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Chitty Batteries
So I goes out to the coach the other day to start it….that lovely sound, CLICK, CLICK. I went back and pulled all 4 batteries out of the bus and took them to the charger. Mind you I have two that are just over a year old, and two that are just past three years…I figured, old batteries gave up the ghost. I know, replace all 4……
So I charge all of them, although none of them were amp eaters….what the hay… I re-install the batteries (a bit of a pita) and set the two oldest batteries closest to the side door so they would be easy to pull, if necessary. BTW, here is where I flunked brains. I am a bit old school so after charging the old batteries I dug out my 50 year old battery under a load tester….smelled the usual dead bugs but the old ones (the obvious perps) tested fine…didn’t bother with the newer ones….goodness new batteries! Click, click………………………………#%@fe%4%%
Pulled all of them back out, checked them under a load, old ones strong, new ones took a dump under a load. So I go back to Interstate and bitch about the newer batteries, the clown there tells me they are only guaranteed for 1 year and that they are taking only a surface charge…huh? I buy into his arguement and purchase two new starting batteries, install them and everything is just fine!
So after all of this (these things are heavy for me) I start calling around and inquiring about the term surface charge?? Apparently there is no such thing and after my description I was told that the connectors between the plates were either inadequate of faulty…or far to small for the 990 CCA’s advertised on this fine Mexican made Johnson Control’s battery.
So the morale of the story, don’t have one yet but I can attest that the Centennial sealed commercial 31S batteries outlast the Interstate comp.
John
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25 Replies
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i feel your pain. Just installed 4 new chassis batteries Sunday after being stranded in a campground with a bus that wouldn’t start..
Merry Christmas!
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Roger, et al
I am not a spokesperson or dealer for Centennial batteries, don’t even recall where I bought them. What I can say, without doubt, for starting batteries, I have found no better. They are sealed and actually have some form of guarantee as I recall…although we all know about battery guarantee’s. Anyway I certainly recommend them for starters!!!
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I have gone out of my way to always replace my chassis batteries with Delco 1150 batteries. Two of my coaches had Interstate when I bought them but at the first indication they needed replacement I got the Delco batteries.
Admittedly 5 sets spread over about 25 years is not a scientific study, but they were always still doing well when I pulled them after 5 years. In fact I have had such good luck with Delco batteries in the vehicles over the years that is what I try to use in all my cars. The exception is the Optima batteries are used for my generator and now for my 50 Ford because it will be in the trunk and I don’t want outgassing from either.
I am seriously considering two Lifeline batteries for my next chassis changeout if Tom can assure me the heat in the engine area will be tolerated.
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I wish I could remember what batteries I had in my Dodge 2500 diesel. We bought it in 2004, and the batteries just crapped out last year. Didnt leave me stranded, but was a little hard starting when the temps got to the low 20’s. And since I had sold my FJ Cruiser and the M3, the dodge became my daily driver (was just doing tow service for the horse trailer).
We use the optima redtops in my wifes XTerra. And NAPA gives a really good discount with the NAPA card through the PC site 🙂
When I replaced the chassis batteries on the coach, NAPA only had one battery that would work so got those. Will see how long they last. The house and generator came from Jeff, so the house are lifeline. So far so good and not rotten egg smells from the batteries off gassing.
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Hey Jon, just wrap the two LifeLines in a couple pair of Tom’s depends and that should insulate them pretty well !!!!!!!
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John, Roger, I’ll commiserate. I had to change my start batteries after overnighting in the parking lot of Walmart in Flagstaff over Thanksgiving weekend. Luckily there was a Freightliner service center across the street that had 8-Ds in stock. The 2x 8-Ds are way easier to manage than 4 Group 31s from a connection standpoint, but boy those suckers are heavy!
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You guys are loosing me, how can you get stranded with bad chassis batteries? You can’t boost it off your house side or get your generator going to get your house side up to boost it.
How in the world are you wired? Rowger?
Later
bv -
Thanks Charles, at least someone is using the FREE NAPA card which will save appox. $50 per 31 series battery.
Bernie, hold on I’am on my way. We’ll have that Mega Trucker breakfast and trash talk all these guy’s.
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Bring your Babooshka BA, it’s only gonna be 70 deg next week. I’ve been waiting for you, alot of stuff to tinker with.
Later
bv -
Johnson Controls makes Interstate Batteries, they also make Motorcraft, Delco, Varta, and just about every brand you can imagine save a few like Exide. Most of their flooded batteries are made in Mexico, shipped here to Yuma where another monster plant fills, charges labels and ships the brands…sans labels they all look the same, probably on the inside as well.
The local Interstate Distributor claims that their batteries are “special”, made to their own specifications by JC, he also believes in the tooth fairy, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny! Even the Optima is made by JC and yes, just a few miles away in Mexico……
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Napa group 31’s boy’s, you can’t beat the price and if there’s a problem, Napa stores are everywhere.
Brian – If you would have called me turkey day weekend, I could have had Lifelines delivered to you at Walmart with complimentary turkey leftovers and a wash job for your coach. Just one of the many benefits of PC.:)
CB -I know where you live..
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Bernie, if the batteries get bad enough they won’t hold a charge sufficient to start no matter how much you charge them off the generator or house. Mine had been getting weak and I sometimes had to boost them with the generator to start after sitting a few days even in warm temps. Spending the night in temps in the mid teens finally did them in and I could not get them up above 23 volts after two hours of charging. They might have eventually got there, but since they were plainly bad they had to go. We were heading for some remote places so it was best to replace them while still in civilization.
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Bernie: I have a Liberty coach, there is no way that I know to boost your chassis from either the house or generator batteries unless you have a very long boost cable, plus 2 hours to remove the entertainment center to get to the house batteries.
my previous coach had a button for this situation.
Tom and Big Al: you will be pleased to know Napa got the business for the new ones. they were the closest to my broken bus with the best price
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Rowger, the group 31 Napas are good, I got them too.
Yep, us Marathon guys have heard about some of that great Liberty design. We just don’t talk about it and let you guys experience it.
Glad your fixed buddy.
Later
bv -
What – Gasp….. You Liberty guys don’t have the jump button on your dash?
Dodger – good boy…
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