Went to the stealership for an oil change and they said I need a new battery soon. They quoted me something ridiculous and I didn't even listen to the number but figured the car would let me know when I needed to change the battery. Couldn't find it any where in the manual, does the car flash a battery light when the battery needs to be changed ? I'm at 60,000 miles. Any suggestions on a battery and where to buy

 

You are correct, your car will let you know when a new battery is needed. It will not start when you most need it to, that's how. But replacing the battery before it is time is purely a preventative maintenance measure, and a good one too if being inconvenienced is low on your list.

Don't over-think it however, just go to the parts store and purchase their best battery that fits your car and it should come with a good warranty. Usually they have at least a 2 year free replacement and a 3-7 year prorated replacement schedule.

 

3 to 4 years is generally considered a batteries reliable lifetime. After that, your battery may quit on you without any notice. Personally, I swapped out the OEM battery after 2 years mainly due to the horror stories on this forum.

You should also realize that your Nissan battery is NOT maintenance free. You must periodically check the water level and add distilled water when needed.

I was lucky and found my battery at Advanced auto parts during a sale. I paid around $90 with tax.

Check here for info
http://forums.maxima.org/7th-generat...s-7th-gen.html

.

 

the OEM batteries seem to suck, ive seen lots of people replacing them at the 1-3 year mark. i replaced mine with a yellowtop and havent looked back. just get a sealed maintenance free battery and be done with it

 

I guess I've been very lucky with batteries. I change the batteries in my car every 5 years no matter what. I have had good experiences with Die Hard & Interstate batteries.

 

Are you still running the '03 in your logon data? The 5th gens did better with batteries than the 6th gens. And the 6th gens did better than the 7th gens. I got 7 years out of a battery in my '78 Datsun, around 6 years out of all my early gen Maximas, 5 years with my '00 Maxima SE, 4 years with my '04 Maxima SL, and see here on the ORG that 3 years seems to be about average for the 7th gen.

I have been lucky, in that my '09 was built in Sept '08, and is still doing fine with its OEM battery, but I have some long trips coming up, and plan to replace my battery within the next few weeks - before I leave town.

Those replacing their battery need to remember that the 7th gen Maxima has a reversed polarity battery. The positive and negative poles (and all wiring) are on the fender side of the battery instead of the motor side. So instead of getting say a type 24 battery, we must get a 24R or 24F. The R or F included in the battery type is used to denote reversed polarity.

 

just buy a walmart battery. optimas suck, both in price, performance, and patriotism.

 

Well, we also have folks who swear by Optimas. I guess one's view depends on the user's experiences and situation. The normal price of Optimas around where I live is over $200, unless we catch a sale or discount or coupon. The Optima may be more battery than some folks need, especially if we have a car we don't plan on keeping longer than the release date of the 8th gen Maxima. That is my situation.

Since FastFuriousMax has mentioned WalMart, I would add that Consumer Reports tested car batteries in the November 2013 issue, and in the type 24/24F category, WalMart's EverStart Maxx-24S (South) came in 3rd in a group of 12, and, at $80 was CU's overall 'best buy' in this group. I am considering dropping one of these in my '09 before my OEM battery begins giving trouble.

 

Google their quality after moving the plant to mexico. Even if quality wasn't a issue the price is ridiculous for what you get.

An SLA from walmart will last longer then an Optima in general. Be at least a 1/3 of the price, and have significantly more mha and ccas(what really matters). 3 year FULL warranty, 7 year prorated. So every 3 years you walk into Walmart and they give you a new battery, they don't test your old one. Ask me how I know.

"I have worked at Optima Batteries for 11 years. In 2000, Johnson controls bought Optima and immediatly began construction of a plant in mexico. We were told that our U.S. plant could not produce enough product so the plant in mexico would be to supply Europe. Slowly but surely, our product lines began being transferred to mexico. Then the week before Thanksgiving, we were told that the U.S. plant will be closed Jan.24 2009. Just thought you all would like to know.

cbs4denver.com - Aurora Battery Maker Moves Operations To Mexico" <--From the Ford Forum

People just think they are better from the BS marketing. Ask any boater if they would use Optimas for a deep discharge batt. Only use I can find is if you HAVE to have it upside down or sideways for some f'd up audio install. Even then there are a ton of better AGM batteries than an optima, especially for car audio. Noone who competes in CA and wins uses optimas(unless sponsored).

If you want to overspend on a battery at least get a good one like: http://www.odysseybattery.com/ or http://kinetikaudio.com/2009/default.asp

/endofrant

 

Thanks for this info FastnFurious. I knew the Optima was made by Johnson Controls (JCI). Virtually all car batteries are made by one of three companies, and JCI is the largest. But I did NOT know all production of the Optima had been moved to Mexico. And this at a time when great emphasis is supposedly being placed on moving manufacturing back to the US.

If the quality is permanently lowered by the Mexico move, this might be the end of the Optima run. I don't intend to be the guinea pig who finds out the hard way. I also tend to look for a 'made in USA' marker somewhere on anything I buy, even if it means spending a tad more.

Again, thanks for the info.

 

This.

I will gladly pay a bit more for a product made in the USA. I only wish more people thought like us instead of the mentality of 'I want to buy the cheapest widget possible'.

 

right on!!!!

 

OP, if you made it to 60K on the factory battery, you are doing way better than many of us on the forum.

 

i ended up just going to advance auto parts and getting a auto craft battery, figured no need for the optima because it's not like i have a system in the car or anything...

i was really just wondering if a light in the car would go off when i did need a new battery, figured if the car can tell me when my tire pressure is low it would tell me when i needed a new battery but i guess not .. oh well i got paranoid and just bought one..
Thanks everyone, these forums ROCK

CANT WAIT TO PUT MY EIBACH SPRINGS ON THIS FRIDAY.. Vossen wheels in 2-3 weeks!!!

 

If the battery light comes on, it indicates a fault with the charging system (alternator) etc.

 

I am at 65000k on the 2010 and my battery is going. Died twice so I am considering the Walmart or the advanced battery... I don't have a system and the biggest loads(pause! Lol) are my HID's, Led's, and my radar... So the Walmart or advanced should work fine

 

Walmart is the best bet imo. Better reviews last I read, and there is a walmart everywhere you go, unlike auto parts stores. So if it dies on a trip you just need a cab ride to your local walmart.

FWIW Optimas perform worse than the walmart battery if you have a system. A SLA from wally world has more cca and mah than an optima. Meaning it has more 'juice' and you can play your tunes longer with the car off. Only advantage is they can be mounted sideways or upside down. But all AGMs have that capacity afaik vs. SLAs.

FWIW if you want to be able to play your stereo for hours on end just buy the largest deep discharge they have. The CCA will still be plenty high engine to start the engine. I think my DD is like 800cca. It is monstrous and heavy it's gotta be over 75 lbs.


If you do want to spend $200 on a batt get the plat from sears, it is just an odessey in a different package(or buy the odessey). Odyssey makes batteries for many other applications, including the military. Funny that Sears offers a better warranty with more locations:

The Optima has the following specs:

Model = D34 Yellow Top
CCA = 750
CA = 870
Reserve Capacity = 120
Amp Hour = 55
Warranty = 36 month free replacement

The Sears has the following specs:
Model = Platinum P-2
CCA = 930
CA = ???
Reserve Capacity = 135
Amp Hour = 75
Amp Hour = 48 month free replacement, 100 month prorated.

Huge difference. Screw Optima, though their marketing department deserves an award for fooling so many consumers. My only advice is instead of listening to market BS from any company look at the specs and learn how to read them. This goes for your washing machine, vacuum, or your car's battery.

 

I just checked AAP and Wal-Mart websites, and interestingly the Wal-Mart Everstart Maxx 24N received a lower score from CR than the AutoCraft Gold from AAP.

Using Promo code RAF7JA1102, the AAP battery (700 CCA) was $75.99.

The Everstart Maxx 24N (750 CCA) was $84.97.

 

Is there as many AAP around as Walmarts?

What is the warranty on both?

What is price without promocode?

the ever start has a high cca and likely a higher amp hour rating, usually go together.

Either is still better than an Optima!

 

Is there as many AAP around as Walmarts? They are next door to each other for ME.

What is the warranty on both? 36 month free replacement on both.

What is price without promocode? Why does that matter - if I buy there - I will use the code. FWIW - the discount is $35.

the ever start has a high cca and likely a higher amp hour rating, usually go together. Likely - though the OE CCA is 550, so either will likely suffice for me.

Either is still better than an Optima! Agree

 

Actually found a better promo code that takes another $5 off. "FABU"

Hope someone finds it helpful.

 

can you use those codes in the store or only online? or online and you pickup at a store?

shipping a battery isn't cheap.

 

I always use online with in store pick-up.

 

Ditto

 

dont order batteries online; in most states car batteries are hazardous material and you can't ship them back if there's any issues - you're just stuck with a potentially dead battery. i'd buy in-store or online with in-store pickup like these other guys mentioned

 

But readers in the SOUTHERN part of the U.S.need to be aware that:

The 'N' in WalMart's Everstart MAXX 24N denotes the battery sold in the NORTHERN half of the country. The WalMart Everstart MAXX 24S is sold in the SOUTHERN half of the country, and has a CR rating well above both the 24N and the AutoCraft Gold. In fact CR rates the WalMart Everstart 24S as the best buy in type 24 batteries, better than all but 2 of the 12 type 24 batteries tested, and $40 cheaper than any of the other top 4 rated type 24 batteries.

Northerners might do better with the Autocraft Gold if they can use a promo code to get the price down, as the AAP battery usually lists for $30 more than the WalMart Everstart24.

And don't forget to get the 'F' or 'R' version of whatver type 24 you buy, as the Maxima has reversed battery poles/cables.