I was just wondering what kind of batteries all of you are running? Mine died this morning after being parked outside my house in the cold for 2 weeks while I was on vacation and now its dead. I am pretty sure it is the factory battery, but it has always run strong. What do you guys reccomend???

 

Check the acid level of the battery by uncovering the two covers on top of the battery. If they are low, add some distilled water, tap water has too many minerals in it. If it's not low, it's probably bad. Try this, it may save you $60+ !

 

Yeah I checked that out and the levels are good. I am pretty sure its just the old battery. Thanks for the help though!

 

Optima Deep Cell are the best i have heard...i may use one for my subs in my ranger....

+++no max yet...this summer i plan to get a '94 SE 5sd w/ all options and trick it out+++
++hope the money is flowin =) ++

 

A really good battery would be one that vents from the side. It's not really sealed, but there are no access tabs on the top. I bought one of these because my system was causing my alternator to read that the starting battery was always low, even though it was just the drain from the cap and Optima batt. in the back. So, the start batt. was being overcharged and was "spitting" acid onto my hood and on my K&N filter and all around! Nothing I did helped, so I bought this batt. at a local batt. shop, no probelems since. Just thought I'd let you know since it seemed that you were planning to build a system.

 

i have a system and a RF Capacitor but it would be nice to have a good battery in there just for safety and whatever...


+++no max yet...this summer i plan to get a '94 SE 5sd w/ all options and trick it out+++
++hope the money is flowin =) ++

 

If you have a batt. isolator or a one way breaker (I've got the breaker, conveniant) then you only have to worry about the charging system reading wrong and overcharging your start batt. Optima is the best, but use it for your system, not to start. At one point I was using a Marine deep cycle for the system and another for the start. Needless to say I felt like a rolling power station. I need one of those "Danger: High Voltage" signs! Huh, I'm pushing so much power off my Alpine 1000 that the positive and negative inputs for the subs spark, big time, when touched, on accident of course.

 

Optima Yellow top deep cycle battery. Don't need a cap for my sub and it actually helped the Jacobs ignition system gain another 6hp because of the increased voltage output under high current demands. Brilliant piece of work!

 

For a cheaper alternative that will last for years and give you no trouble is an Interstate Megatron battery..
I believe the model# on mine is MT-34R.
they cost about $75

Optimas are great for cars with systems or lotsa performance goodies, but they're not necessary for everyday driver. I can't justify spending $140+ on a battery for an "everyday" car.

 

You are the only other person on this forum I think that has a Jacobs. I bought the I.C.E. Pack for may Max. So, what did you do, install a battery and then have it dynoed? How do you know how much of a gain and why it was due to the battery? I'm interested to know.

 

Don't oversize the battery. Most of the time, it's just more weight to lug around. Last one was a Wal-Mart battery (2 years ago)to replace a 5 year old Nissan factory battery. Still going strong, but whatever battery they sell at Sam's Club is cheaper, esp. with the rebates and has high cranking current (as if you need it)and a better warranty. I tried a K-Mart battery in another car, but it had a tendency to leak out the fill holes and look as if contaminates could easy drain into the battery (gave that car way, but years ago and I think it still has the same old K-mart battery in it).

IHO

 

I have an Exide Nascar select in mine. Probably would not be my first choice had I been able to "shop." Had to buy in a desperate moment. Frankly, it's been fine though. I live in Minnesota and it has always given me enough power even on the coldest days (well below zero).

I have an Optima Yellow top in my truck and it has been the best battery I've owned. Huge $$ though.

Consumer Reports recent rating for Group 35 batteries is below in rating order (best first)

Brand and model Price Overall score Cold-cranking
amps (CCA) Reserve
capacity Warranty
Mfr. Test Free replace Total

GROUP SIZE 35 BATTERIES
Champion (GNB) Gold Series 35-1 $65 525 24 mo. 75 mo.
ACDelco Professional 35-6YR $73 560 18 72
Sears DieHard Silver 31335 (South) $70 530 18 72
EverStart (Wal-Mart) 35-3 $40 525 24 72
Sears DieHard Silver 31235 (North) $70 620 18 72
NAPA The Legend 75 Professional Line 7535 $75 675 18 75
Exide NASCAR Select 730 35-84N $80 570 24 84
Sears DieHard Gold 33035 (North) $80 640 36 100
Sears DieHard Gold 33135 (South) $80 550 36 100
Motorcraft Silver Series BXT-35 $80 550 24 84
Duralast (AutoZone) Gold 35-DG $70 640 36 96
Interstate Mega-Tron Plus MTP-35 $78 640 18 72

 

You are the only other person on this forum I think that has a Jacobs. I bought the I.C.E. Pack for may Max. So, what did you do, install a battery and then have it dynoed? How do you know how much of a gain and why it was due to the battery? I'm interested to know. [/I][/QUOTE]

Dyno'ed using the G-tech set at the same settings as all former dyno runs and it effectively gained 6hp on the same settings.

I'm using the Jacobs Pro-Street Ultra team (coil and energy pack) by the way...

The reason why it happened was simple ...

When under heavy current demand, the internal resistance of a battery results in a drop in voltage at the terminals. The Optima batteries exhibit a lower internal resistance and as a result, a lower voltage drop occurs under the same high current demand, which in turn produces a higher terminal voltage by comparison.

 

I have an Optima Red-top battery and I love it.. It can do so much more than ordinary batteries. For example, you can place it anywhere and in any position, you can store it for over a year and it won't die, you can jump start cars with it without having your engine running.. and lots more.

<img src="http://www.geocities.com/SkyMaxSE/maxima/maxima84_2.jpg">

 

This summer I replaced my battery with the new one.
The old one was OERLICON (German battery, and it seems to me it is too rare). It's death agony was short - 3 days of weakness and then RIP suddenly.
DDD

 

I've had a Sam's club battery that was $40 (incl. rebate) and I haven't had any problems with it. It was in my 90se max when my dad gave it to me.

In my 92GXE, which I bought for my daily driver (almost completely stock), I have a Sears Diehard (gold series I think) which has died once just because I left my lights on, but other than that, no problems.