It's that time of year... batteries go to heaven

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asutherland

asutherland

VA7 HDT
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Threads
282
Messages
3,214
Location
Kamloops, BC
Website
www.forgottenbc.ca
Looks like I need new batteries. If I leave the Cruiser for a day without driving, the next day it won't start. :doh:

The two Napa batteries I bought from Radd when I imported the truck in 2010. 3 years life? Blech...

What are you guys recommending for batteries these days? Prefer something decently priced.
 
I've had excellent luck with Battery Alliance (formerly Globelite) from Polar Battery.
Mine are the RV model (starting/deep cycle). About $100 ea IIRC.
 
I can't remember what the warranty is off hand for Napa, but if it may be a 5 year limited, so you could maybe get something back if they've only lasted three years.

I put up a similar thread last year and Polar Battery was highly recommended.
 
bj70_guy said:
I've had excellent luck with Battery Alliance (formerly Globelite) from Polar Battery.
Mine are the RV model (starting/deep cycle). About $100 ea IIRC.
Click to expand...

Can't remember which ones I got from Polar. Got a set for my wife's Safari in Dec 2009 and a larger series set for mine in 2011 (I think). I've let both sets run down to pretty much dead but they have always come back with the two Ctek chargers I use when they sit for a while with interior accessories on. I think for the two for the wife's they were just over $160. My two were just over 200 for the two. They still give a Coastal Cruiser club discount. They never have asked for any club ID. I think Mat and Sailor boy get much better discounts. I was happy with the price and even happier that they have lasted more than the year the Walmart Energizers lasted.
 
Going through the same thing. Truck sat for the day at work...went out at 5:30 pm and not enough juice to turn over. Jumped it, drove the one hour commute home and the next morning the same thing. Bosch MegaPower twins only lasted three years. Not cheap batteries either...:mad:
 
I got six years out of my Motomaster Eliminators with infrequent use, sometimes sitting a month between starts.
 
asutherland said:
No Polar battery in Kamloops :(

Anywhere local to here or chain that youd recommend? Costco?
Click to expand...

I've always had good luck with Costco batteries. I am going to be in Kamloops two weekends in October. I could do a MUD ship if you want to buy from Polar. I am sure they would do a credit card sale. Just tell them what you want.

I am in Kamloops Oct 4-6. I have a Dr's appt on Oct 1 in West Van so could pick up any batteries you order then. I also have another trip to Kamloops on Oct 18-20. I have to be in Vancouver for a meeting on the evening on the 16th, so could pick up the batteries then too.
 
what makes a battery good is not necessarily the brand but how fresh it is and how it was maintained before purchase. if you bough some units that were sitting around a small corner shop for a while, then they wont last long. the key is to buy them from a place where there is allot of turn around. ie costco or crapy tire. there are two things that kill batteries or reduce their life. one is heat so try to use the factory insulation under the hood and second is discharging beyond 50%. never discharge a battery fully.

keep them charged and they will last a long time. for example every winter i think i will need new batteries for my dodge diesel but they are still working great and they are over ten years old now (oe from 2003) . maybe this year. :D

if i needed new batteries, i will likely go to walmart and check manufacture date and pick the newest ones i could find.
 
I use Costco whenever possible because of their excellent warranty and return policy. However, when I looked they didn't carry the battery specified for the 80. That said, the batteries that came in my truck from Japan were smaller than "required" and they worked fine for three years after I bought the truck, so you might be able to find something that works.
 
John, thanks for the offer but I called Polar and they didn't carry reverse pole marine/starting batteries. Only regular pole.

I called Costco to see if they had just a standard auto group 27 in reverse and the idiot on the phone was less than helpful. He tried telling me they didn't have what I was looking for because they couldn't find a 94 land cruiser in their system. I repeated my question of "do you have a group 27 reverse pole battery, i don't care what vehicle its supposed to go in". He wouldn't even walk over eland check for me, so now I have to drive across town after work.
 
Andrew, i think they did have reverse pole ones when i looked at Costco but not in a Marine starting battery. I was looking for 27s, I didn't know the LCs needed reverse pole as well.

I still need to redo my cables so they are not so tight. They have a habit of loosening on the posts when they are that tight and then you are left wondering why the batteries are not crank the starter over until you discover the terminal loose on the pole.
 
Report back: Costco did have Group 27 batteries, but none of the reverse pole group 27. They did have some reverse pole batteries, but not in Group 27 size/format.

Looks like I am going to Battery Direct tomorrow and buying those Johnson Controls re-labelled Group 27's for $130 each...........
 
Did you check NAPA for stock on reverse series 27 batteries? I use 2 for my 12ht. I've had mine for 3 years, and they sat for 5 months while I was in India, and they regularly sit for 2-3 months. So far so good, I've been happy with them. I have also been told that you want to have batteries from same manufacturing batch,
 
Update... Napa had a sale on batteries, but they were still $137 plus $15 core charge. I ended up buying two Group 27 Johnson Controls (re-labelled) from Battery Direct downtown. They were $130 each, including the core charge, and when I showed them the $84 Costco battery he reduced the price to $112 each including the core charge :)

Took the old ones out, doused the battery trays with baking soda and cleaned them up nice. Cleaned up the corroded tie downs as well and re-painted them black. Installed new batteries, and used some battery terminal spray stuff that is supposed to keep them from corroding as fast. Tightened up the new batteries, threw the trickle charger on them for a couple hours, we're ready for winter!

I'll drop the bad battery off at the same place downtown to get rid of it, and keep the one good battery as a backup for my wife's Acura.

1.jpg
 
That's too bad about the Napa batteries. My understanding is that Napa batteries are made by Deka/Penn which is known as a good manufacturer.

Nope your news ones do better.

I'll make a shout out for Polar as well.

gb
 
asutherland said:
Update... Napa had a sale on batteries, but they were still $137 plus $15 core charge. I ended up buying two Group 27 Johnson Controls (re-labelled) from Battery Direct downtown. They were $130 each, including the core charge, and when I showed them the $84 Costco battery he reduced the price to $112 each including the core charge :)

Took the old ones out, doused the battery trays with baking soda and cleaned them up nice. Cleaned up the corroded tie downs as well and re-painted them black. Installed new batteries, and used some battery terminal spray stuff that is supposed to keep them from corroding as fast. Tightened up the new batteries, threw the trickle charger on them for a couple hours, we're ready for winter!

I'll drop the bad battery off at the same place downtown to get rid of it, and keep the one good battery as a backup for my wife's Acura.
Click to expand...


I just want to add a bit of tech info I got from the owner of Flesh Electric in Nanaimo, Jerry has helped me finally solve an ongoing issue with my starter on my 12V 12HT conversion. We checked and I changed everything that looked weak along the way. What I wanted to add is, he specifically said to not add any kind of dielectric or protective or whatever products to battery terminals and cable connectors. His explanation was to put a grease seal along the bottom of the battery terminal connectors to reduce moisture from creeping up from the battery surface. Keep the actual contact surfaces clean and maintained.
I'm not an expert, but I like to pass on what I feel is good information. J
 
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