Autozone battery still johnson controls? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

barry123400 · #1 04-13-2007, 01:31 PM

Was passing through Hackensack New Jersey reciently. Stopped and picked up an autozone type 49 duralast battery for 79.95. Are these the ones made by johnson controls still? The reason I ask is at a normal parts store also saw an energiser that appeared to have very simular items on it like the acid fill covers and perhaps exact case type although different in colour. Just currious as I know the johnson control batteries are good for the money. Also if they are the same the energiser is cheaper where I shopped and I still need a few batteries on my next trip south of the border.

Cervan · #2 04-13-2007, 04:42 PM

get an ultima dont even mess with those other peices of crap. you will keep the ultima even after the car is rusting on the ground.

oldnavy · #3 04-13-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cervan

get an ultima dont even mess with those other peices of crap. you will keep the ultima even after the car is rusting on the ground.

Ultima is a part of Johnson Controls, or so a friend who works for the JC tells me. I have been fortunate to be able to get a couple of Ultima over the last couple of years and only had to pay $75 for them at the time. May get another one this spring from him for the Benze.

pawoSD · #4 04-13-2007, 05:14 PM

Our 300D that we bought has a "DrivingForce" battery in it, and it says "Johnson Controls Battery Group" on the bottom of the label.

aersloat · #5 04-14-2007, 01:45 AM

Umm... That would be "Optima" batteries. If you go to the Johnson Controls website you will find a link to their http://www.autobatteries.com website where they list some of their brands. For instance, the Energizer car batteries are JCs, same as the Duralasts. While Optima is indeed owned by Johnson Controls they still make batteries for other folks, namely Interstate, and those batteries are serviced by Interstate, not Optima.

muleears · #6 04-14-2007, 06:52 AM

According to the autobatteries.com site, they don't make an Optima to fit my 124, I wonder why?

oldnavy · #7 04-14-2007, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muleears

According to the autobatteries.com site, they don't make an Optima to fit my 124, I wonder why?

They do, it is the same battery used for the VW TDI, Liberty CRD and Magnum (LX cars). The MB uses a reversed pole battery same as the other vehicles mentioned. I will be getting one for the our 124 300D (2.5L) later in the spring, that will make an Optima 34R in all our vehicles.

The Optima will be shorter in Length and a little taller, but does fit the MB quite well.

It is a 34 R

Part # 8003-151

L - 10"
W - 6.8"
H - 7.8"
Wt- 38 lbs

CCA (0* F) 800 amps
MCA (32* F) 1000 amps

I do have the PDF for the battery if you need it or you can find it here. Optima PDF

barry123400 · #8 04-14-2007, 04:06 PM

Thanks for the update fellows. At first I thought perhaps I had purchased a really cheap battery. This batteries equivelant is about 150.00 canadian at home and 15 percent consumption tax.
The new jersey tax and price works out to about 100 canadian. Also if there are any canadians reading this your personal excemption after 48 hours has been raised from 200.00 to 400.00.
The autozone store otherwise did not really impress me much either. The general merchandise quality or price that is. That was the first one I think I have been in. There was a larger pep boys up the block I dropped into as well. Again it did not appear to be the best type of auto parts store. Perhaps the old days are just fading away with the newer chain stores increasing market share. .

toomany MBZ · #9 04-14-2007, 04:45 PM

2006 consumers reports rated pep boys as best battery.

aersloat · #10 04-14-2007, 05:29 PM

I recently put an optima 34R in my 124 and it works great. It isn't a perfect fit. The battery hold down clamp does not quite engage like it does on a group 49, but it is close enough. The 34R is significantly narrower than a group 49 so there is a bit more room around the battery, which is nice. The 34R is usually a special order item, BTW.

oldnavy · #11 04-14-2007, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aersloat

I recently put an optima 34R in my 124 and it works great. It isn't a perfect fit. The battery hold down clamp does not quite engage like it does on a group 49, but it is close enough. The 34R is significantly narrower than a group 49 so there is a bit more room around the battery, which is nice. The 34R is usually a special order item, BTW.

Hey our local AutoZone stocks the 34R for some reason, probably because all the LX series cars, Jeep CRD's, VW's and MB's take that reversed pole style batteries.

Hit Man X · #12 04-14-2007, 07:25 PM

I've got that AZ brand batt in most of my MBs, works fine. I had an Optima yellow top in my Z finally give up, I had it in there since around '02. I don't see the additional lifespan worth the cost unless I get the Optima at a low cost.

oldnavy · #13 04-14-2007, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hit Man X

I've got that AZ brand batt in most of my MBs, works fine. I had an Optima yellow top in my Z finally give up, I had it in there since around '02. I don't see the additional lifespan worth the cost unless I get the Optima at a low cost.

Why would you be using a deep cycle battery? That is probably what killed the yellow top so soon, improper useage for what it was designed for.