Still Have OEM 320 CCA Battery

[jake75]

The game of "chicken" is over - no apparent problems but my 2003 Vibe was built 5 years ago in Oct 2002 so that's how old the OEM 310 CCA or so Battery was. Decided not worth testing fate this winter. Got a Kirkland 640 CCA at Costco for $55 plus tax - installation was within even my limited mechanical skills. 36 month 100% warranty, 100 month prorated warranty. Battery had a very fresh "10/07" sticker. Consumer reports says there are only 3 manufacturers for all the brands you see. I think this Costco Kirland brand is the same battery that Autozone sells for $70. Sam's Club was $53 for a similar one and I think they install free but I probably was more careful than they would have been. I also got and used a pair of those red and black felt washers for 99 cents at Sears auto center that are supposed to reduce corrosion at the terminal.

[Kamikaze]

good deal! most batteries life these days is 3-4 years, so if you have to replace it every 4-5 and the first 3 under a warranty for $55 you can't beat it!I'm not sure about the claim for battery manufactures... I'm interested to look into this and try to find an answer... I'll check back to see if anyone else knows this answer, and if not will post my findings!

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by Kamikaze »good deal! most batteries life these days is 3-4 years, so if you have to replace it every 4-5 and the first 3 under a warranty for $55 you can't beat it!I'm not sure about the claim for battery manufactures... I'm interested to look into this and try to find an answer... I'll check back to see if anyone else knows this answer, and if not will post my findings!Being a frugal sort, I read Consumer Reports either at the Library or one of the big bookstores. This comment about only being 3 battery manufacturers was in a CU report on batteries within the past 2 months. They didn't bother to tell us the name of these three manufacturers and identify the brands they make. I am skeptical of the validity of their testing anyway believing that the differences observed are probably due to variences in individual batteries because the reports shows differences between different sizes of the same brand. This recent report did not include any tests of the 35 series batteries.

[Kamikaze]

Interesting... I was on a search that lead me to consumer reports, and I couldn't back it up even on their website that they said this. I don't believe that there are only 3 companies....I can think of Die Hard, Interstate (aka Optima), Eveready... I know that Energizer is making car batteries too, not that I've ever seen one. I don't know who makes some of the other brands like Duralast, Autocraft, kirkland, etc, I'm sure it's 1 or 2 companies that make these batteries and then Kirkland, or Duralast slap their sticker on it.

[jake75]

http://www.autobatteries.com is sponsored by Johnson Controls.AutoBatteries.com is brought to you by Johnson Controls, Inc.,North America's leading battery manufacturer. This site is designed to help you as consumers learn more about batteries, choose what battery you want, figure out the right part for your vehicle, and find out where you can buy it.They have a brand selector.Check out any of these batteries and then find the store closest to you. Use our Battery Selector to find out what batteryyou need for your car or truck. Fifteen brands are listed. It's a safe bet that all 15 of these brands are made by Johnson Controls.Included are Diehard (Sears), Kirkland (Costco), Everstart (Wal-Mart), Duralast (Autozone) Autocraft (Advanced Auto Parts), Optima (Interstate Distributors and various retailers), Eveready, Energizer etc. I remember reading several years ago that Sears changed battery manufacturers.

[Kamikaze]

^ that's kind of what I thought too...

[jake75]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaInterstate Battery System of America, Inc., a.k.a. Interstate Batteries, is a privately-owned company that markets automotive batteries manufactured by Johnson Controls through nearly 300 independent distributors. The company is based in Houston, Texas. The current owner and chairman, Norm Miller, is a born-again Christian who promotes Biblical values.Exide Technologies is the world's second-largest producer of automotive lead acid batteries for automotive and industrial applications.So far we have identified two manufacturers - Johnson and Exide. The Consumer Reports article (see next post) identified the third as "East Penn". I did not remember that they did that.

[jake75]

November 2007 Car batteries testHigh-tech AGM batteries top the ratings Many car batteries look and perform much like those we tested 10 years ago. But a newer type of lead-acid battery called absorbed glass-mat, or AGM, is gaining ground in new cars and as a replacement battery.Battery manufacturers claim that AGM batteries, which can replace conventional batteries in many vehicles, have advantages, including longer life, better durability, and increased safety.This year, our test of 23 batteries included 4 AGM models. One of them, the DieHard Platinum, scored the highest in our Ratings for its group. And most of the other AGM batteries in our test performed better than the traditional models in the same group size. But at $145 or more, AGM batteries can cost more than twice as much as some conventional models.AGM batteries contain an absorbent fibrous glass material that surrounds the plates and lines the interior. It helps keep the plates secure and less subject to being vibrated loose and failing over time. The material also absorbs the liquid electrolyte, so there is nothing to leak if the battery case gets cracked. Manufacturers claim AGM batteries are completely sealed and spillproof, which makes them safer and more maintenance-free than traditional designs.Many new car designs position the batteries in areas that are difficult to access. Limited access can pose maintenance hassles for regular batteries, which should be checked and filled with distilled water as needed, typically once a year in most areas and twice a year in warmer climates. Because AGM batteries are maintenance-free, manufacturers claim that they might be more suitable for those new car configurations.Both AGM and conventional batteries are available under various brand names through auto-parts stores, department stores, and big-box chains. Nonetheless, most aftermarket car batteries sold in the U.S. are made by just three companies that build them to the specifications of retailers such as Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, Kmart, Sears, and Wal-Mart. One of those three, Johnson Controls, supplies more than half the U.S. market. All three manufacturers--Johnson Controls, Exide, and East Penn--now produce AGMbatteries, but the available group sizes are still limited.Even with only a few manufacturers, battery performance can vary widely, as our testing showed.A NEW TESTWe used a new battery-life test this year that closely follows a test recently adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers. The new standard is intended to better replicate real-life conditions and to take into account changing technology for both conventional and AGM batteries. The test dictates several different drain-and-recharge cycles over a 100-hour period where the battery must meet voltage and amperage limits. The best performers in our test maintained higher voltages and withstood more cycles than the others.This new test means we can't directly compare the Ratings (available to subscribers) from this test with those from previous tests. Due to the increased time required for the test, we were limited to examining only two popular group sizes. If you need a battery in another group size, continue to refer to our previous test (available to subscribers). Our top picks from other group sizes in that test are also noted in our CR Quick Recommendations (available to subscribers).Our reserve-capacity test remains the same. It measures how long a battery can supply power if the charging system fails or if you leave your lights on. The lowest-scoring models should provide 1½ hours of power for those two group sizes. Higher-scoring models can provide well past 2 hours, so you might have starting power for a much longer time even if you forget to turn your lights off.We also test for cold-cranking amps (CCA). It is the main indicator of how a battery will perform when starting in cold climates and is a measure of battery current available at 0° F. CCAis a longtime selling point for batteries. We believe that the industry's claimed CCA, based on tests in which batteries are charged at a higher voltage than the 14.5 volts provided by most vehicle alternators, does not reflect real-world conditions and makes some batteries look better than they actually are. Our CCA test shown in the Ratings (available to subscribers) is based on more realistic charging voltages and amperage demands.

[jake75]

Something strange - My last post on this thread was 10-22-07.It now appears in the active posts list as 2:38 PM 12/23/2007by jake75This has happened several times before on various threads.

[BBYE V8]

For the past 2 months our '03 Vibe was very slow to start so I figured the stock 310 amp battery would not make it through another winter. I have two cars with Optima batteries and had planned on making the Vibe the third but after reading the Consumer Reports article I had second thoughts. They did not test group 35 batteries, but in groups 34/78 & 78 they did test 4 different AGM batteries (Die Hard Platinum, Optima Red Top, Orbital Exide Select & Deka Intimidator), the Die Hard Platinum tested the best. I did a price check and Sears had the Die Hard Platinum for the same price that Auto Zone had on the Optima Red Top ($179 for group 35). You may find an Optima cheaper on line or get a Die Hard on sale, but I needed one ASAP. FYI, the Die Hard has a better warrantee: 48 month free replacement/100 month total. The Optima has a 36 month free replacement/72 month total. With better warrantee, better service, more coast to coast locations and for the same price I bought the Sears Die Hard. The only down side so far is the weight, it's a heavy little mother, but at least it's got a built in beefy handle.As of now I'm happy with the battery, but it's new. If I ever have any problems with it I will definitely come back and update my experience.
.
5/11/11 update: battery is still working great as expected.
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7/23/2012 update: The Sears Die Hard Platinum battery is still cranking hard, seems just like the day we bought it.
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5/5/2014 update: The Die Hard Platinum is still doing fine; it has yet to fail us. The car just recently rolled 140K miles and it has yet to fail us as well.

[tribalman]

i have an 04 vibe base. it has a 310cca battery, not sure if it is the stock on, i'm the 2nd owner. because i've seen a few threads about this recently, and it seems as if the battery is having some trouble starting the car at cold temps. like 20*F or colder. i've had the car for a bit over 1 1/2 years, so i'm sure this is going to be going soon. i'm not quite sure what kind of battery to get, or which to trust. for something that's kinda expensive and a big key to the car starting and running, i don't wanna just get any cheapo crap battery. i also don't wanna spend an exorbant ammount for something that is only 'ok'.i was just checking sears.com, the first battery is the diehard gold north. it's rated at 700 cca http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_1...rgers. it's a hundred bucks, so that is a bit of a turn off. is this one capable of working very well? it's 40 buck cheaper. its the diehard north rated at 425cca http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_1...rgersnot sure if this matters, running an aftermarket HU with 4 4-way speakers and a 500watt amp running an 12" r-12.

[thermometer]

Got my 2004 Vibe in Aug 2003. Still going strong with the original battery, five years and four months. I want to get a new battery with the winter here, but I also want to see how long it will last. Probably will get a new one and not tempt fate.

[wyatt89]

I've still got the OEM battery in my '04 GT, it doesn't like cold mornings under 30 but otherwise it doesn't take very long at all to start. My vibe has almost 50k on it.

[Raivis]

guess what!!! my car was man. n feb 02 and im still running the original battery even the pas couple days when its been down to 8 degrees it barely hesitates

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by Raivis »guess what!!! my car was man. n feb 02 and im still running the original battery even the pas couple days when its been down to 8 degrees it barely hesitatesDo you also play Russian Roulette?

[June]

OEM Battery in my 04 Vibe bit the dust about a month ago. It was fine in 40 plus degree weather but as soon as the temps plunged the battery would slowly drain and I had to jump it every morning and after work. Got tiring after awhile.Upgraded to a Duralast Gold from Autozone. No complaints so far. But right now I'm visiting family in FL and return to Jersey on Wed. The Vibes been sitting in a lot for a week so this will be the test. Hope it starts.

[pick41]

Up until Thursday, I still had the OEM Battery. Not bad for a 04. Replaced it with a Duralast Yellow top.

[EddieandtheVIBE]

My wife's 04 vibe still has the stock battery in it. But she's gonna need a new one soon. This past wknd, after our third or fourth stop (short trips), the car would not start. Got a jump and off we we went...

[thermometer]

My '04 purchased in August 2003 is now 5.5 years old and the battery is the original. Recently tested at 280 CCA. Not bad. Still going strong and no need to replace. Besides, I really want to see how long it will last. Got a feeling that the heat of the upcoming summer might do it in. No complaints at all.

Attached files

[tribalman]

i ended up keeping my stock battery until december 08. it was getting a bit iffy and i need my car everyday for going to one of my works. i weighed the options and it was worth it for me to toss down the $100 to avoid missing a day of work. i ended up getting a Die Hard Gold. been working pretty good. no issues.

[Mojo72]

I replaced my OEM Delco battery w/ a Sears DieHard Gold (640 CCA) in Nov08 at 77,647 miles and am glad that I did. Given how the DieHard was laboring during some of this past winter's subzero mornings, I can only wonder how much longer the OEM would have lasted before giving up the ghost.

[MisterHighway]

My stock battery is 6 1/2 years old with 165,000 miles and 6 Michigan winters under its belt. I'm starting to see signs of aging so I'm getting ready to replace it here in a couple days.

[metso5]

i just swapped out my stock battery with a kirkland(costco) battery with 640 cca,,,wow what a difference,,price and warranty were top notch!

[Thewolf]

Just another data point. We took delivery of our 2004 GT in the fall of 2003. 137k miles (new clutch at 127k miles), still on the stock battery.Last winter I kept it on a charger/desulfator each night, but you can tell that it is wearing down. The battery in my 2003 truck just completely failed, so I got new WalMart EverStart Maxx for $75 for it and the Vibe. I would have gotten the Kirkland, but we aren't Costco members. The duralast gold's are great too, same battery as the everstart with just a better warranty.

[lovemyraffe]

My OEM p.o.s. battery died today 80,500 miles.

[Baltovibe]

My OEM 320CCA battery started to go dead after 81 months. It never left me stranded, but recently the starter started clicking instead of starting, giving me notice that it had reached the end of its life.Replaced it with a KMart Plus Start size 26R, 525CCA for $45 after exchange. I guess it has been a while since I had purchased a battery, and was amazed how expensive even no-brands were.

[Cougar Vibe]

Quote, originally posted by Baltovibe »Replaced it with a KMart Plus Start size 26R 525CCA for $45 after exchange.That's amazingly cheap; I was going to replace the battery in my GC before selling it and the "most affordable" one I could find was $90 (WallyWorld). Maybe I'll pack some heat and head over to KMart for a look. As for my Vibe battery, we're at 69 months and ~60K miles...but it's garaged overnight, which definitely prolongs battery life. CV

[Beer Belly]

My original battery lasted only 42 months and I was at about 85000km. Maybe it's the harsh "Canadian Winters" that killed it.I replaced it this past winter (at -25C) with an "Eliminator" battery from Canadian Tire. We'll see how long this one lasts.

[ou.grizzly]

Original OEM Battery in the 2003 Vibe...

[tpollauf]

WOW is this an old thread I'm an expert on battery replacement mainly due to "brain drain" or whatever other term you want to use for inactivity of the vehicle. My 92 F-150 has had SIX batteries in the 20 years that I've owned it. Now the Vibe GT, I feel , will also have a short battery life BUT I'm trying to drive it a bit more. Since our son got his Vibe GT we've been using it as he's learning to drive it while getting his license. Going into winter and next year I think mine will be driven a bit more