In Phoenix in the heat, replacement batteries typically last 2 years no matter what "brand" you buy (this may exclude Optimas, don't know as I've never used them).

Maybe I missed it, and it's been in most of the other best battery threads over the years here, but there are only a few manufacturers of all the batteries you can buy IIRC. So Diehard, Duralast, Walmart, Interstate, etc., MAY be manufactured by the same company.

For Phoenix and the heat, I've learned to buy the least expensive battery with the best replacement warranty I can find, and that's at Walmart. They have the right size for my car, have a 3 year replacement warranty, and are definitely less expensive than Duralast, Die Hard, Interstate, Costco, etc. for essentially the same battery.

 

I have Duralast 49DL in both my 928's since 2005 for the 81 and 2006 for the 84. No problems to date. I disconnect the battery when not in use for long periods and put a charger on them every few weeks.

One interesting issue I found on the 84 was the original ground strap had been replaced by a smaller round battery cable (like on a chevy). Almost every time I would turn off the headlights - the engine would die. I did a bunch of troubleshooting trying to fix the problem (cleaning grounds, check alternator...etc...etc..etc) until someone mentioned the ground strap. I replaced it with the original and the issue hasn't happened since.

Cheers,

 

I don't think so. Hard to guess if next to the muffler is a lot cooler than typical front of the engine compartment, but my guess is that air flow and battery temperature are considerations in front location designs. Persistent and common electrical drains likely kill most 928 batteries, but some of the Az guys say heat is a killer for them. Putting a battery under the spare I suppose makes it much less common for them to be checked. I've never owned a car that croaked as many batteries as a 928 does, by something like a factor of 3.

Sams club is kinda Walmart, same batteries I would guess, and pretty sure they know how to sell to retailers with a tax thing.

 

928 batteries usually seem to last LESS. I suspect the problem is that Porsche made the car so complicated and full of wiring and stuff. My FS Bronco (and other trucks I've owned) ran their ENTIRE lives on one battery, talking hundreds of thousands of miles.

Every 928 battery I've ever had (brand / type makes zero diff) died at some point. They're all the same IMHO ... just buy one from Target.

 

I've had no problems with Optima batteries when they're in a car driven regularly, but if asked for advice, my unscientific observations (2 different 928's, 5-6 Optima batteries (yellow tops and different versions of red tops, over 5-6 years) would lead me to say they're not the way to go. They're more expensive, aren't made to fit the car, and are tricky to charge. Some suggest you connect a standard battery in parallel, while attempting to charge an Optima, because of the charging quirks.

 

My GT's p/o was going through a battery every 8-12 months. She'd call Porsche and they'd send a rollback out, take it to the dealership & it would get a new Porsche battery (along with tires, wiperblades, oil changes, whatever else they recommended ) A year or so later, the same thing. Back on the rollback for a new battery. I was concerned that the car had some serious electrical issues when I was going through the paperwork.
Not the case. She was locking it whenever she parked it in her garage. Sometimes for weeks on end. I'm convinced that the security system on the S4 & later drains the battery to the point that many batteries can't fully recover.
That's why I don't lock my car in the garage & use a maintainer.

True about the charging quirks w/Optimas, but you can call them and get right through to tech support - which is a plus, I'd say. I left my hood open for a week w/the crappy little engine light on. The Red Top was stone dead. Standard charge methods wouldn't revive it, but after talking to tech support, the battery in series method apparently told the charger that the battery was good, so it stayed in charge mode and gave the Optima a full charge. It's hard to say, but I don't believe that the Optima suffered in the least bit from that full discharge - even though it's not a Yellow Top. This experience gave me a bit more faith in the product.

 

Great to hear from you Lex!! Yes I agree as well. My red top simply didn't fit and seat well, but it worked as well as any other battery.

 

Heinrich - nice hearing from you as well. Glad to see you're still fighting the fight.

 

Too funny man .. we both have only 87 ans 94 cars anymore.

 

I'd put our batteries up against any of the ones mentioned here.

 

I just e-mailed Lucas for model #, price, and weight of their lithium batteries for 928's. Will post up after reply. T

 

I always get a battery from a nationwide chain with a good warranty in the correct case style and Ah rating - I consider it basically a consumable item so I want the replacement cycle to be easy & cheap wherever I am...

I have no illusion that it will last more than 2 years here in Phoenix - so its probably a more frequent cycle than many people change tires...

Paying $1000 for a battery seems a little insane to me...

Alan

 

Slap a Porsche badge on it and you can pay over $2,000:

http://www.porsche.com/microsite/tec...lectedVariant=

 

I ran 4 cars in 9 years in Saudi in temps 50-120F, some doing very hard off road work, where you could fry an egg on the hood. IIRC the only time I had an unacceptable battery life was - a brand new German made Varta - died in 3 months - in the 928! Replaced it with a locally made equivalent, lasted 1.5 yrs in Saudi, and another 5 back in Oz (much cooler!). The others were all in the engine bay subject to very high temps. Now running a Chinese 'Bond' branded unit, 3+ years, but it sits on a trickle charger while idle.
jp 83 Euro S AT 53k

 

Lucas of Litium Pros just got back to me. The model # for our cars is the C680 (4.63 lbs) at $ 499, or the L680 (5 lbs) at $ 999. The L680 costs more because is has the Battery Mgmt System. They come with a 60 day warranty. Comparison info at: http://lithiumpros.com/lithium-l-series-vs-c-series/ T