any car battery experts

[Warren Lake]

Time for a battery in the save money car 2003 Saturn Ion. (yeah I can hear the laughter) The delco in it just failed and is exactly 8 years old. Impressive. Going to go with a third Interstate Battery again that I use in the truck and wagon. Service has been a slug but it will get approached again this week

First question was if the 78 series battery (800 CCA) will fit the car. It has a 75 series now the delco that is 600 CCA. The equivalent interstate is either 700 or 750 I think 700. Id like to use the 78 series but it was not answered if it would fit, asked twice.

Took the 75 out put a 78 I had around in and it fits fine width wise even though wider. The metal hold down will not work but I will cut it and weld a piece on to make it longer.

Next this 78 has top and side terminals and the battery height clearance is fine other than the terminals that I dont need are too tall. I could cut them off. On the buick I like them as i hook up my trailer brakes to them here they stop the trunk thing you lift up from sitting flat so they are too tall.

Next thing I notice is the 75 has a vent tube, I guess being in the trunk so the interior they vent the batter with two small hole things on each side. This is not on the 78 series so I wonder if the venting is even needed. If I get another 75 series rather than the large one im not sure if its a special battery to have those vents or the 78 series are sealed and even in the trunk (interior) it is fine.

I called Elon but hes not returning my calls.

Any smarts appreciated ill get on it again tomorrow. i can take a few photos later.

thanks

[Lee Schierer]

All wet cell batteries need to vent. However, since the battery will now be in the engine compartment there is no need to connect the vent tubes to anything.

[Warren Lake]

thanks its not in engine compartment its in the trunk and the trunk is the interior, even more so when both rear seats are folded down

there is nt vent on the 78 series unles they make a seperate battery which is not likely, so the logical question is how will this work

[Kev Williams]

I'm not much of an expert because for some dumb reason I get great life out of most batteries I buy- Like my 2002 F-250 pickup, it's original battery blew its brains out on our launch ramp at almost 11-1/2 years old, that was August-ish, 2013. The battery that replaced it, just a basic Walmart battery, is still going strong over 8 years later. This truck is never garaged and temps around here go from minus-double-digits to well into the hundreds...

The exception to my good battery luck is with, ironically, Walmart's cheapass "1-year" batteries. I've had 2 of those go stone cold kaput at 13 months. Can't say I didn't get what I paid for ;)

[Warren Lake]

id be calling the Guiness book of world records with that first one. Ive never heard longer than 8 years.

[Lee Schierer]

id be calling the Guiness book of world records with that first one. Ive never heard longer than 8 years.

I still have the original battery in my 2012 Pilot which I purchased new.

[Ole Anderson]

Just replaced the Optima Yellow top in my CJ7 after 10 years and 2 months with a Deca/East Penn (made in the USA).

[Bruce Wrenn]

The battery that replaced it, just a basic Walmart battery, is still going strong over 8 years later.

The exception to my good battery luck is with, ironically, Walmart's cheapass "1-year" batteries. I've had 2 of those go stone cold kaput at 13 months. Can't say I didn't get what I paid for ;)We own a 94 Ford Areostar van. Original battery 8 years, and next two replacements, eight years also. Current battery is Walmart one year cheapie ($49.99), which is on it's third year. Same battery (made by Excide) at Walmart, with two year warranty was almost twice as much. Rural King also sells this battery, with a five year prorated warranty, for $59.99. Prices were selling price three years ago. How do I know they are the same battery? All three are made by Exide and weigh 42.5 pounds, plus CCA's and other specs are the same. As for interstate batteries, look up who makes which batteries. Major players are: Johnson Controls, Exide, East Penn (Decca) Delco, Motorcraft. Both Advance and Autozone sell Johnson Control batteries. Starter motor battery on stand by generator is only eleven years old. It may not work the next time, but it did first of the week for monthly test. I do keep a "Battery Tender connected full time to it.

[Warren Lake]

saturn guy said get the 75 it needs the two side vent things. Dont get why they are only on 75 series.

[Rick Potter]

What they are venting is Hydrogen gas, which is no problem except for the fact it is explosive.:(

I wouldn't put the unvented one in the passenger compartment of a car my family rides in. That's why they have the special vent tubes.

[John K Jordan]

id be calling the Guiness book of world records with that first one. Ive never heard longer than 8 years.


My ‘99 diesel truck has two large batteries wired in series. The factory set lasted over 10 years. Been running on the “new” batteries almost 10 years now. I don’t use it every day if that makes a difference.

[Ron Citerone]

What they are venting is Hydrogen gas, which is no problem except for the fact it is explosive.:(

I wouldn't put the unvented one in the passenger compartment of a car my family rides in. That's why they have the special vent tubes.

Yes and Yes and Yes!

[Warren Lake]

thanks guys finally got the battery guy and he didnt know, asked if there is someone he can call or a number I can call and got an I dont know. will pick up the 75 series vented. Likely there are some other gases in that car from time to time.

Likely wont shop same place next time. 75 Series 700 cold crank amps.

[Derek Meyer]

The best battery I ever had was one I got from Les Schwab. It was a sealed gel-cell battery, so it needed no maintenance and no venting. It lasted longer than the vehicle I had it in (about 8 years). It was a little more expensive than a standard battery but worth it. I believe the modern equivalent would be one of their yellow-top batteries.

[Kev Williams]

id be calling the Guiness book of world records with that first one. Ive never heard longer than 8 years.
The irony is that that old battery was still starting the truck just fine until I shut down on the launch ramp that day...
--I parked the boat, came back to retrieve the truck and when the starter relay hit, **BANG**!!

Actually is was more of a loud-ish POP, the battery was split almost completely in half... the thing actually blew its brains out! Something inside gave up and shorted out...

[Warren Lake]

Derek was that an AGM battery? I did get to the place and picked up a vented one. Guy I got to serve me knew some stuff and even tried to find a 78 series that had a vent. I appreciated that plus questions asked were answered.

Positive thing it is close to a friend who restores cars so stopped by. Old school metal shaper. Love his shop and tons to learn from any visit.

[Dave Lehnert]

id be calling the Guiness book of world records with that first one. Ive never heard longer than 8 years.


I had a battery in my F150 that lasted 9 years.
I have a Walmart battery for my ZTR mower that is 10 years old. I just replaced it because it was getting old bit still works. The old battery puts out more volts than the new one. :confused:

[Derek Meyer]

Warren, yes, Les Schwab lists it as an AGM battery on their web site.