BAttery question

[Vella's Alero]

Was just wondering what battery brand/type would be the best for the alero. I have an AC Delco battery in there and I think it is about to give up the ghost cause it's been in there for 10 years apparently. Any opinions?

[meadus101]

Optima. The red tops are fine, if you run serious audio consider Yellow or a blue top.

Those are the top.

The Delco batteries do what they're meant to. You'll pay for an optima.

I personally run just a cheap battery, but it was in the car when i got it and gives me no issues. As long as it has the right specs, a standard battery is fine.

[cherrington17]

i just swapped out my THIRD bad redtop. get yellow, be done with it.

First, stopped charging. (possibly my fault for letting it die a few times. :banghead:) lasted about 3 years
Second, battery terminal MELTED. reason unknown, approx 1.5 years
Third stopped charging, never got above 11.3V (~6 months old)

I've heard many other stories about faulty redtops, too.

[Valley olds]

I run the yellow wal mart one, and haven't had any issues. Then again, my car isn't too demanding elecric-wise.

[doubleN0alero]

I went through 2 red tops before I got one that worked the way it was supposed to. Depending on what you want to do, a basic battery could be the fit and no sense spending extra money if you dont need to.

[meadus101]

i just swapped out my THIRD bad redtop. get yellow, be done with it.

First, stopped charging. (possibly my fault for letting it die a few times. :banghead:) lasted about 3 years
Second, battery terminal MELTED. reason unknown, approx 1.5 years
Third stopped charging, never got above 11.3V (~6 months old)

I've heard many other stories about faulty redtops, too.


Dad had a terminal melt on him too.

[Vella's Alero]

Ok so from the consensus I will stay away from the redtop and go to yellow. I am planning on getting a sound system from Ryan from Ohio in the summer so I want to do it right the first time so I won't have issues later.

How is that battery in the winter (as in Canada weather?)

[cherrington17]

optima's are beastly in the winter.

and yellows are only $30 more then red... so its not a big deal.

[Redog]

Never had an issue with my redtop. Knock on wood, been in the car for 4 years now.

Starting to get a little bit of 12 volt times when the rear defrost, radio, defrost/heat, and headlights are on when stopped at a light. Drops to 12v, but runs at 14v when I first start it and around 13.5 after a while

[[ion] C2]

Red tops come in all the time to my job melted, cracked, etc. I would never recommend them. Apparently since they've started manufacturing them in Mexico, the quality has dropped straight down.

[cherrington17]

C2;517436']Red tops come in all the time to my job melted, cracked, etc. I would never recommend them. Apparently since they've started manufacturing them in Mexico, the quality has dropped straight down.

No-one ever said this to me before...

... but i'll quote it because it needs to be bolded...




btw.. the local autozone guys, said "yellow tops are deep cycle.. those are for boats... not cars. I hope it doesn't hurt anything on your ride"

As they were talking... I was litterally pulling the stance of the pic ion has of that gray haired guy. Then... when they were done... i litterally.. facepalm'd. :No:

[[ion] C2]

http://ion-productions.com/doNotWant.jpg

[jabartram]

i've been running my yellow top for 4 yrs, have killed it with 2600 watts twice and it is still strong. and it doesnt hurt anything to be a deepcycle. bluetop is marine.

[AndyT3]

I run AcDelco batteries as does my family in all their vehicles and have never had an issue. Always get a decent life span.

[cherrington17]

i've been running my yellow top for 4 yrs, have killed it with 2600 watts twice and it is still strong. and it doesnt hurt anything to be a deepcycle. bluetop is marine.

That's exactly what I said. :lol:

[jabartram]

what other batteries compare to optima?

[99 SVT Bolt]

Been using the Autozone red top for 4 years. So far so good.

[Nate's Alero]

I have AC Delco.... never had ANY issue... killed it a couple times, including last week (headgasket cranking) still 14V @ idle holds 12.7 after sitting all night

[cherrington17]

what other batteries compare to optima?

kinetic are better, for power output.

[JLw7123]

ya the the red tops are good but like every said get the yellow there is also a battery brand named braille http://braillebattery.com/

[cherrington17]

red tops are NOT good.

[JLw7123]

I have friends that have red tops and they have had no problems.

[A57]

red tops are NOT good.

Well why do you think they aren't good?

Well Red tops have not water, so they wont freeze..
their completely sealed....
You can mount them any where on there sides etc..
There made of gel, and are very reliable..IMO
( not as good as lithium battery, but way Cheaper)

Every car that I've installed a sounds system in to and race cars i use optima battery's..
hell i have a red top in my garage the right now will start any car and it been sitting on the rack for 4 yrs now..

[cherrington17]

read the previous posts... my opinion holds. get yellow, never red.

[A57]

kinetic are better, for power output.

IC see sad the blind man, well sux to have to swap out battery like that i got mine from a battery dealer, so i guess there were made here..

And yeas any parts made in Mexico is F_N crap!

And yellow is better , but ive never had issues with red under the hood..

but hey if you have the extra 20 to 30 to spend by all means get a yellow.

And for as for other battery for sound systems there are stinger too, so many others i fogot the rest of them ... dame i still sleepy brain is out of order at the moment..COFFY!:eek:

[Vella's Alero]

Thanks for the input guys.

When it comes to it I think I'm gonna go with the yellow top Optimas

[JLw7123]

have u looked at the braille batteries.

[Vella's Alero]

nope how much is the difference money and performance wise between braille and optima batteries?