Best battery longest full replacement warranty for Gen III

[MuscleJunkie]

What replacement battery would you recommend for my Gen III that is not driven too much. I have a die hard platinum charger with maintenance function that can be used. I bought a DH Plat battery but wasn't to happy with it. Looking for something that has the longest full replacement no hassle warranty.

Thanks

[Steve-Indy]

As posted (with specifics) in several threads, I have ditched Sears for new batteries...now using Interstate AGM's that have 4 year full exchange...then prorated.

Our Gen III can go months with an old Diehard Platinum group 34 if I activate the hibernation or sleep mode...with NO float charger.

[MuscleJunkie]

As posted (with specifics) in several threads, I have ditched Sears for new batteries...now using Interstate AGM's that have 4 year full exchange...then prorated.

Our Gen III can go months with an old Diehard Platinum group 34 if I activate the hibernation or sleep mode...with NO float charger.

What made you go with the Interstate batteries?

[Steve-Indy]

Friends were having good luck with them, Sesrs dropped DieHard Platinum (a rebadged Odyssey by Enersys), Diehard golds NOT lasting as in past, Sears stores closing, etc.

Interstates have a good warranty, are available in correct sizes, have local stores...so, I am giving them a shot.

As you know, there are many brands, made by s few companies to the brand's specs.

I have no need to go lithium...just trying to decrease frequency of pulling dead batteries out of Gen I and II Vipers...amongst others.

[Viper4Life]

What replacement battery would you recommend for my Gen III that is not driven too much. I have a die hard platinum charger with maintenance function that can be used. I bought a DH Plat battery but wasn't to happy with it. Looking for something that has the longest full replacement no hassle warranty.

Thanks

I went with Interstate Battery. Longer warranty and cheaper price (Costco).

[MuscleJunkie]

Friends were having good luck with them, Sesrs dropped DieHard Platinum (a rebadged Odyssey by Enersys), Diehard golds NOT lasting as in past, Sears stores closing, etc.

Interstates have a good warranty, are available in correct sizes, have local stores...so, I am giving them a shot.

As you know, there are many brands, made by s few companies to the brand's specs.

I have no need to go lithium...just trying to decrease frequency of pulling dead batteries out of Gen I and II Vipers...amongst others.

Thanks for the explanation. Also - what is the deal with Lithium? I apologize, but I've never heard about those type of batteries in our cars before.

[Steve-Indy]

Sorry...lithium batteries are small, light weight, powerful, and generally more expensive. All of this means a lot to a true racer...not so much to old street drivers such as...ME !!

Take a trip to forum sponsor DSE and look at doug's clever, efficient lithium batter/bracket.

http://www.dougshelbyengineering.com/viper.html

[Steve M]

I went through this a few weeks ago for my Gen 4, so the same info should apply for your Gen 3:

https://driveviper.com/forums/threads/22221-OEM-Gen-4-Battery-Specs

I have a Batteries Plus down the road from me, so I decided to see what they had to offer. You can go with a flooded type of battery, but they can leak, and that's just no fun, so I threw out that idea immediately.

AGM batteries are nice since they won't leak, but they'll cost you a little more. There are a few different options, and pretty much all of them are overkill for this application (i.e. they'll weigh significantly more than the OEM battery, but they do provide more juice). I think the OEM specs are 600 CCA, so keep that in mind when comparing.

There's the Duracell Ultra Platinum AGM (~$200) - it weighs 43 lbs, has 775 CCAs, and a 48-month warranty:
https://www.batteriesplus.com/battery/car-and-truck/dodge/viper/2008/v10-8.4l-600cca/sli34agm

There's the Odyssey Extreme AGM (~$390) - it weighs 49 lbs, has 880 CCAs, and a 48-month warranty:
https://www.batteriesplus.com/battery/car-and-truck/dodge/viper/2008/v10-8.4l-600cca/heppc1500t

And the X2Power Premium Extreme AGM (~$300) - it weighs 49 lbs, has 880 CCAs, and a 60-month warranty:
https://www.batteriesplus.com/battery/car-and-truck/dodge/viper/2008/v10-8.4l-600cca/sli34agmdp

As you can see, more lead = more CCAs, but they are also heavier and more expensive. They also offer Optima batteries, but I haven't touched one of those since the early to mid 2000s after they moved their manufacturing to Mexico...they used to be my go-to battery, but their quality definitely went downhill around that time frame. The old DieHard Platinum AGM was a killer battery for a killer price, but DieHard has also fallen on hard times it seems.

Out of that list, I chose the Duracell Platinum AGM - it saved me a few pounds, wasn't outrageously expensive, and should cover my needs for quite some time (I have a decent sized stereo system in my '08, but that's about it). I really wish Doug had a bracket/kit Lithium setup for us Gen 3/4 guys, because saving another 35 pounds sounds kinda nice to me, especially as I'm gearing up to head back to the drag strip in a few days.

Good luck with your search!

[99RT10]

As posted (with specifics) in several threads, I have ditched Sears for new batteries...now using Interstate AGM's that have 4 year full exchange...then prorated.

Our Gen III can go months with an old Diehard Platinum group 34 if I activate the hibernation or sleep mode...with NO float charger.

Can you explain the hibernation mode? Never heard of that.

[Steve-Indy]

I believe the owners manuals may reference "sleep mode". This status minimizes current drain by sitting down most everything. In our 03, when activated, the key fob will not work(in the normal though there is a procedure)and the doors are locked. The alarm is INACTIVE. Entry must be made using the key in the under-the-mirror. I have used this for extended time periods without battery failure when a float charger is not available. Admittedly, I have not used this mode on our Gen IV's....so, I can't give you the initiation sequence without checking the manual. In the 03, one turns off lights, radio, etc...then cycle ignition from off to accessory 4 full times ending in off. Then push driver door lock button up, horn honks and you have about 45 seconds to get out and close door before lockdown occurs.

Before anyone tries this, BE SURE that the special keyhole works and will unlock and open the door !!!

UPDATE: The 2006 owners manual calls this "battery save feature"...and the FULL explanation can be found in the section on "maintaining your vehicle".

[TrackAire]

Here's another problem with batteries.....just because one " group size" tested great, other group sized models from the same manufacturer may not be as good. Consumer Reports verified this in their testing as we have found in our business. You'd hope that all Interstates, Diehards, Duracells, etc would make all their batteries of equal quality but for some reason this is not the case. Same company but different group size can very in quality drastically. It is frustrating for the consumer.

Not including lithiums, here is what I've found:

I only use AGM's on daily drivers for the simple reason that I've never been able to document an AGM exploding like a wet cell battery can. (it's rare but does happen and makes a mess of things). Not leaking acid is another huge plus.

The battery that weighs the most has the most reserve amps and cold cranking power (both wet cells and AGMs)....don't fall for marketing gimmicks like "short circuit current 3100 amps". Those are useless specs in the normal automotive world but 3100 amps sound better than 2200 amps when comparing spec sheets.

Nearly every major brand of battery is made by two or three manufacturers in the USA. You can often see that the case design and shape of an Interstate is identical to Autozone Duralast for example. If the same group size weighs the same and has the identical exterior case shape, I'd venture to guess that the batteries are identical except for the labels, price and warranty.

You often pay more for the 4 year warranty battery vs a 36 month battery.....you'd think the 4 year warranty battery should be better but not always the case. The extra money you're paying up front for the 4 year battery is no different than buying an extended warranty on something. The manufacturers are just using statistics to keep making a profit....just like insurance companies.

Keep non daily driven vehicles on battery tenders.