Battery decision.. need quick help

[BassTurd 10+ year member]

I've got a really weak battery in my 1997 Blazer. I turned the radio on while cleaning a few things out of it, and after 5 minutes of playing, I had to get a jump. No local places carry the optima I'm wanting, so I have two batteries to choose from. One is a Autozone Duralast Gold for $79, the other is an Exide Orbital (supposed to be the same technology as Optima) for $133. I need this today since I'm going to be installing my Mean Green alternator and big three this evening. I just got my Ed 9.4 hooked up last night, and will be installing the Ed 9.1 tonight. I don't want to be knocking on my neighbors door at 6:30 in the morning again.

Is it worth almost $60 more for the Exide? Or will the Duralast Gold work well enough? Reliability is the big concern here. I don't play the stereo with the engine off much. I appreciate any help you could give. Thanks!

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[Lckmyblls 10+ year member]

Id say go with the exide orbital i think youd be much more happy in the long run...

 

[2loud4u 10+ year member]

Id say go with the exide orbital i think youd be much more happy in the long run...

x2

But you must have somewheres local that sells yellow tops.

Pepboys, costco ect....

Even go to walmart and pick up a blue top.

 

[BassTurd 10+ year member]

No yellowtops around here, either. Have to drive almost an hour to Las Cruces or over an hour to El Paso. Autozone here doesn't have yellowtops, and doesn't have a redtop that will fit. Do you guys really think the Exide is worth the extra $60?

 

[joetama 5,000+ posts]

With out a good battery you might as well not even install anything into your car.....

 

[johnson 10+ year member]

I have a Die Hard Gold from Sears Auto. They also have Yellow tops and if they dont have the correct size they could order it for you.

 

[yacob.naif 10+ year member]

i've had tons of issues with optima batteries

i don't understand why everyone thinks they're the best batteries

they used to be the only option for a non-spillable gel-cell battery.. now they're not, get something better

and if it's going under the hood, and you don't play much with your car off, it doesn't matter what kind of battery you get

 

[joetama 5,000+ posts]

i've had tons of issues with optima batteries
i don't understand why everyone thinks they're the best batteries

they used to be the only option for a non-spillable gel-cell battery.. now they're not, get something better

and if it's going under the hood, and you don't play much with your car off, it doesn't matter what kind of battery you get

What types of problems have you had with them?

 

[MrSwiss 10+ year member]

i bought a red top from sears, great battey.

 

[BassTurd 10+ year member]

I can't afford the $180 right now for a red top, and yellow tops can't be found. I live in a small town. Everything I've bought has been over the internet. The problem here is, if you can find what you're looking for, it's overpriced.

 

[MemphisSoul4U 10+ year member]

Get the Exide.

I have 2 of the blue ones.

They are great batteries.

No complaints here, both read 15.5V at idle.

 

[smd4life 5,000+ posts]

x2 on the Exides being a good battery

 

[BassTurd 10+ year member]

Thanks for all your input, guys. Going to get the Exide right now.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

optimas are not gel cells they are agm (fiber mat no gel) the obital would be alot better as it has a lower esr than a duralast wet cell. and on a realistic note if your alt is charging at a rate of 15.5 v you are more than likely slow cooking your batteries unless your volt meter is off. a dry cell battery still vents if need be..........

 

[yacob.naif 10+ year member]

What types of problems have you had with them?

i bought a red top for my jetta, and a yellow top for my GTI, since it was an 87 with a motor swap, and had a few grounding problems due to spliced harnesses, etc. that drained batteries eventually

both of the batteries died JUST over a year after i got them, the red top was replaced for free, and the yellow top was going to cost me almost as much as a new one to replace it with the prorated warranty, so i threw it away and got a $70 autozone battery instead

since then, the red top has died again, and this is within 2 years

they're fine batteries while they're working, but dead cells happen a LOT.......

i didn't even have a system in my car when they started dying, i just got them because i always heard great things.... and they've been very problematic

i'm still running a red top, but only to stabilize the voltage between the front battery, and the 20 foot run of cable to the back of the car, and then i have a kinetik 800 6 inches or so from my amps, which is THE best battery i've ever owned

i'll give the red tops credit, they're VERY strong batteries, but dead cells happen WAY too often. the only reason i'd recommend the red top is for a starting battery, since it comes with the 3 year warranty. the yellow top only comes with a 1 year warranty, and if you need a deep cycle, i'd get a kinetik instead