I can't remember what I called the thread, but I wrote it. I spent literally months researching batteries because I saw it coming, many on the BB have had the issue. One day the battery just won't charge, damnedest thing. Never seen a batery just die dead before. I had to get a jump and drive to Sears in a snow storm to get a battery. After much research the Sears Platinum Die Hard turned out to be made by Odyssey, the highest rated battery by the car audio guys who really tax there batteries. Almost all batteries sold in the US are made by one of two manufacturers, Johnson Control or Exide, Johnson Control makes the Optima, and they are no better than any other now. Enersys makes the Odyssey and the Sears Platinum, only the Platinum series, the regular Die Hard is usually an Exide, but some are Johnson Controls. The Die Hard weighs more than the stock battery, but it also has almost twice the cold cranking amps. For some reason the suddenly dead problem only effects the GXP/Red Lines, but at 50,000 miles a new battery is not a bad idea if you make it that far, I didn't.
Here is the list,
Brand Manufacturer
ACDelco Johnson Controls
Advance Auto Johnson Controls
AutoCraft Johnson Controls
Autolite Exide
AutoZone Johnson Controls
Bosch Johnson Controls
Champion Johnson Controls
Costco Johnson Controls
Delco Johnson Controls
Delco-Remy Exide
DieHard Johnson Controls
Duralast Johnson Controls
Duralast Johnson Controls
Equalizer Johnson Controls
EverStart (Wal-Mart) Exide or Johnson Controls, depending on model
Firestone Johnson Controls
Interstate Johnson Controls
Marathon Exide
Motorcraft Johnson Controls
NAPA Exide
Optima Johnson Controls
Orbital Exide
Pep Boys Johnson Controls
Sears Exide or Johnson Controls, depending on model
Wal-Mart Exide or Johnson Controls, depending on model
Odyssey EnerSys
Sears Platinum EnerSys
I tend to pick up stuff from lots of different forums, I am on a Truck forum and car stereo forum too, the car stereo guys are the authority on batteries.
