Damn battery wouldn't turn over my car even after 7 hours on the charger, so I look under the car and it appears battery acid is dripping under where the battery is under the hood. Only a 1 year old Excide so I want to stay the heck away from them (thats the 2nd Excide I've had issues with). If that battery sat for more than 2 weeks the car was completely dead (and I checked everything to makes sure there was nothing draining voltage besides the radio).

I don't have $175 for an Optima, but was wondering what you guys reccomend that actually keeps its charge for more than a couple weeks if the car sits. Car has 10:1 CR and a Summit High Torque Mini-Starter. I'm also wondering if this battery issue is why I've had an off and on ignition issue (car would loose power like it hit a rev limiter and wouldn't spool up fast even when it was floored) I've had for a year now....this could be a blessing in disguse. Thanks for the info!

Nick

I've had the same Interstate in my car for 4 years. I think it's a 800 CCA. Didn't have to charge it after sitting all winter. I did put a charger on it after starting it for the first time this year.

If the battery goes dead when the car sits for a couple of weeks, either you have a defective battery, or something wrong with your car that is draining the battery power. If the problem is the car, no battery in the world will solve your problem. If the problem is a battery, any battery that is working correctly will fix it.
My Camaro sat for 6 months this past winter and started right up this Spring with my 6 year old Walmart battery.

I use whatever's on sale. Cheap batteries have always done just fine for me- although I make sure I use the biggest battery that can fit in the tray. If it's got a voltage leak somewhere it'll kill anything. If it sits for months at a time one of those new "intelligent" trickle chargers works wonders.

To check for a slow drain..... pop off one of the cables and put your test light between the battery terminal and the cable end fitting. If it's drawing any meaningful juice (aside from keeping the clock and radio preset memory active) the light will light up. Trunk lights, glove compartment lights and little low-draw accessories are the usual culprits. I even had one once with a defective horn button in the steering wheel- enough to drain a tiny bit of juice, but not enough to activate the horn!

My 78 Malibu sat for 4 months over the winter without starting. Hopped in, turned the key and it fired up, although you could tell the battery was a little drained from the unusually slow cranking.

Costco's Kirkland Signature brand are all under $50, have an 84 month warranty (36 month FREE replacement, pro-rate after that), come in several sizes, and are made under license by Johnson Controls (one of the big manufacturers, they also make/own Optima).

With a mini-starter, you shouldn't need a giant battery. I run a Honda-Civic sized Optima, and it rolls my 350 fine in the dead of winter. Why carry the extra weight?

I run a red top Optima, seems to work well.

i'm running the exide orbital dual terminal 1000cca battery and no issues here !!!

i'm running the exide orbital dual terminal 1000cca battery and no issues here !!!

I'm using the same battery in my Camaro and Red top Optima in the S-10

I don't have $175 for an Optima

I run an Optima red top and it only cost me $120.

If you take that battery to one of the parts stores in your area and have it tested I'll bet it fails with a bad cell. The battery acid under the battery is either the result of a cracked case or overheating from the charger

Delco's have lasted me 7+ years

Optima Red Top. Great battery.

http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86092&highlight=Optima

Check out this thread on Optima batteries.

I use Delco.

I use Interstate.... great battery IMO!

I run a red top Optima in my car,got it from Pep Boys at just over $100...worked great all season.

Usually we go to the junkyard and pick up a Delco out of something that came in,they test it and sell them for like $25...for any size/type.

WalMart battery in my Z28, Caprice, and Seville.