On Saturday when I tried to start the car to take it to the shop, the battery did not have enough juice to crank the starter. The voltmeter across the battery terminals showed 11.24 volts. A jump start from a battery starter as well as from my other car proved useless. Call was made to Haggerty roadside assistance. He was able to jump start it from his truck battery. The mechanic checked the battery and alternator and said everything is fine. The car had been started earlier two days back. Saturday was not a very cold day here in Houston (maybe 45 deg F).

Does the battery need to be replaced. It is an Interstate Battery. I do not know if it is still in warranty. If I need a new battery any suggestions which is a good brand. I heard the Optima red top batteries are the best. Anyone have experience with it.

 

First you need to figure out why your battery was dead. Is it not charging, holding a charge, or is there some parasitic battery draw on the system with the key off? I'm not a fan of Optima batteries, I've had really good luck long term with Walmart Everstart batteries.

 

You can drive your Olds to an auto parts store and they can test you battery, starter and alternator for free. I tried a redtop Optima on my 71 from Summit and it didn't hold a charge.

 

Optima were good batteries before the new owner who moved production out of the US.

Today the most reliable and longest-life batteries are USA-produced pure-lead AGMs, which are used exclusively by police-car upfitters. The two battery makers in this category are NorthStar and Odyssey.

I've had a Sears-branded Odyssey in my Vista Cruiser for 10 years and it is still strong.

However, the cost is of these batteries is high. And if you always keep your battery well-charged and don't deep-cycle it, conventional batteries as oldcutlass recommended may be a better bargain.

 

ALL batteries are expensive now! Where can one source the US manufactured AGMs? I’ve never owned, but have heard good feedback on Interstate.

 

The US-made AGMs (Odyssey and NorthStar) are at AutoZone, Batterymart, Amazon, Summit, and Batteries Plus Bulbs.

NorthStar makes a private-branded pure-lead AGM, the X2, available at batteriesplus.com and the Batteries Plus Bulbs stores.

I've had an Interstate for 5 years, but I'm one who always keeps a charger my batteries.