stay away from exide
Best store brand battery?
- Thread starter Zako2
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Walmart MAXX if made by JCI. Otherwise a Interstate always made by JCI. 800CRANKIT is the phone for Interstate to find a local dealer.
Look at the date codes. I'd want to see less than 4 months old. But I look at the shelf to find the newest one.
Look at the date codes. I'd want to see less than 4 months old. But I look at the shelf to find the newest one.
I had a hard time looking for size 27F, only Kragen (Now owned by O'Reilly) had it. It is made by Exide but it's on the car for 4+ years now and still running strong, may be I'm lucky to get a good Exide one.
If there is a Interstate battery distributor near you, you can go in and get the "econo" battery for around $30. These are excellent batteries, very fresh. You don't get the warranty, but you don't pay for it either. I've had mine about 2 years now and it still cranks the engine over very strongly. In fact, this battery cranks it over stronger than any I have used in my truck.
I also used one in my Volvo S60 when it was going out. These batteries are a hard to find size, about $125 at the dealer. They had one on hand.
I also used one in my Volvo S60 when it was going out. These batteries are a hard to find size, about $125 at the dealer. They had one on hand.
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I just recently yanked out a Interstate Green top battery that lasted me 3 years. I never had a problem with Interstate before.
I went back to the Costco Kirkland battery.
I went back to the Costco Kirkland battery.
duralast seem hold really well.
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Advance Auto Parts, because you can use the coupon codes and get it cheap.
Yes, being able to knock $40 off the retail price of their Silver or Gold battery does make them very attractive. And perhaps best store brand 'for the money', if one lives near an AAP.
Though not an AutoZone fan per se, always favored their Duralast batteries, I've purchased several of the red, but the Gold are well repped too.
Advance Auto Parts, because you can use the coupon codes and get it cheap.
Yes, being able to knock $40 off the retail price of their Silver or Gold battery does make them very attractive. And perhaps best store brand 'for the money', if one lives near an AAP.
Though not an AutoZone fan per se, always favored their Duralast batteries, I've purchased several of the red, but the Gold are well repped too.
WalMart Everstart.
Costco had a $10 core charge when I got a battery from them about a year ago. However, I brought the dead battery in, was charged the core charge as part of the receipt and they gave me back $10 cash.
Originally Posted By: carwreck
Look at the vent caps. The Sears Diehard with vent caps, AutoZone, and AAP are all the same Johnson Controls "power frame" battery with different store label.
So the "best" is of those 3 is AdvanceAutoParts, $40 off with code "CCABIN"
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1987 Toronado
1999 Olds GLS
+1. Good code too. Just bought a gold with that code $65.92 OTD. Can't beat AAP.
Look at the vent caps. The Sears Diehard with vent caps, AutoZone, and AAP are all the same Johnson Controls "power frame" battery with different store label.
So the "best" is of those 3 is AdvanceAutoParts, $40 off with code "CCABIN"
____________________________________________________
1987 Toronado
1999 Olds GLS
+1. Good code too. Just bought a gold with that code $65.92 OTD. Can't beat AAP.
I was completely screwed by costco on a battery. It [censored] out after 2 years. I no longer had an active membership and costco REFUSED to replace it. I even had the receipt in hand. This probably was illegal in FL for costco to do. For this I have very bad taste for costco and enjoy shopping at samsclub much more.
Purchased my last battery at Costco (made by Johnson Controls)....for $68....about a year ago.
Works perfectly with no issues. Can't beat the price or warranty.
Works perfectly with no issues. Can't beat the price or warranty.
I want to post my 2c on Duralast batteries. My feeling is that they used to be built just well enough to last through the 3-year warranty period. All three times I got a Duralast battery, by the end of the third year it would either outright die or become noticeably weak, taking like 2-3 seconds to start the engine, instead of under one second when new. Leave trunk/saloon light for an hour or so or the headlights for half hour, and it could have trouble starting the car. Recently, I noticed that the warranty period on the new Duralast batteries is down to two years. I bet AutoZone got fed up with all those returns and exchanges happening in the third year, and so they reduced the warranty period for full refunds.
I have learned by now that when you use Duralast, it is best to go out and replace the battery as soon as the warranty period is over unless you can afford to be surprised some day. However, it's likely that all other store brands are no better. Based on my experience with Duralast batteries, I feel like they're average at best. I indeed think right now of either rolling the dice with AAP battery using online discount codes or perhaps getting a Motorcraft battery.
I have learned by now that when you use Duralast, it is best to go out and replace the battery as soon as the warranty period is over unless you can afford to be surprised some day. However, it's likely that all other store brands are no better. Based on my experience with Duralast batteries, I feel like they're average at best. I indeed think right now of either rolling the dice with AAP battery using online discount codes or perhaps getting a Motorcraft battery.
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I had an Exide Orbital in my 04 civic from 2006-2012 that I scored from the clearance section at a Kragen for $25. I couldn't kill that [censored] thing. I used to park it with just the radio on (also powering an amp and subwoofers) for hours and it had no problem cranking over. I left an interior light on for more than 24 hours and it still started up without hesitation. Then earlier this year I parked the car for a month and when I went to fire it back up, the battery was toast. Wouldn't even hold a charge. I figured I got my $25 worth.
I now use Napa because I get a discount through work.
I now use Napa because I get a discount through work.
WalMarts MAXX is a good one. Whatever battery get a fresh one because even the best designed battery will loose much capacity if it remains one the shelve for a year or so.
Now that I have quite new batteries in all of our vehicles, I have learned of a discount battery store near where I live that sells INTERSTATE Brand New Blem's at 1/3-1/2 price with full warranty. Look for this in your area or similar discounted batteries.
Anyone who does much research will quickly find batteries to be alarmingly similar. Just buy the one with the best warranty.
Anecdotal stories about that particular battery that lasted forever are not really that valuable across the entire spectrum. We buy more batteries than many folks and they pretty much are all the same, so we look at warranty first and then pricing.
Anecdotal stories about that particular battery that lasted forever are not really that valuable across the entire spectrum. We buy more batteries than many folks and they pretty much are all the same, so we look at warranty first and then pricing.
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Anyone who does much research will quickly find batteries to be alarmingly similar. Just buy the one with the best warranty.
Anecdotal stories about that particular battery that lasted forever are not really that valuable across the entire spectrum. We buy more batteries than many folks and they pretty much are all the same, so we look at warranty first and then pricing.
Probably good advice. I have had some last 9 years and some last from a week to 6 months brand new. There is no rhyme or reason on brands either that I can tell. Got one now on year 7 that I paid 19.00 for in a lawn mower. Its on its last legs but still starts.
Anyone who does much research will quickly find batteries to be alarmingly similar. Just buy the one with the best warranty.
Anecdotal stories about that particular battery that lasted forever are not really that valuable across the entire spectrum. We buy more batteries than many folks and they pretty much are all the same, so we look at warranty first and then pricing.
Probably good advice. I have had some last 9 years and some last from a week to 6 months brand new. There is no rhyme or reason on brands either that I can tell. Got one now on year 7 that I paid 19.00 for in a lawn mower. Its on its last legs but still starts.
I've found one easy solution is to purchase a Battery Tender, Jr. and hook it up for a couple days each month, or so...
My motorcycle batteries typically last 5-7 years and my car batteries typically last even longer than that.
Sometimes (usually dependant upon the season) the "green light" will come on in an hour or two. Then you know everything is A-OK!
Cheers!
p.s. I've also found this is a pretty good way to make sure a new battery is fully charged prior to installation. Most new batteries I've seen have production date stickers so shelf life is not the question it used to be.
p.p.s. I'm old enough to recall when you had to pay a disposal fee to turn in a used battery...
My motorcycle batteries typically last 5-7 years and my car batteries typically last even longer than that.
Sometimes (usually dependant upon the season) the "green light" will come on in an hour or two. Then you know everything is A-OK!
Cheers!
p.s. I've also found this is a pretty good way to make sure a new battery is fully charged prior to installation. Most new batteries I've seen have production date stickers so shelf life is not the question it used to be.
p.p.s. I'm old enough to recall when you had to pay a disposal fee to turn in a used battery...
Originally Posted By: MNgopher
Yep, the Fleet Farm batteries are East Penn/ Deka units. O'reilly house brand batteries here are also East Penn / Deka units. Happy with the service I've gotten from either.
The last Napa batteries I bought were Exides, but I believe I heard they've gone back to Johnson Controls. Good thing since both were junk.
NAPA I believe has 2 suppliers. East Penn/Deka is the supplier here, which I highly recommend.
Yep, the Fleet Farm batteries are East Penn/ Deka units. O'reilly house brand batteries here are also East Penn / Deka units. Happy with the service I've gotten from either.
The last Napa batteries I bought were Exides, but I believe I heard they've gone back to Johnson Controls. Good thing since both were junk.
NAPA I believe has 2 suppliers. East Penn/Deka is the supplier here, which I highly recommend.
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