

Thanks, dach95

[WayFastWhite]

Yes go with the Optima Yellow top Battery, the red tops are more for the performance group and Optima does make a blue top model also but that is for marine use. Cheapest place I have ever seen to buy the Optima is at Costco wholesale. I have seen red tops there for ~$100.

[jimmyjam]

I think the red tops are considered "starting" batteries, I could be wrong but I don't think they are true deep cycle batteries.

[Envoy Fan]

A 34/78 should fit okay. I had two Red Top 34/78's in my '03 Envoy. One died in two months, the replacement died two weeks later. :mad: Went back to OEM and truck never missed a start.

[DouglasEsh]

I use a red top 34/78 in my truck that I aquired. Works well but you have to lose the battery cover to use it.

[ylab]

Dumb question, but wouldn't the 75/25 fit better and allow use of the battery cover? - I noticed the capacity is slightly lower (its also a smidge smaller size wise), but certainly has enough capacity for our trucks. Or is there a reason not to use that model?

Thanks

[Envoy Fan]

I use a red top 34/78 in my truck that I aquired. Works well but you have to lose the battery cover to use it.

When I had the red tops in, I just "modified" the battery cover. You need to whittle out a little plastic where the +/- cables connect. Once done, hard to tell there was a red top in there.

[DouglasEsh]

I got mine free, beggers can't be chosers and all. I would assume that 75/25 would work, just check to see what the CCA is on the one you are replacing and make sure you don't get one that is smaller.

I guess I could have modified the cover but now that the cover is about 5000 miles away I can't worry about it to much. Besides I like the look of it without the cover. There are to many covers on newer vehicles these days. I like to see all the parts when I look under the hood not a piece of plastic.

[Envoy Fan]

I got mine free, beggers can't be chosers and all. I would assume that 75/25 would work, just check to see what the CCA is on the one you are replacing and make sure you don't get one that is smaller.

I guess I could have modified the cover but now that the cover is about 5000 miles away I can't worry about it to much. Besides I like the look of it without the cover. There are to many covers on newer vehicles these days. I like to see all the parts when I look under the hood not a piece of plastic.

I understand that, but IIRC, GM put that cover on to keep heat from battery and fuse box behind battery. Don't think GM would spend the $$$ to put it on for looks alone:m2:

[DouglasEsh]

Yea but that cover might only be needed if you're driving in Arizona in the summer with the OEM battery. Or because they use such a cheap battery that they have to try to cool it instead of using a better battery. I don't know, maybe one of the techs that are floating around this board will chime in and tell me how wrong I am:D

[jimmyjam]

I noticed today there is actually a tube that goes from the front area to the battery box? is that actually supposed to suck cold air in there?? I'd be amazed if that actually did anything

[dach95]

I really need that battery. Had to jump again this morning........I
bought the Yellow Top D7535 today, and should arrive at AutoZone tomorrow afternoon for me to pick up. I was surprise there is an AutoZone here in NYC, 5 minutes from my home:)... I'll try to take pics of it. (not promissing anything...) Also, I've been meaning to take more pics of my truck before it gets beaten up.

[dach95]

I really need that battery. Had to jump again this morning........I
bought the Yellow Top D7535 today, and should arrive at AutoZone tomorrow afternoon for me to pick up. I was surprise there is an AutoZone here in NYC, 5 minutes from my home:)... I'll try to take pics of it. (not promissing anything...) Also, I've been meaning to take more pics of my truck before it gets beaten up.
Correction, it's a D3478. It fits snugly into the battery base.

[dach95]

http://gallery.trailvoy.com/data/500/medium/Optima_D3478.jpg

Knowing how we all just love pics, here is one taken after successfully installing Optima Yellow Top D34/78. It's a perfect fit to the base, even clicks and locks to the TB battery base where there are tabs gripping the battery. (You can see the back of the battery being gripped on the pic.) Such a perfect match...I hope I won't have battery trouble for the next 5 years...

During the installation, my limited tools didn't allow me to loosing a nut that locks down the battery. So I used a pry bar (the one included in our TB) and carefully pry the back side bottom of the old battery up. Was easy. The new battery, I angled the front in place and snapped the rear battery into the base.

Total time: 15mins. Most time spent just figuring out how to pull the old battery out.

Here is the front side.
http://gallery.trailvoy.com/data/500/medium/Optima_Front_side.jpg

[tblazed]

Yea but that cover might only be needed if you're driving in Arizona in the summer with the OEM battery.

Temps can get over 160°F under the hood even when not driving in the desert! Low 90's ambient temp it will get over 160. Extreme temperatures, hot or cold, effect all batteries including the Optimas. The battery box serves the purpose of keeping an air space between the battery and the heat, and helps insulate it. If you look at most newer cars and trucks, a lot of them have either a box or an insulating "blanket" wrapped around the battery to help keep the direct heat off. Keeping the battery box seems like a good idea to me.

The air tube from the front forces air though the box when the vehicle's moving. Where the tube ended at the front corner of the orig battery I just replaced, I could see the air currents in the dust stuck to it. I went with the 7 year $50 Autozone Duralast. Fits perfectly inside the box, made by Johnson Control, who also makes Interstate, and Optima.

The "75" series Optima supposedly will fit inside the box and has the correct space between the terminals to fit the box, but not the "78" series. That's what Optima Customer Service told me when I was considering one for my TB.


BTW the first Optima I bought in '99 for my S10 pickup failed in 20 months. I got a new one free in warranty. Still have that one.

My 3¢.

EDIT next day...).... took a look at Optima's specs, they say best temperature to recharge batteries is at less than 125°F. Since the battery is constantly being charged while the engine is running, keeping it under that temp probably makes sense if you want it to achieve full charge and last a long time.

Quote from the Optima web site...

The following charging methods are recommended to insure a long battery life:
Cyclic Applications:
14.7 volts, no current limit as long as battery temperature remains below 125°F (51.7°C). When current falls below 1 amp, finish with 2 amp constant current for 1 hour.

Rapid Recharge:
Maximum voltage 15.6 volts (regulated).
Maximum current: No limit as long as temperature <125°F (51.7°C).

[Flawsey_Bee]

I replaced my battery on my 2002 Trailblazer a few months ago. The reason was because my truck would not start up for like 2 days so I went and got a Sears Die-Hard Gold battery. When I removed the factory AC-Delco battery I saw that 1 of the posts was leaking. I installed the new battery with no problem still in the battery box. The starting up problem was not my battery but my starter. I was still happy I replaced my battery,I have put a Sears Die-Hard battery in most of my cars and liked them.The factory battery was 850 cold cranking amps and my Sears battery is 1000 cold cranking amps.:m2:

[dach95]

just to let you all know, I carried my orginal battery sideways and some of the acid spilled through a leak...

these batteries are leaky from what I'm gathering...

[jimmyjam]

I got jealous and bought a yellowtop too

I'm not happy with the grip of the threads in the side post terminals. I think I'm going to switch to top posts, I'm pretty sure i can still use the battery cover with them.