Battery recommendations
03-30-07, 03:03 PM
#1
No rotary, no problems?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Dubuque, IA
Posts: 1,567
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Battery recommendations
Well, my battery in my FC just took a ****. I was pretty happy with it's performance, considering it's 3 years old, used through 3 full years, drained completely probably at least 10 times and recharged by jumpstarting it, and purchased from Wal-Mart for 40 bucks. Really, I can't ask for much more than that out of a 40 dollar battery. I've been reading around about Optima batteries, and it seems they've really gone down the ******* in terms of quality. I used to hear nothing but good about them, but lately it seems that they've been causing quite a few problems and shitting out pretty fast, not to mention if they get drained once, they're usually junk. I'm wondering what you guys would suggest. I'm debating relocating the battery to the passenger storage bin, but I want to get the most CCA and best battery I can get. Price isn't an issue, just looking for the best performing battery that I can use. Thanks guys. 
03-30-07, 03:46 PM
#2
Touge FC3S
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: So Cal
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i'd actually recommend the optima red top. mine has never given me problems and i got it used. i noticed a big difference when i switched to it, so i would go with that if i were you.
03-30-07, 04:00 PM
#3
Sittin Slideways
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Auburn, WA
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
www.odysseyfactory.com/ go there
03-30-07, 04:14 PM
#5
I have an optima Red Top in my Turbo II, but only because it is a dry cell and I have the battery located in my storage bin.
In my GTU I have a Duralast Gold from autozone with a 3 year guarantee... this has helped me a lot because my alternator died (and ruined the battery in the process) and so I got a brand new battery because of the guarantee.
In my GTU I have a Duralast Gold from autozone with a 3 year guarantee... this has helped me a lot because my alternator died (and ruined the battery in the process) and so I got a brand new battery because of the guarantee.
03-31-07, 08:30 PM
#6
No rotary, no problems?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Dubuque, IA
Posts: 1,567
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yea, I heard nothing but good things about Optimas until recently. Obviously, I'm going to want a dry cell battery if I plan on putting it in the storage bin, and I need the biggest battery that I can get but will still fit in the storage bin and battery tray. So what's the whole deal about draining an Optima battery and it being completely useless after that? I don't want a battery that's going to do that and leave me stranded. 
Trending Topics
04-01-07, 12:01 AM
#8
Law Breaker
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: S.F. Bay Area, California 510
Posts: 3,333
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wal-Mart has a 1000 CCA battery for $62. I bought 4 batteries, 1 for every car and my boat. These batteries are the best I have used in a long time. even out performed a deep cycle marine battery I had in my boat.
04-01-07, 12:33 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: spokane wa
Posts: 657
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Carzy Driver
Wal-Mart has a 1000 CCA battery for $62. I bought 4 batteries, 1 for every car and my boat. These batteries are the best I have used in a long time. even out performed a deep cycle marine battery I had in my boat.
is this a wet or dry cell bat????? 62 buck aint bad for that many cca
04-01-07, 03:15 PM
#15
It's only Rock and Roll
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: In a house...
Posts: 2,509
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Turbo II
OK, I'm curious. What improvements did you guys notice?
04-02-07, 10:07 AM
#16
04-02-07, 11:26 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, Socal
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You guys should take a look at this thread I found when a local autocroser recommended Braille batteries:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2353060&page=3
"So the thing that some people may notice is the battery. It looks the exact same as the Braille battery that is commonly sold by various companies for around $175US. However the battery that i have is a DEKA ETX14. If you put it side by side with a Braille you'll notice that they're the exact same casing. If you weight them, you'll notice that they weigh the exact same, and if you look at the schematic that has been posted for the Braille, you'll notice that it's simply a cut and cropped version of the one from the Deka brochure and website. Why is this important? Because the Deka battery is sold nationally for $59US
It is my belief that the Braille battery is simply a re-badged ETX14 (this is a common practice in the aftermarket battery industry). I however am not a battery expert. So all i could do is visually evaulate the two batteries, test them, and talk to experts about the two side by side.
What I've found out.
DEKA is the manufacturer of the Braille labeled battery - fact.
the Braille and the Deka etx14 are the exact same box - fact.
the Braille and the Deka are the same design (based off of the schematic)
the Braille and the Deka weigh the exact same - 11.4 lbs - fact
the Deka tests the same as what the Braille is claimed to test at - 360-400CCA- fact."
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2353060&page=3
"So the thing that some people may notice is the battery. It looks the exact same as the Braille battery that is commonly sold by various companies for around $175US. However the battery that i have is a DEKA ETX14. If you put it side by side with a Braille you'll notice that they're the exact same casing. If you weight them, you'll notice that they weigh the exact same, and if you look at the schematic that has been posted for the Braille, you'll notice that it's simply a cut and cropped version of the one from the Deka brochure and website. Why is this important? Because the Deka battery is sold nationally for $59US
It is my belief that the Braille battery is simply a re-badged ETX14 (this is a common practice in the aftermarket battery industry). I however am not a battery expert. So all i could do is visually evaulate the two batteries, test them, and talk to experts about the two side by side.
What I've found out.
DEKA is the manufacturer of the Braille labeled battery - fact.
the Braille and the Deka etx14 are the exact same box - fact.
the Braille and the Deka are the same design (based off of the schematic)
the Braille and the Deka weigh the exact same - 11.4 lbs - fact
the Deka tests the same as what the Braille is claimed to test at - 360-400CCA- fact."
04-02-07, 11:53 AM
#19
Diehard Platinum FTW!!!
880 CCA, 135 reserve cap, and my favorite 4 YEAR FULL REPLACEMENT WARRANTY.
For people that garage/ store their cars for long periods of time (I guess that's the winter months for some places
) It lasts 2 years @ room tempeture without discharging.
Only drawbacks I've noticed are that it weighs a TON! And I've only seen them in 2 sizes. One of which I'm pretty sure is too big for an FC.
880 CCA, 135 reserve cap, and my favorite 4 YEAR FULL REPLACEMENT WARRANTY.
For people that garage/ store their cars for long periods of time (I guess that's the winter months for some places
) It lasts 2 years @ room tempeture without discharging. Only drawbacks I've noticed are that it weighs a TON! And I've only seen them in 2 sizes. One of which I'm pretty sure is too big for an FC.
04-02-07, 11:55 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Turbo II
Seriously, somebody tell me. I've had the same POS battery in my car since I bought it in '99.
I have a Die Hard Gold that's at least 6 years old.
04-02-07, 01:23 PM
#21
D1 Drifter Status
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
**** the diehards.. i used to work for sears.. i really hate those batteries.. ive seen so many of them fail, either discharge them selfs, or in 1 case i we got one back that had exploded...
Ive got a Duralast Gold from AutoZone, its the biggest one they sell, its got like 1080CCA, i once used my car as the sole music provider for a party, (i had a 2000 watt system in the car) played it with the car off for 14 hours... everybody told me my car wasnt gunna start, the battery was gunna be dead... after 14 hours, car started right up, no problem.
I do want to upgrade to the small odessey though, because its nice and small. Can anybody attest to the quality of these batteries? do they last long? are they strong? ect. ect.
Ive got a Duralast Gold from AutoZone, its the biggest one they sell, its got like 1080CCA, i once used my car as the sole music provider for a party, (i had a 2000 watt system in the car) played it with the car off for 14 hours... everybody told me my car wasnt gunna start, the battery was gunna be dead... after 14 hours, car started right up, no problem.
I do want to upgrade to the small odessey though, because its nice and small. Can anybody attest to the quality of these batteries? do they last long? are they strong? ect. ect.
04-02-07, 04:43 PM
#22
No rotary, no problems?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Dubuque, IA
Posts: 1,567
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From what I've read so far, I'm going to be going with either the Optima or Oddesey dry cell battery. I want a dry cell in the case that I put the battery in one of the storage bins. So what are the pros and cons of a dry cell v.s. a wet cell battery? Also, obviously the bigger the battery you get the more CCA and charge it's going to be able to hold. I'd imagine the biggest battery you can fit into the engine bay where the stock battery location is will also fit into the storage bin since they're about the same amount of space.
04-02-07, 04:55 PM
#23
Leah Dizon > Roast Beef
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Québec
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well for what's it worth I use a motomaster battery (equivalent of duralast). 690 cca, dry cell and heliptic technology or whatever it's called (like in the optimas). Oh and 3 year warranty too.
04-02-07, 07:04 PM
#24
It's only Rock and Roll
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: In a house...
Posts: 2,509
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by My5ABaby
What's wrong with it? If it's lasted 8 years it sounds pretty good to me.
04-02-07, 07:34 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, Socal
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Turbo II
Nothing!!!! Knock on wood.... I was just curious what some of the improvements were that people said they were getting from these high dollar batteries. I mean, I can tell the difference between a zinc and alkaline battery in an old effects pedal but a car... if it cranks right up I'm happy. Am I missing something?