Hey, So I need to get a new battery and was wondering if you guys had any preferences when it came to your volvo's?

I have and '86 244 DL, let me know

 

I used to be big on Interstate, but their service and quality has slipped of late. Deka batteries from East Penn are quite good, specifically whichever of these is the right size
http://www.dekabatteries.com/assets/base/0379.pdf

 

Just make sure it has a good warranty. I usually get them from Walmart or Sam because of the no fuss warranty.

 

and that they are the correct euro type, with the flange at the base for the battery clamps, or you have to jury-rig it with a strap, meh.

 

Ask for is Group 47 or 48 (bigger). That way all be fine fitment wise.

 

I agree, Interstate is not what it used to be. I would go with a Sears Die-Hard or Platinum battery. Sears is a large reputable company that has locations throughout the United State.

 

I've got several dead diehards at home that wouldn't hold a charge after being drained from non-use a single time. forget that noise.

I dunno who they are getting their batteries from these days but they are junk.

 

So I guess all batteries are going down hill in terms of quality.

 

another thing... these older cars, their alternators are set for charging conventional wet cell batteries. 'maintenance free' and 'sealed lead acid' (aka VRLA) batteries are antimony doped, and require a somewhat higher charging voltage... they won't fully charge with our vintage alternators, and this will greatly shorten the battery life... so you're best off sticking with old school wet cell batteries that have removable caps and vents.

 

FYI, almost all batteries sold in the U.S. are made by Johnson Controls. Wal-Mart, AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, Sears, Interstate, Delco, Motorcraft, Mopar, all of 'em. I used to work for another division of JC several years ago, and we had to watch the company propaganda films at every quarterly meeting.

The word was at the time that the science of designing and building batteries was so exact that they counted on any given battery do die no later than 90 days after the warranty ended. The ideal range was 30 days before (who--other than me--will do a warranty claim on a 60-month battery in month 59, for instance?) to 30 days after. Weather and maintenance issues notwithstanding.

The recommendation from the branch office where I worked was to buy at Wal-Mart. They're everywhere, they're cheap, they stay open late, and any thumb-fingered moron can change a battery. That's where I buy my batteries to this day, and I haven't worked for Johnson Controls for years.

Again, just an FYI.


Lynn B.

 

P.S. Forgot to mention...

Johnson Controls also does a LOT of the interiors for cars, too. That was in the propaganda films, as well. Videos of some BURLY, grim-faced folks (men and women ) just SLAMMING the upholstery onto seat frames, etc. They certainly didn't waste much time building an interior! Also, the Home-Link garage door opener thingy in new cars is a Johnson Controls innovation. They own the patents for it.

It used to be built into the overhead console (like my wife's 2002 Accord) to make sure that only JC-built interiors got the HL unit, but now my Nissan Frontier has it built into the rear view mirror, and it's available as an aftermarket add-on. And my Volvo has it built into the driver's sun visor. They're branching out, it seems.

Not pushing their products by any means, just thought you might like to know.


Lynn B.

 

except for the batteries made by East Penn, who's house brand is Deka.

in particular this line of 'exact fit' meant for european cars.
http://www.dekabatteries.com/assets/base/0379.pdf

the 'gold' are flooded cell, while the 'ultimate' are agm/sealed/maintenance free (and not appropriate for our 240/740/940s for reasons I gave above).

 

Thanks for the info, Pierce. Didn't know anybody else made lead acid batteries any more. Good to know.


Lynn B.

 

All of the Walmart batteries that I have purchased lately did have the bottom flange that fits well in the battery tray. Even though the Walmart numskulls leave it off all of the time.

 

Right. Buy the battery at Wal-Mart. Install it yourself.

Happened to my wife a few years back. I was working 'way late and she had to go to Wal-Mart for a battery. I told her to drive VERY carefully going home, and I'd check the installation when I got home. Sure enough, the battery hold-down was about to fall off. Tightened it up and moved on...

Lynn B.

 

I;ve gottn my last couple import batteries from Batteries Plus. their house brand is labeled RAY-O-VAC (oh geez) but are in fact those exact Deka Gold batteries I linked above. Batts+ checks my old battery (not just voltage, they do a discharge test that calibrates it in terms of Amp*Hours), cleans the battery compartment with a baking soda spray and rinses that out, cleans the terminals, installs the new battery, sprays the terminals with that purple gel that prevents terminal corrosion, hooks up a vent tube (since the volvo and benz sized euro batts have said vent), and verifies the charging system is working... all this for the price of the battery. they even plug a clock/radio keeper into the cigar lighter when they do this, so you dont have to reset your stations...

 

Thanks for all the information, I am going to check out the batteries plus and see if they can help me out if not I am going to Walmart tonight haha

Thanks again people

 

totally concur with Lynn. I to escaped from the evil johnson controls empire. almost all batteries available are made by a JCI company. Quality does range depending on branding in some cases. I purposely try to find a battery not made by them.

 

Autozone and Orielly use east penn.