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[Mike2909]

I have to replace the battery on the ZJ. At present the ZJ has  a Bosch battery 3 year old. Due to not enough use, letting it go flat regularly , irregular charging it is giving it up.
The ZJ is very rarely used during the week so is often stood still for more than a week.

Question is, are the Opitma batteries worth the extra ££s or am I better just getting a heavy duty battery and a trickle charger?

[bigjeepzj]

Me thinks there not worth it
Other's will differ

[daggie]

 

[bigjeepzj]

Re wired the Jeep so my battery is in the boot and changed it to a 90ah  Bosh silver
Optima are only 45ah max
Also zj will drain the battery something rotten fit an isolation switch if not used alot

[bgbazz]

Bosch Silver and the isolation switch is the way to go. Dunno about the UK, but the silver has a 3 year warranty over here.

[gordy]

Optimas not the same since they shifted manufacture outside the USA a few years ago, check out the us forums, my red top went belly up a week or two after the two year guarantee was up, complained to Tayna but got told where to go, never again.  Can't review the yellow top as never had one.

[JamesH]

Don't bother with Optima unless you are going to baby it.

[Mike2909]

Have Bosh silver in at the moment but only a 60ah. S4005 . It has done well to say the abuse it has had  so might as well stick with Bosch. Isolation switch is probably above my pay grade     but will look into it.

[bgbazz]

Between 5 and 35 quid on fleabay. The battery supplier might even have them.

[bigjeepzj]

Have Bosh silver in at the moment but only a 60ah. S4005 . It has done well to say the abuse it has had  so might as well stick with Bosch. Isolation switch is probably above my pay grade     but will look into it.

Just disconnect the battery when  no in use
it's the immobilizer that drains the battery anyway

[gordy]

And pass on those solar trickle chargers too, they are crap! (In my opinion).  Been there done that, even the biggest one was not putting enough in to keep the charge steady, if anything it was draining the battery, since I removed it my battery (a 800cca exide premium) discharges much slower.

  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Exide-Premium-Car-Battery-Type-110-85Ah-800cca-Sealed-4-Year-Warranty-EA852-/350884848883?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item51b25de4f3

This fits nicely into a TJ. 

[bgbazz]

Must be a Jeep thing. My Patrol holds charge for around six weeks without being started and that battery is 7 years old (and before you ask, she has an imob and alarm). My KJ, fitted with all the bells and whistles, could only manage a month in the summer..two weeks in temps below freezing.

[Nosebolt]

Optima are the titanium shackles of batteries, 5% better but 50% more costly, not worth it IMHO

[dtooth]

I must have the only good one (yellow optima) had it years brought it 2nd hand sits in truck for months on end gets put in any motor I need to move about , winched with  , jumped from never let me down

[Cockney Boy]

  I've a Yellow Top, had it around 2 years now and still going strong. If your discharging your battery fast (winching) then you need a battery that can take it.

[Dodster]

   Another vote for yellow tops, one is 6 years old..

Don't bother with Optima unless you are going to baby it.

Agree with James though, c-tech type charger to keep them charged whilst standing or if getting low..

[gazjeep]

  Another vote for yellow tops, one is 6 years old..

Don't bother with Optima unless you are going to baby it.

Agree with James though, c-tech type charger to keep them charged whilst standing or if getting low..

Yep, 6 years old here too, done reasonable amount of winching in that time & yes got a cTek for any long periods of non use .... gets my vote

[gazjeep]

based on the last 3 replies, could it be that they like TJ's more than other Jeeps ? 

[Jonny Jeep]

Pulling the IOD fuse when it's stood might help.

[dtooth]

based on the last 3 replies, could it be that they like TJ's more than other Jeeps ? 

Mines an XJ  although it has the same number of doors as a TJ  and I don't use a  charger well stood for a while

[raps]

I've got a red top on my KJ, previously on my Disco, about six years old now, works perfect no matter what I do to it

[XJ Fan]

I had a yellow top about 6 years ago - never let me down (well, only when the alternator died), and the car stood for months at a time without use, and jump-started fine.

[Delk]

I had a red top that worked fine for years. When I finally changed it I went through three replacements in as many months. They all had faults and went back under warrenty. Finally the shop said they had enough and gave me an Excide that worked a treat.

First one was good but after the trouble with the others I will never go back.

[XJ Fan]

So, any favoured places for getting the decent batteries at good prices? I'm thinking I may need one soon....

[wildwood]

 Www. Tayna batteries.co.uk.

Got 2 in the 1 Ton. 1000cca each for about £80 each I seem to remember! 3 year warranty. Just keep em charged when not in use to keep warranty terms.
they deliver to your house / work also.