My Q needs a battery. I really dont know jack about ignition systems or electronics. If anyone heard me starting my Q at the meet, you could tell it was due for replacement.
So is there a fundamental difference between the $30 NAPA battery and OEM? I'm sure the Nissan battery will last me twice as long but really, within two or three years of operation should I expect any kind of difference?
Thanks!-Jesda
Battery Advice?
-
Q45tech
- Moderator
- Posts: 14296
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2002 3:19 am
- Car: 1990 Q45 342,400 miles 22 years ownership with original engine
1995 G20t 5 speed 334,000 miles 16" 2002 wheels - 205/50/16 Sr20ve vvl
The bane of batteries is heat [and cold].........the $5,000 each [times 50] batteries at phone companies are maintained in special temperature contolled 1000 square foot rooms and technicans can check them daily and refill with electrolyte and distilled water with precision instrumentation............they last over 20 years before needing replacement.
There are at least 6 different composition [ lead plus % other alloys] of the lead plates in use in US.
Different alloys:antimony, indium, calcium and % and mixture of each have different properties [how the batteries react to heat vs cold]. SAME Batteries should be different internally depending on average temperature South vs North.
Batteries are so inexpensive [the most is around $130] that it isn't worth worrying about [compared to the OTHER $2000-$2500] in annual expense.
Most lux cars eat batteries =$30 per year.
The key is the written warranty FREE replacement period because the prorated period doesn't help as much.
Personally I like the top of the line Interstate.........I try to avoid buying aything from NAPA/Advance/PBoys/O'Reilly/etc, etc even bulbs......those Giant chains have so much power that they drive prices so low that you can't expect much.
There are at least 6 different composition [ lead plus % other alloys] of the lead plates in use in US.
Different alloys:antimony, indium, calcium and % and mixture of each have different properties [how the batteries react to heat vs cold]. SAME Batteries should be different internally depending on average temperature South vs North.
Batteries are so inexpensive [the most is around $130] that it isn't worth worrying about [compared to the OTHER $2000-$2500] in annual expense.
Most lux cars eat batteries =$30 per year.
The key is the written warranty FREE replacement period because the prorated period doesn't help as much.
Personally I like the top of the line Interstate.........I try to avoid buying aything from NAPA/Advance/PBoys/O'Reilly/etc, etc even bulbs......those Giant chains have so much power that they drive prices so low that you can't expect much.
-
HeavyDuty
- Posts: 1281
- Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2003 4:51 pm
- Car: 1995 Infiniti Q45
95 Nissan 240SX S14
96 Nissan D21
06 Nissan 350Z Z33
I also like Interstate & stay away from the Super Mega Low Mart stuff. Interstate has a 36 month replacement on their red top batteries, after that it's pro rata.
The Optima line by Interstate has deep cycle options, if you have big stereo stuff & play it with the car off, like at shows. They can be drawn all the way down & accept a recharge regularly.
The Optima line by Interstate has deep cycle options, if you have big stereo stuff & play it with the car off, like at shows. They can be drawn all the way down & accept a recharge regularly.
Isn't the real cost of a bad battery prematurely killing the altenator?
What's the latest price (+ labor) for replacing an altenator? I threw around some numbers a few months ago, about replacing my upper end (>$100) battery on a 3 yr schedule versus a 4 yr. It was pretty easy to see the savings over the undue load on the alt.
What's the latest price (+ labor) for replacing an altenator? I threw around some numbers a few months ago, about replacing my upper end (>$100) battery on a 3 yr schedule versus a 4 yr. It was pretty easy to see the savings over the undue load on the alt.
-
OLU40
- Posts: 285
- Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2002 8:09 am
- Car: Infiniti's Martial Arts, Science, Reading, Sports, Computers, Electronics WOMEN!
Sears DIe Hard Gold is the best out there. Interstate is cool but Sears is superior and has an exceelnt warranty program. Make sure you get the right group #(size). For the Q it is 27. Demand that size. More CCA(cold cranking amps). 25 will be recommended by some retailers but is really not strong enough for today's alarm systems, audio etc. and could cause a power spike which is what happened to me.
I've read about those Optima batteries. They look like there good. They dont leak and give out the gases than normal batteries so you dont have to use the OEM battery cover. They charge up well from completly dead more often, and this part is pure vanity, they look cool. Check out the web site. You can put it in your April fools Buick, Jesda.
http://www.optimabatteries.com/
http://www.optimabatteries.com/
-
BadQ45t
- Posts: 3255
- Joined: Fri Jul 26, 2002 7:54 am
- Car: '21 Nissan Leaf SL Plus (wife's car)
'05 Nissan X-Terra S 4x4
'97 Infiniti Q45t SOLD! Miss the old girl
'84 Nissan 300ZX (Original Owner)
'16 Mercedes Benz S550e V8 Power & 35 MPG - Location: Half Moon Bay, CA
Put an Optima in my 300ZX sunday driver about 6 months ago. I had a top-line Interstate and it could only do 10 days and would go dead. The Optima just turns over no matter how long, love it. I'm an Optima person from here on in, you can get a Red-top for $99 bucks at Costco, I paid 150 out the door installed at Sears (my bat was dead so had no choice that day).
AZhitman wrote:An Optima is a great investment - Saves some weight in a critical area as well - AHEAD of the front wheels.
Optimas use Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) technology. I can tell you that once you've experienced the joy of owning an AGM battery, you'll never buy another flooded cell battery again. ANY flooded cell battery is strictly yesterday's news. I recently replaced the dual OEM flooded cell starting batteries in my diesel pickup with Optima Red Tops.
The Optima Blue Top deep cycle marine batteries have a pretty low amp-hour capacity, only about 50 AH, so I took another path for the deep cycles in the boat. Lifeline Group 27's have 100 AH capacity, and I have three of them in the boat. I replaced the OEM Group 27 flooded cells about two and a half years ago with Lifeline AGMs, and they still perform like new. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to be free of the drudgery of monthly battery maintenance on the boat. I haven't so much as looked at them since I installed them. Buying the AGM's for the boat was one of the best investments I've made. Never another fooded cell for me. Just bought a little 18' jet boat to play with, and I will be replacing the Group 24 flooded cell with an AGM as soon as I get around to it.
Here's the scoop on why AGM's are so hot:
http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/batterytypes.asp
Russ
Ok, I did
http://store.summitracing.com/...n+kit
Which one would you recommend, or do you think is the best?
They have quite a few available.
http://store.summitracing.com/...n+kit
Which one would you recommend, or do you think is the best?
They have quite a few available.
AZhitman wrote: Plus, with the Optima, i don't think you need the box - just some hold-downs and a tray.
You don’t need the box. The Optima doesn't let out any gasses like regular batteries do. You can mount it in any position too. On it's side, upside down. Whatever. This would be an ideal battery if someone wanted to mount the battery in the trunk for weight distribution.