1995 xlv marathon series 60 coach batteries

[Busnutt]

Thanks guys, sounds like NAPA it is. I will buy them after XMAS

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I had four new Group 31 Interstates installed in April/May when I bought the coach and Jeff Rowe at Eastern Tennessee Luxury Coach zero'd the motorcoach out for us. In October I couldn't get the engine to start when it was time to hook up to the race trailer for last race of the season ... click, click, click. The last thing Jeff and I thought it would be was a bad battery. Tried using the 24 volt charger that Liberty has installed (aka "the boat anchor"). No luck. Presumed it was shot after 15 years. Bought a Guest charger and ran that for 37 hours, no luck. I pulled the four batteries out, called the Interstate distributor in Milwaukee who told me "you must have left the key on and/or have something "on" that is draining the batteries, the batteries should be good ... but bring them if you like". Dropped them off on Wed, called Monday and guess what! One of them was NO GOOD! It was replaced under warranty at no cost to me. But the event ruined a planned bus trip, and cost me a bunch of hours screwing around with things, about 40 hours of generator time (bus was down the street while we finished our new race shop and bus parking spot), and a new Guest charger. I probably would have bought the new Guest Charger eventually.

I've read since that NAPA and AC Delco battery buyers are happy with those products.

I wish the engine batteries were wired to heavy duty disconnect switches (like Cole-Hersey) and a grid to get the 12 and 24 combinations so that the disconnects can all be turned off, each battery isolated, and hence charged and load tested without unhooking them and removing them from the bus. But I presume the seated coach buses and big trucks have the same challenges.

[Gil_J]

FWIW, a construction truck company owner with over 100 trucks said he stopped using Interstate Batteries due too several occasions where a battery failed that was less than 2 years old. The apparent failure was poor plate support.

Dick good luck with your Guest charger. If it's the same dual 12V out put unit used on several coaches I wouldn't leave it plugged in. I know of one tuyat caused a fire destroying a buss and two others that were melting when the coach owner unplugged them. Hopefully, Guest corrected whatever the problem was.

[Alek&Lucia]

Is Prevost still using Interstates in their new buses when they leave the factory ?

Alek

[Reagan Sirmons]

The Napa warehouse in Houston sells the Napa batteries to which you are referring for $93 per battery if you are an "institutional" account buying all four.... That can give the price range....$93 t0 $111... Each of the larger Napa stores generally has an institutional desk area.... I go there and talk to someone on the desk describing what I am seeking for a Prevost Motor Coach and asking their guidance as to quality, etc. even though I basically know what I seek...... invariably, I receive a complimentary discount without asking...when ever you are buying four instead of one... they will assist the pricing... at least that has been my experience... The man with whom I deal in Houston drives for an Indy race car driver who has a fairly new Prevost so we share a lot of information...they just put six of these $93 batteries in their coach... hope this helps...
Pres
Pres

[JIM KELLER]

Napa batteries are made by East Penn. They are located in the Amish country of Pennsylvania and employ over 6,000 people. I think they are the the largest battery manufacture in the world. Interstate, owned by Johnson Controls closed their US manufacturing plant in 2009 and product is now made in Mexico. Both Interstate and Napa batteries are good products, just decide if you want a Mexican battery or one built by the Amish.

[dale farley]

Good info Jim. I never knew that.

[travelite]

I've had good success with these:

Napa 7235's:


Attributes:
Battery BCI # : BCI #31P
Battery Cold Cranking Amps @ 0 Degrees F : 1,125
Battery Cranking Amps @ 32 Degrees F : 1,260
Battery Height : 9 1/2"
Battery Length : 13"
Battery Posts Type : Top Post
Battery Reserve Capacity (Minutes) : 195
Battery Voltage : 12 Volt
Battery Width : 6 3/4"
Wet or Dry : Wet
Battery Weight : 61 lbs