Battery recommendations (Page 1/3)
cvxjet DEC 18, 10:14 PM
I need to buy a new battery for my Fiero....Used to be I would buy either Diehard or Interstate....Not sure now....Diehard has....died.

What are your thoughts and experiences on car batteries?
RWDPLZ DEC 18, 11:27 PM
Interstate is still around, and I've had better luck with them than anything else. Tried Optima several times, the last one in my STI, I had to buy a special charger/reconditioner to keep it in good health while the car was parked most of the time at the start of the pandemic when it started to noticeably deteriorate.

https://www.optimabatteries...hargers/digital-1200

I left the Optima in the car when I traded it in for the Model S.

Save the receipt and be sure to take advantage of the pro-rated warranty. THAT is what has saved me more money than anything over the years on car batteries.
Rick Vanderpool DEC 18, 11:45 PM
FYI Advance Auto sells Diehard batteries.
theogre DEC 19, 04:07 AM
DH Interstate and more made by one company.
See my Cave, Battery

But JC sold battery div to someone else now and closed most/all US plants.

You may hate Walmart but their best one is cheaper then most and has 3 year Replacement warranty. Not Prorated from hard to read date codes.
If loses receipt then have serial # and obvious date label on it and still return w/o a pain in the a.. at any store.

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 12-20-2021).]

OldGuyinaGT DEC 19, 01:34 PM
I second Ogre's statement about the Walmart batteries. Their best ones (Everstart MAXX?) have been good for me in several vehicles, (one in my 88 GT right now) and on one vehicle I had to claim on the replacement warranty twice, and the process was quick and easy, no questions. Also can't beat the availability since Walmart is everywhere.

But Walmart or otherwise, the next battery I buy will probably be an AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) type, for higher capacity, longer life, and more rugged (and spillproof) construction. But these are usually about $100 more than a similarly sized standard lead acid batteries, and do have some downsides.
Spoon DEC 19, 09:06 PM

quote
Originally posted by cvxjet:

I need to buy a new battery for my Fiero....Used to be I would buy either Diehard or Interstate....Not sure now....Diehard has....died.

What are your thoughts and experiences on car batteries?



I bought my 86 Fiero SE in July 2001 with 53k miles on it and at that time it already had a new battery tray installed. Since then I've replaced the battery tray twice due to battery fumes rotting them out and I'm now at the 73,00 mile mark. So my thoughts on batteries is forget the acid filled batteries since in my case they're doing more damage to the car than road salt would if I drove in those conditions.

One day I was under the Fiero doing some work and noticed my original starter appeared to be brand new and spotless. Further investigation discovered a pinhole in my fuel line sending an invisible mist of fuel onto my starter. Other words I could only detect it by feel on the back on my hand. By the way SS fuel lines also rust. So I replaced the fuel lines and got rid of the 3rd rotted out battery tray. A few years ago I did the 3800SC swap and relocated the battery up front under the pass headlight. I Por_15'd that entire corner and fabricated a battery tray out of plate aluminum. So far so good.

I recently replaced my Cadillac AC-Delco battery which is installed in the trunk and noticed it had a vapor tube attached to it that lead outside of the vehicle. My replacement battery was a Die-Hard and it had the same battery provision for external venting. This may be a good option for the rear mounted Fiero battery if one is made that will fit. No more battery trays and fuel lines getting rotted out or worse. Just find a better place to vent it.

So my thoughts would be to consider getting a non-acid type battery or a battery that can be vented away from critical engine and chassis & electrical components. Save your vehicle.
End of rant...

ps: It amazes me how the Fiero battery trays rot out so quickly while sitting within inches of a ventilation panel. The fumes from sulfuric acid are lighter than air right?

Spoon


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"Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut

cvxjet DEC 19, 09:44 PM
On our Fieros the rain falling on top of the battery washes the acid residue down onto the battery tray and structure. On my '73 mach1 (5.0 FI engine) I put the battery in a plastic container (Used in boats). My Fiero has the battery mounted up front on a FIBERGLASS battery holder...and of course there is no rain falling....Under the hood!

The smartest thing Pontiac could have done is to just make a plastic platform with a drain tube to down below the chassis......


I have a Deep cycle marine battery in my boat (CVX-20 Jet)....I did not charge it for 5 months last winter and it still was able to turn the engine over (Yes, I should have charged it a few times) I wonder if I could use a deep cycle battery for my Fiero.....They actually show one that is the right size (75) and with the side poles......But it is almost $300!

[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 12-19-2021).]

theogre DEC 20, 12:41 AM

quote
Originally posted by Spoon:
I bought my 86 Fiero SE in July 2001 with 53k miles on it and at that time it already had a new battery tray installed. Since then I've replaced the battery tray twice due to battery fumes rotting them out and I'm now at the 73,00 mile mark. So my thoughts on batteries is forget the acid filled batteries since in my case they're doing more damage to the car than road salt would if I drove in those conditions.

That sound like the alternator and/or wiring to them has problems and over charging the battery.

When true, Using AGM may help and hind the real problem.

Also Many people don't drive enough and that wreck the battery. AGM are better but can die for same reason.
Low batteries causes many problems like Dead Cell(s) etc. then any charging can boil the battery and more headaches.
You don't want to see a battery under 12v as is. Repeated under 12v is worse. For this time of year, low battery can Freeze very easily and self destroy. You might jump or charge after but damage is done and can cause worse problems.

When I don't drive the Fiero for a week I have Battery Tender attach so stays full charge. More so when weather is cold.
When warm, don't need it on any charger 24/7.
Spoon DEC 20, 08:54 AM
Originally posted by theogre: That sound like the alternator and/or wiring to them has problems and over charging the battery.

Thanks theogre for your response. I was going to mention that but felt I was long winded enough. My wiring and alternator, charging system was functioning properly according to my instruments. I did upgrade to the CS-130 along the way. And my first experience with an overcharging battery was in 1972 when one blew up in my face when trying to jump start my 67 GTO from my aunts car. Sounded like a bomb went off!! It was the first time I saw a topless battery bubbling away with the engine still idling. Fortunately no eye or body injuries but a lesson well learned. It was her battery that was overcharging due to a bad external voltage regulator that seemed to be common in those days.

Spoon


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"Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut

eti engineer DEC 20, 09:06 AM

quote
Originally posted by cvxjet:

I need to buy a new battery for my Fiero....Used to be I would buy either Diehard or Interstate....Not sure now....Diehard has....died.

What are your thoughts and experiences on car batteries?



I agree with the Ogre, and when I was a kid, decades ago, my Dad gave me some advice on battery buying. He said that there are three levels of batteries in many cases. Good, better and best. He told me to always buy the "better" one. When I asked him why, he told me that battery casings are always the same size per a given type. The difference is the plate size. To get more CCA and available current, makers increase the size of the plates. This puts them closer to the casing walls. As batteries age, they shed materials off the plates, and those materials pile up at the bottom of the battery and can eventually short plates together which kills the battery. So why not buy the cheapest, I asked. He said that the CCA will be less and in Northern Utah winters, CCA means a lot. So, I have always bought the "better" batteries and have had excellent luck with them. What Dad said to me made sense and he was an electronics whiz, so I took him at this word.