Has anyone been happy with an Interstate battery for their 430? If so, is the appropriate model the MT7 34/R? My first F car should be arriving shorty so am putting a punch list in order. Thanks to all.
Have one in my 458 for 3 1/2 years after the original battery failed. Have one in my wife's F430 for 1 year. Both have been faithful.
Thanks for the reply. Trying to figure out the correct model #. I am getting conflicting info. Dealer gave me one part #, Interstate another. Seems some models may be discontinued.
I have had an Interstate MTP-48/H6A AGM battery in my 2008 F430 4 years as of this month, zero problems. Always kept on Deltran Battery Tender from new; original battery failed twice in 1-1/2 years using factory tender.
I have used Interstate batteries in ALL my cars. Rare failures, amazing customer service and support. I'm sticking with them- just like Michelin tires!
...mine was. I swapped it out myself, just requires then doing the computer relearning procedure. That's surely described somewhere on this forum, but as I recall just involved turning off all accessories (including A/C & radio), then starting & run at idle for 15" or so. Radio code will need to be re-entered after the swap & relearn procedure, but I think that's it.
Don't even need to do that if you plug in a 9v battery to hold the data while you swap. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HREVVZAqNI
I also installed the Interstate battery model # MTP-91 in my 430 two years ago. I've never had a failure and I do not use a battery tender. I usually drive my car twice a week, so not everyday. The cost was $135. after retuning a core or your battery Be sure and attach the vent tube when installing. It's pretty tight quarters in there.
It looks like they still sell them Home > Automotive Batteries > Interstate Batteries MEGA-TRON PLUS 12 Volt > Interstate Batteries Mega-Tron Plus MTP-91 Automotive Battery Interstate Batteries Mega-Tron Plus MTP-91 Automotive Battery. Tech Specs and Fits/Replaces below Share on twitter Share on email Discontinued Product, Replaced with MTP-48/H6 List Price: $161.95 Your Price: $130.50 Savings: $31.45
About the only difference between the MTP-91 and MTP-91/H6 is the warranty went from 85 months to 72 months.
I used to be happy with Interstate Batteries until I bought my 360 Spider The previous owner of my 360 installed an Interstate Battery, battery was only 3 years old and it will no longer take a full charge so I inspected the battery and found battery acid leaked on the battery tray so time to switch to AGM. Thanks to everyone's recommendation here especially Taz, I went with Odyssey 34R-PC1500T. Couldnt be happier. See my post here for complete details. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/360-430/467811-diy-battery-replacement.html Dan
+1. The usual problem is that you only find out your battery is dead at an inopportune moment. Anxious to take the car on a drive, you then find out you can't readily source the desired AGM battery on moment's notice, so you settle for a standard wet cell. To avoid this, you might pro-actively change out that wet cell battery after 3 or 4 years of service even if it's not showing signs of decline. AGM batteries tend to last much longer and don't leak, so you're not likely to need another one for a very long time, and may not even still own the car when the next change is due.
I have this one too. It has an oval vent tube so I put a small zip tie around it to make sure it doesn't come off. Alan
Nice to know, might help me next time. Would be a little more awkward in the cramped confines of the battery compartment & passenger footwell of the F430, but probably still doable. I'm also wondering if just leaving the Battery Tender connected during the swap might do the trick. (It plugs into a pigtail that's connected to the positive terminal and ground in the wiring behind the driver's seat.) Thanks again, dn
Instead of alligator clips, wire the 9v battery to a cigar lighter plug and plug it into the lighter socket. On 360s and probably 430s as well, the plug is unswitched, so it remains connected to the rest of the circuits even with the ignition off. As such, it will maintain system memory during a battery swap!
Very well put and I agree. I too replace my car batteries preventively after 4 years as I hate getting stuck somewhere unable to start my car. Very embarrassing. And batteries are now very inexpensive. I highly recommend AGM as they are sealed battery. No more worries about battery acid leaking.... Dan
