need Battery advice and headlight question

[ChiefRudy]

Hey guys, two questions today.

first off, the battery question . My KJ just passed the 3 year mark two weeks ago. It was put together in april of 06. So I know the stock battery is easily 3 1/2 to 4 years old. I know the stock batteries are known for not lasting long. so my thing is.. is it about time I replaced my battery? I haven't had major problems yet but every now and then it does take my KJ 2 or 3 seconds longer to start. I've seen the stories on the forums that one second the stock battery is good and then the next time you go to turn the engine over and nothing becuase of the battery.

Any recommended batteries for the KJ? I was thinking of either a Diehard or Duralast battery.

for my second question. I haven't had a chance to look but are the Headlights on a KJ adjustable? My Fiancee's 02 KJ headlights barely go father than the fog lights. I assume they would be but I never took notice.

Thanks guys!

 

[AtoB]

optima battery.... don't have one, but want one...

http://www.optimabatteries.com/home.php

 

[lil black liberty]

I have an Optima Yellowtop.. Highly recommend it.. but I've heard of guys getting Blue Tops and they seem to like them alot.. As far as the lights, it could be the bulbs but yes there should be an adjustment screw up top by the bracket.. at least thats where mine is on the 05.. If you get a new pair of bulbs though I prefer the Sylvania Super Star Ultras 4500K.. I really like mine alot very bright.. much more bright than my TrueBlues..

Also I should mention the Diehard's aren't bad I have heard positive things about the Diehard Gold series.. but Duralast not so much.. I'm not a fan of Duralast so I can't say too much about their batteries..

 

[KYLiberty]

I've got an Optima Red Top and love it. If your battery is that age, I would go ahead and replace it. The factory batteries don't tend to give you much warning that they are going bad. You just end up in your driveway, at a parking lot, or gas pump like my last one, and it won't start.

 

[LibertyTC]

Battery Headlight adjustments etc..

The stock battery is probably a group 34 with only 600 CCA(cold cranking Amps)
If you are going to get a new battery look for one with around 800 CCA !
So in the same size, only larger capacity. You may also want to replace the battery pad, at the bottom once your battery is out, available at the dealer not much $. I also like to see 5 year warranties and a sealed battery, that you don't have to add distilled water to, better chance for no leaks either. Many go to OPTIMA batteries as well.
Yes you can adjust both your headlights and fog bulbs is easy once you find the adjust screw. If you Pm me with your email address I will copy diagram to show screw location.
If you want better lighting in those headlights get some PIAA #9007 extreme white..you will not be disappointed, and they will last a long time.
For the Fog bulbs do this mod form 42 watts to 65 watts!
http://www.jeepprojects.com/content.php?article.43
Hope this helps!

 

[Redbone]

I've had bad luck with Durablast stuff. I vote for the Diehard.

 

[Redbone]

I've had 4 Optima batteries. All started the vehicles as they were supposed to. None lasted any longer than a regular maint. free counter part.

 

[JeepJeepster]

Just passed 4 years with my optima. So far so good.

 

[RageOfFury]

I have a Kirkland Signature Series battery in my KJ. 800CCA, not that expensive and is backed by a pretty good Costco warranty.

 

[Powerslave]

Any recommended batteries for the KJ? I was thinking of either a Diehard or Duralast battery.

for my second question. I haven't had a chance to look but are the Headlights on a KJ adjustable? My Fiancee's 02 KJ headlights barely go father than the fog lights. I assume they would be but I never took notice.

Thanks guys!

Battery? Yeah, time to replace it, ME TOO, by the way, not sure if the one I have was ever replaced, but I am at 68K miles or so, 2006 as well. I measure mine, and replace it with a Marine battery. Lower CCA, but the duration is longer. Never had problems with a Marine battery.

Also, amen on those headlights, I hate the limited distance. If you aim them up too high, people think your high-beams are on (police don't like it either). We talked about this in another post too, glad there are more than a few of us with this thought.

What if we removed the little cover that is over the bulb, inside the lens? The light is all reflected light back out of the lens. If you removed the hood over the bulb, would yhat help, anyone?

 

[valvestem]

The racetrack shaped hole has a phillips head screw in it, that's the headlight adjustment screw, up and down only, no side to side is available.

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[Dave]

I have a Kirkland Signature Series battery in my KJ. 800CCA, not that expensive and is backed by a pretty good Costco warranty.

We just put one of those 800CCA Kirklands in the JK and it has a winch so we will find out how that goes.

I have used the Sears Diehard in the past and they were ok.....no better or worse than anything elce when I used them.

I am still running the OEM battery and it is still putting out fine so far. I thought I was going to kill it a couple of weeks ago trying to get a mustang started that had been sitting for a year. It is 5 years old now. I think it is only 600 or 650CCA without looking.

When I do replace it, I would prefer something with a minimum of 800CCA.......or 1,000CCA if I can find it. I was thinking about Optima, but I don't know yet.

Dave

 

[BigRich201]

if u want a battery at a cheap price then duralast gold is your best bet at $90 with 800 cca.

 

[JeepJeepster]

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Those pictures look oddly familiar.

 

[ChiefRudy]

Thanks for you Advice everyone. I'll have to work on her head lights when I get a chance. My 06 lights are perfect but her's are just messed up and it annoys me. i swear the Fiancee's KJ has been nothing but a pain in my a$$ since she bought it. but i rather work on hers than on my own So when it does come time to work on mine i'll
know what I'm doing lol

As for the battery. I was thinking about an optima too but i know there priced high and i'm in the middle of buying a home right now so cash is tight but I've been considering it too. i;ve also had good luck with diehards on my past vehicles. Maybe buy the end of this winter i'll have a new one.

Thanks again guys.

 

[tjkj2002]

If your going to get a Diehard battery get there Platinum series batteries,they are made by Odyssey.My Odyssey PC1500 has twice the power of any Optima and has a design life that is also 2-3 times longer.

 

[lil black liberty]

If your going to get a Diehard battery get there Platinum series batteries,they are made by Odyssey.My Odyssey PC1500 has twice the power of any Optima and has a design life that is also 2-3 times longer.

TJkj I was going to ask man do you have a custom alternator??

 

[tjkj2002]

TJkj I was going to ask man do you have a custom alternator??

Nope still sporting the stock 136amp one,no need for a bigger one plus the KJ will not take advantage of a higher amp alternator anyways.You can possibly get your KJ re-programmed for the Renegade 160amp one but that's about it(the alt is totally controlled by the PCM).

 

[ChiefRudy]

If your going to get a Diehard battery get there Platinum series batteries,they are made by Odyssey.My Odyssey PC1500 has twice the power of any Optima and has a design life that is also 2-3 times longer.

I had platinum Diehard in my last vehicle and loved it. I was already thinking of going that route

 

[lil black liberty]

See B&G told me they would program my ECU for a 200AMP Alt from Mean Green.. So I'm gonna try it when I get $600 for both.. $350 for the flash.. and $250 for the Alt..