Battery died like RIGHT NOW!

I bought the truck a yr or so ago and it had a brand new battery (some budget brand but brand new). It has worked flawlessly until yesterday. I took the dog to the park and an hr later, I turn the key and nothing, no horn, light, nothing. I check fuses and everything looks great. Thank goodness for AAA. I give them a jingle and 1/2 hr later the guy comes out, we try a jump and fires right up. I drive home and park in front of the house, an hour later I go out and dead. I get online to check prices for a new one and nobody puts them on and those that do are crazy prices, like $90-$250. I hate going to all the stores to check on prices, any suggestions on decent prices for a new battery. I do not want a budget battery like the one they put in, but I don't want a super expensive one either. I'm going to sell it myself in a few months and it runs like a top and I don't want the new owner to have any issues for years - just the way I am.

Thanks,

 

When I buy a battery I check Consumer's Guide for ratings. When I buy, I tell them I want the biggest number of cranking amps I can close the hood over. I get serious winters here in Iowa so amps rule when its cold. My current battery is the red top Optima. It was installed before 2001. The claim to fame for the Optima series is they are less affected by high temps and vibration. It was a high dollar battery, but if you factor in no starter related tows from battery issues, it gets cheaper/year. Last year I had the dealer do a free amp. check while my pickup was in for an oil change. The reading was 938 amps.

 

i would recommend either auto zone or a red optima battery. Auto zone is cheap and have good power in their battery. Optima is a sealed battery,you can mount in any way, and has a little more power in them,but they do cost more

 

I have this battery as of 2 years ago. Have had zero problems so far (especially in VT winters), and it even survived 6 months of sitting while I lived in Australia. When I got home, I plugged her right back in and she started the truck right back up!

It's also 1/3 cheaper than the optima.

 

Everyone will tell you the brand battery they bought is the best. I personally have been using Duralast Gold batteries from Auto Zone for the last 10 years on several of my vehicles and they have held up GREAT.

 

Optima went to shit...I'd recommend Duralast or Die Hard from Sears.

 

I'll have to look at what's in my truck because I've never changed it once since owning it (13 years).

And I doubt the owner changed it within one year of its life.

 

So true. I would say that the good brands are Interstate, Duralast, and Die Hard. Optima seems pretty good, but I have heard of theirs failing randomly so it appears to be hit or miss (more hit though). They are also quite expensive.

 

hello, if you have a wet cell battery, have you checked the water level in it?
and only use distilled water in it. sears and the duralast are good batteries, just keep your receipt as a back up.
Now I don't agree with this, but my uncle has a welding shop, and a large old portable welder, he would sometime use, and he would get wal-mart batteries and yes since he was not running it a lot and they would die, he would take it back, (3 year no question warranty) and get a new one.

 

Thanks for the tips!

 

stinger batterys

 

i've had optima red tops in all my vehicles and they working great, but i only got them because at the time i got a good deal over any other budget brand. my 2c

 

X2, sounds to me like it's not actually the battery. Take the battery to auto zone and have it tested. If it was really dead it would take time to charge enough to jump it. Like a couple minutes instead of a couple seconds...

 

I think it might be a wet cell so I'll check the fluid level.

All connections are tighter than tight and I can't budge them.

To bad I didn't check for a battery at O'reily's yesterday, I was looking for something else (in addition to the battery) and Barbi behind the counter through off my concentration I guess I'll have to go back

 

I was having starting issues during the winter when it got cold and at first I thought it was the battery but finally the truck died at a set of lights and I had to push it out of the way. Turned out it was an alternator dying a slow death, still got the same battery but a new alternator and no problems all last winter.

 

I wouldn't be so quick at changing out the battery. The issue may be in the charging system. I would get the battery tested first and then the alternator.

 

Re:Optima batteries
I have heard that the Optima batteries aren't built as well now as when I got mine approx 10 years ago. The 'Lets make it cheaper' bird strikes again.
I must add that when mentioning the Optima to car dealerships, they do recognize it as a good battery. At least that is its current reputation.
The reports here from you folks that care to dirty your hands on your car's maintenance is very important as a feedback. Greatly appreciated.