Car Battery

[conti2.0]

My conti needs a new battery, so i went to walmart as it was the only place open. I took a look in their everstart battery guide and it says to get the battery with 700 CCA, and clearly next to it states that OEM is 750, should i listen to this guide and buy it or go look for one with 750

[NYC LS8]

CCA stands for Cold Cranking Amps. Seeing as how you're in Florida and it doesn't get all that cold, I would think 700A would be fine.

[Newave Dave]

More CCA also can indicate more reserve power. Like when you have the stereo on in the driveway for two hours for a wash and wax job. IMO by the biggest you can afford and will fit.

[cason1]

Reserve capacity has nothing to do with CCA. The type of battery does. I have an optima in my car. I can sit with the radio on for 6 hours or more and turn the key over and she cranks right over. It only has a CCA of IIRC 700. My dad has a different brand/style with a CCA of 750 but leave the radio on for a few hours and it's dead as a doornail.

[hrmwrm]

i personally never get less than a 900cca battery for any vehicle i've had. but then i'm closer to the north pole than you. 700cca is more than enough for your climate.

[Philip]

My conti needs a new battery, so i went to walmart as it was the only place open. I took a look in their everstart battery guide and it says to get the battery with 700 CCA, and clearly next to it states that OEM is 750, should i listen to this guide and buy it or go look for one with 750

I don't know the older Continentals, but if your battery size is 65, Motorcraft makes a monster(BXT65-850) that you just can't get anywhere else. That's the optional one for the Mark VIII. It's true that cold cranking isn't much of an issue down here except for one week in January, but the heat is the real killer on batteries and that we have much of! The more reserve power, the better. Any and all of our cars are very power hungry, especially any one with full air suspension because they're monitored for an hour after the ignition is shut off. Then there are all those lights (and you've got 'em under the front seats for rear passenger's feet, right?) If you can spring a few extra dollars for the Motorcraft battery it will be worth your time in the long run.

I just realized we were talking about a 1998...lol! Definitely get the BXT65-850 Motorcraft, your car wants one really bad :)

The 1993 was the one with the lights under the seats....lol!

[bojo68]

Just for grins, at one point Dodge diesels specified something like 1100 cca, and the only place you could get one is at the Dodge dealer, and if you put a smaller one in, your warranty was voided.