Hello all. My battery finally decided to give up the ghost. It's been 6 years on a wal-mart special battery that came in the truck from the previous owner, so it outlived my expectations. Anyways, I'm looking to get a new battery to replace my old one (the last couple of days I've just been jumping the battery every time I need to drive it).

I'm just curious what you guys are running? I've looked online several places (Pep Boys, Auto Zone, Napa, O'reillys, Advance Auto, etc.) and there look to be slim pickin' for the Ranger.

I have a 2007 XL, manual everything.

As far as I can tell, the group 59 battery is the stock size. I was looking at possibly going with a Motorcraft battery, just from doing some reading they sound well designed and read a few reviews of them lasting 9-10 years. Plus they have a 36/100 month warranty.

I am trying to decide between going with the group 59 battery with 540 Cold Cranking Amps, 675 Cranking Amps, and 100 Reserve Capacity. Or bumping up to the Group 36 (which is what was in it from the previous owner, so I assume it should fit (assuming the different brand doesn't alter the fit)). Group 36 looks like it either comes in 650 CCA, 810 CA, 130 RC, or 750 CCA, 935 CA, 140 RC.

Should I just stick with the Group 59 or bump up to the Group 36? If I go with the Group 36 should I go for the 650 CCA or go all out and go for the 750 CCA?

I do live in Texas. Our winters are laughable by most, but we do get down below freezing. Our summers get pretty hot, over 110* quite a bit.

Just curious what you guys are running and if you have any suggestions for me. Thanks in advance.

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2007 Ford Ranger XL. 5 Speed MT. 2wd. 15x8 wheels. 235/75r15 tires.

Since you have a stripped down XL, just go with a stock Motorcraft 540 CCA. You certainly don't need to upsize.
I don't know where people live who claim 9-10 years of Motorcraft battery life but in hot climates, batteries don't last nearly that long.

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I use Interstate batterys

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Myrtle: & Danna
1999 Ranger 4x4 3.0 Stepside Ext Cab XLT
2000 Mustang 4.6 Roush Supercharged ( Show Car )
1984 Elcamino 350 330 HP ( Nick's Show Car )
1959 Wife ( Arm Candy )
Danna passed away 5/26/2016

ironically i use either motorcraft or interstate on all my vehicles lol! I always get average usage out of them. usually they die right around the end of the probate period. and its always either mid summer or mid winter when they give it up!

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1999 xlt 2.5l 5-speed Supercab 159k
83 diesel 2.2l na
06 F250 6.0l psd
{click for lol}

Heat is the all mighty killer of batteries, not cold like most tend to believe.

If you have aaa have them come install One for you. Interstate battery for cheap and the warranty is far easier then dealing with a retail location.

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2008 Sport 4x4, Pro Comp D windows, 265/75R16's, leather, JVC double DIN, Kenwood 5-1/4 components, Clarion XR2420, 4 - 8" Dayton Audio SD215A-88 in 3.6ft^3 @ 38hz

Optima red top. Have one in almost everything I own and won't think twice about it. My alternator went out once and I drove home once over 100 miles with the radio and a/c on. Still started the engine after I put the new alternator on.

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1998 ranger extended cab, 2wd, 4.0 ohv, 5 speed, sony xploid 52 4 way watt radio, 2 pair of pioneer 240 watt speakers, Cobra 29 LX LCD CB radio pushing 100 watts, k&n air filter, 15 inch exploder wheels, dual exhaust with 4 inch stainless tips, 2 12 inch subs with a 1000 watt amp just for the hell of it!

new project: dirt track modified racing at the local saturday night track.

Vibration is the worse on batteries, always use a battery hold down.

Interstate or Motorcrap

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Have you purchased an Optima battery since they moved their plant to Mexico? I guess you have had good luck?

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You are right! I should know better then to assume someone uses a hold down haha. Vibration then heat.

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2008 Sport 4x4, Pro Comp D windows, 265/75R16's, leather, JVC double DIN, Kenwood 5-1/4 components, Clarion XR2420, 4 - 8" Dayton Audio SD215A-88 in 3.6ft^3 @ 38hz

First, congratulations on having an all manual truck - I call it a real "man" truck!
I don't think you need more than the Group 36 battery. Ford knew what the Ranger needed. Hopefully you will get 6 years out of the next battery. Good luck.

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Ranger Ref
2011 2door XLT, 2.3L, 5 Speed, Flomaster 40 series,
dual exhaust, chrome tips, fender flares, nerf bars,
bed liner color match X-line

Thanks all for the help! Sounds like I might go with the Motorcraft group 59. I have someone who has a connection on Motorcraft batteries, so I can get one cheaper than the Interstate. If the Motorcraft doesn't last long I might try an Interstate next. I'll see how the Motorcraft holds up for me. I figured the 9-10 years was a bit extreme, no telling how they accomplished those numbers, or if they even did. I'll give Motorcraft a shot this time around.

The truck, as mentioned, is an XL with no power options. At some point I will probably put an upgraded stereo in the truck, but nothing super crazy. The battery is properly tied down, so no vibration in store for it.

I used to hear good things about the Optimas, but lately they seem to be getting less than great reviews. I'd be very curious if crowdpleazer has any of the new batteries or just older ones.

Lol, thank you. Call me crazy, but I like stripped down base models. I always feel like the more added options or the more power accessories, the more stuff there is to break or go wrong. We'll give the Motorcraft a chance and see what it does for me. Here's to hoping

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2007 Ford Ranger XL. 5 Speed MT. 2wd. 15x8 wheels. 235/75r15 tires.

Put the new battery in tonight. I went with the Motorcraft BXT-59. She starts up on her own again, so that's a major improvement. We'll see how it holds up with time. When I was looking at batteries last night on one of the Ford parts' websites I saw a battery heat shield, that I didn't even know was an option (or the truck came with one but it was ditched at an earlier date?). It's only like $20, I'll probably invest in one of those to put on the truck. I don't know how much it will help, but for $20 to shield the battery from some of the engine bay heat - why not?

Also, the terminal on the positive cable is in pretty poor condition. It's there and it works, but that's about the most I can say for it. I see on the same Ford website they have the cable assembly for sale. Does anybody know if this includes the positive and negative cables? Also, do you happen to know how much of a nightmare to change out this is? (I have no idea where all this runs). It was dark out by time I got done with work and dinner and had a chance to mess with the Ranger. I changed out the battery by light of a flashlight. Once I got done with that I figured I wasn't even going to start trying to chase the positive cable for figure out where all it runs. If nothing else I'm probably going to have to address it by next time I need a battery.

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2007 Ford Ranger XL. 5 Speed MT. 2wd. 15x8 wheels. 235/75r15 tires.

I get a ton of calls for batteries that I end up fixing with new clamps. Do you have enough slack to just swap out the terminals? Where you live corrosion shouldn't be a big issue.

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2008 Sport 4x4, Pro Comp D windows, 265/75R16's, leather, JVC double DIN, Kenwood 5-1/4 components, Clarion XR2420, 4 - 8" Dayton Audio SD215A-88 in 3.6ft^3 @ 38hz

Plus one one the Optima Red Top.

I also run Optima in anything I can buy one for.

The main reason I buy optima is that I have never ever had one fail.

The second reason I buy Optima is that I have never ever had one leak battery acid that will rot out the battery tray or emit fumes that could corrode my wiring near the battery.

If a good quality battery like the optima was used in my Ranger since day one I could say for sure I would have no corrosion present at the fusible links and I wouldn't have rust present on my battery tray.

Yet since cheaper batteries were used in my ranger I will have eventually replace both positive and negative battery cables and fusible links due to corrosion plus I will have to replace the battery tray and repair rust below the battery tray.

That is if I can get the needed parts to repair all of this.

My Wife's 2010 HHR that we sold recently had a Red Top in it that I installed when the car was still new, at the time I also installed a Yellow top along with a 5500 watt power inverter .

The OEM battery that came with the HHR was replaced when it was new because it was a vented battery that vented fumes through a tube that went through the spare tire well area.

These fumes could have and would have over time caused corrosion and rust. not to mention it would have left my wife stranded in 2 years or less.


Before I sold the HHR I removed The Yellow top which was about 6 years old and sold it on craigslist.

Both Batteries still tested great after 6 years of use and probably had 4 or 5 years left in them.

Regardless of where they make Optima batteries today or in the future I will continue to buy them.

I will say the Red Top I purchased for my Ranger does not fit the battery tray to my liking.

Meaning you have you use the supplied adapter to get the battery to lock down to the battery tray, however the only thing holding the battery to the adapter is 4 plastic clips that give the battery a loose feel.

Before i start driving my truck I will buy a universal or optima battery hold down so i know for sure that battery will not move in a accident.

if I use the optima battery hold down I could remove the cheap plastic adapter.

What it comes down to is what battery fits and provides you with trouble free operation in a budget range you can afford.

When I had my shop and with many years as a mechanic, I used Interstate green and Grey top Batteries However I found more often than not the green tops seemed to Leak battery acid and the more expensive Grey tops did not.

At the time The Grey top was only bested by their Scorpion series battery for high heat applications.

Yet I am sure my knowledge of Interstate batteries is very outdated since I have not wrenched on a vehicle professionally for many years.

The only thing I can add is if you decide on a Optima and need to charge it for some reason. I suggest investing in a battery charger that will not harm your Optima.

Optima sells one yet I use a Black and Decker i found for less money.

My truck does not get used yet so charging is a necessary evil when my back is not good enough to run the truck.

This is the Black and Decker charger, I only had to use it once because of a parasitic drain and lack of starting my truck.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

here is the optima charger

https://www.amazon.com/Optima-Digita...attery+charger

This is the Battery I purchased

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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2002 Ford Ranger 2 Dr Standard cab 2.3 5 SPD 7.5 373 gears

Die Hard. Not sure the specs. High amount of cold cranking amps.