We've inherited a 2003 4.2L S Type and my Dad thinks it may be on its original battery (I can't believe that, but it is a Jaguar branded battery). I know Interstate is a good brand, and when I owned a C5 Corvette Optima red tops were preferred there.
Is there a certain battery for the S?
Thanks.

 

I've been told that Interstate makes the Jag-branded one. I put one of Auto-Zone's Duralast in the 03 a couple of years ago, so far no problems. Just recently replaced the original, Jag-branded one in the 05 with a Motorcraft (Dealer coupon for $89 or something)
That one wasn't causing any problems, and I have it on the bench tended by a battery-minder, but I just thought it was due...

George fits Optima's, I think by modding the hold-down bracket. He's posted pics in here of the mod before. I guess a search on "Optima" would find it.

 

Make sure lots of CCA and Ah

Jag OE are Varta over here. Vented.

 

Pep Boys has a Bosch battery for $99. It works.

 

Since mine is getting old 05, (it still preforms great) I might as well change it since I can get the Motorcraft one for $89

 

I got mine from Advance Auto Parts. It was a big white battery. The thing was HUGE!! It was also expensive but it had the correct ratings and I felt good about it. If I were you I wouldn't buy a smaller under rated battery for this car or you may have problems. Bite the bullet and get a good one. Not saying you have to go back to the dealer but..................

"EZ"

 

The one in the trunk is a Varta, so it must be the original. It's a 2003 car and Dad's had it since 2006 w/o replacing it. Time for a change either way.
FYI the dealer wanted $350, Autozone $166 for a Duralast, $206 for an Interstate at a local tire store, and the local Ford dealer didn't have a clue what part I would need or how much-he told me to bring it to them.

 

Just make sure its vented and they actually give you the vent kit. Sometimes the chain stores just throw it away not understanding what it is.

 

Hey guys. What about just changing the electrolytes?

 

Group 49 I think it is

My local Ford dealer, specializing almost exclusively in F250 and larger diesels had to order it....took a WHOLE day..

 

I think I paid $123.00 at Advance Auto Parts for theirs. It looked totally different than all the other batteries on their shelf. I've had it for over 2 years now with no problems yet.

"EZ"

 

...read great reviews about the the Optima yellow top battery for the Jags. TAke a look..
Optima Part No. D31A - YellowTop Deep Cycle Batteries

 

Man what a lot of "stuff' about a simple battery. The Bosch battery is exactly like the OEM. I bet the Motorcraft is as well and both are reasonably priced for what is a high capacity battery. Yes they have the proper venting. Save your sheckles and then replace it again in 4 to 5 years. It's just not that complicated.

 

You paged?

Optima D31A - 1125cca

You need to bend the factory battery support in a vice, and come up with a bolt that threads into the hole in the floor to tack it down.



Take care,

George

 

Had good luck with Optimas, same with DieHard Platinum, they are in all my other cars. Not had great experiences with Duralast, I inherited a new one with this STR and it will be coming out before winter storage. I had one go dead in my Jeep just once and it never recovered.

 

The way of the Jeep. I never had one die a slow death in mine. Allegedly its the vibration, and that was what Optima claimed to bring to the table, greater resistance to vibration-induced damage. Still, I never found them economically feasible given the warranty value of the top-of-the line (fill-in-the-blank: DieHard, Interstate, et al) that died at the 3 yr mark routinely. I suppose they'd make sense if I was trekking to the tip of S. America or something....but I was never in a position that I couldn't park on a hill...or, in my Navy days, "Guys...I've got a case of beer and I need a push..." until I could swap it for a new one.

So I never tried an Optima...great batteries, I'm sure...but I was never convinced they'd last 3x-5x times as long as their competition.

 

I have always ran Interstate Megatrons in everything I drive from my diesel trucks to the wife's cars. They have never let me down and up until moving to Las Vegas where the heat kills batteries they always lasted well past the warranty period. But I think most of the guys on hear are correct, buy a good quality one because even a little fluctuation in voltage can cause you problems.

 

When our factory battery begins to cause random codes being thrown, I'll probably go with the Bosch battery as Bob did. Pep Boys charges $99 for them, and I can always find a $15 or $20 coupon in a Pep Boys flyer or on their website. The battery warranty is decent, and for the final cost after adding the coupon into the equation, it's tough to beat that deal....

 

I have to issue a disclaimer here.

For most people the factory battery or it's Bosch / Motorcraft equivalent will be perfectly fine and all they will need.

I don't think I'm the average user here. I have a 1300 watt stereo, plus a few more aftermarket electrical accessories. I live in the northeast where the car sees a temperature variation of 10 degrees F to 100 Degrees F.

Considering how much of a load I put on the electrical system, for me the more battery capacity the better. And the more cycling capacity the better. (Especially with the stiffening capacitor).

Putting an Optima in an otherwise stock car is kind of overkill and not needed. Will it last longer? Probably.... Will it last twice as long as a regular $100 replacement? (to justify the cost) I don't know... Will you still have the car to find out?




So, in all reality, it's not needed for the typical user.

Take care,

George

 

Oh I didn't know about the coupons! Damn! So NOW you tell me ... LOL

I almost never shop at Pep Boys because they're just too far away.

My battery wasn't faulty at all But I just figured it was cheap insurance. The old Jag battery is now my new trailer winch battery for the race car.