mechtech2's got it; but it's all too often overlooked.
Buyer Beware: Walmart Batteries
- Thread starter The Critic
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They come from the factory fully charged. A low initial charge means it's an old battery that's been sitting on the shelf long enough to self-discharge (and nobody bothered to recharge it).
Lead-acid batteries don't like to be left sitting in a discharged state. They become "sulphated" if left in that condition, which causes capacity loss.
That is why batteries that are sitting on a shelf should be charged periodically.
That is also why I suggest using a multimeter to check the voltage of the battery to ensure that it is about 12.6 volts.
amen to that one!
and trickle charge if/when you add distilled water down the road....
great idea....my Motorcraft battery is the original in my 2001 F150....but she's never given me any issues, starting or otherwise....maybe I'll head to Walmart (now to decide which one has the biggest morons in TLE) and start testing batteries....
they will either be really confused, or kick me out LOL....
Original AC Delco lasted 2.5 years, WalMart Everstart (Cheapest one they made) lasted 4.5 years. Car takes a tiny little Side Post Battery (Looks like it would be a good replacement for a lawnmower) and current retail is $27. No problems with production date (Within 60 days) or charge.
When it went it went all at once. Not even enough juice to run the hedalights and would not take any charge. I would say we got our moneys worth.
When it went it went all at once. Not even enough juice to run the hedalights and would not take any charge. I would say we got our moneys worth.
I run the yellow everstart on both my saturns and they're splendid batteries.
Sorry your store had stale stock. Wonder if it was out of season or some other lame excuse. I'll check the dates on my store next time I'm in. Most of my purchases have been in December along with the rest of the Northeast.
I think walmart's warranty goes off the manufacture date if you lose your receipt otherwise you get the day you bought it. I look at it as a goodwill gesture if you lose stuff. They give you that nice pocket for the receipt but I think Critic is the organized sort and won't lose anything.
Sorry your store had stale stock. Wonder if it was out of season or some other lame excuse. I'll check the dates on my store next time I'm in. Most of my purchases have been in December along with the rest of the Northeast.
I think walmart's warranty goes off the manufacture date if you lose your receipt otherwise you get the day you bought it. I look at it as a goodwill gesture if you lose stuff. They give you that nice pocket for the receipt but I think Critic is the organized sort and won't lose anything.
JHZR2
Staff member
I wouldnt worry, the battery in our 94 previa lasted 10 years and gave no signs of going south when we replaced it due to age. The battery in our 97 plymouth breeze is also still OE, and not showing signs of going bad.
Heck, the group 49 in my destroyed 83 MB has sat fully discharged for 2 months at a time, twice, and after trickle charging it, it still holds a charge and fires off that old diesel engine first cyllinder after sitting for weeks!
JMH
Interesting. The Everstart Maxx batteries at the Wally nearest to me are definitely made by Johnson Controls.
Quote:
They give you that nice pocket for the receipt but I think Critic is the organized sort and won't lose anything.
After I read your message, I immediately went outside and took the battery out of the car, removed the heat protection wrap, dropped the receipt into the pocket, sealed the pocket with clear mailing tape, then reinstalled the battery!
Thanks a million, I cannot imagine how important this was considering that this car will probably see the remainder of its life far away from home where I will not have access to the receipt.
My experience with those thermal-printed (black writing, on shiny paper, looks like the paper old fax machines use) receipts that practically all the major stores are using now is that they fade to the point of being unreadable over time, in some cases, less than a year.
I would make a photocopy of the receipt.
I would make a photocopy of the receipt.
Hmm, I did fold the receipt carefully so the text was on the inside. But I do have a second receipt..Walmart gives you one receipt just for the battery warranty replacement, but I also have the "general" receipt. Either way, I don't feel like tearing out the battery right now, but will certainly make a copy of it one of these days.
Costco has a label on their batteries where you just remove the month and year circles for when you bought the battery. I assume that eliminates the need for the receipt when taking advantage of the three-year free replacement warranty (on car batteries. On deep-cycle marine batteries it's only one year. Go figure).
My Dad has had an EverStart Maxx in his Tacoma for 2-3 years now with no problem at all. This is in Michigan so it get's into the high 90's F dureing the summer and low temp's down to about -30°F. Now this is the second EverStart Maxx but I only owned the other one for two years then sold the vechile so..... I really can not attest to their good or bad long term performance only that the two that i have come in contact with seem to be good battery's! Now while it is true that the fresher the better most places consider anyting up to 1 year old a new battery. Once it is 1 year or older it is usualy discounted or given to a comerical account free as a bonus for doing business. Now obviously a big box store is not going to do this but a lot of parts store do!Winter time is the best time to buy a battery because the cold means lots of sales wich means constant supplie of fresh battery's!
I second that. Mine says Johnson Controls. The new 78 series one we just got for the newer Jeep says Johnson Controls and even CR says Johnson Controls.
It's very possible that Wal-Mart has regional variations as to who makes their batteries, just like they do for Supertech motor oil. In Texas, I'll take your word for it that Wal-Mart batteries are made by Johnson Controls.
In Virginia, you'll just have to take my word for it that Wal-Mart batteries are made by Exide. (Unless you want to come and check!)
In Virginia, you'll just have to take my word for it that Wal-Mart batteries are made by Exide. (Unless you want to come and check!)
Not doubting you in the least. In Texas, if we doubt someone's word we'll come straight out and tell him.
I'm not a native to the south =)
I had a Walmart battery in my '97 Maxima. I don't remember which "level" of battery it was, other than it was the middle price (~$40) of the three in I think a size 24 (?). It had a two year free replacement, 72 month warranty. It went bad at 26 months. The car was cranking a little slower for about 2 days, then just quit cranking altogether. After jumping, I took it to Advance Auto and AutoZone for both to test it (they're closer than Walmart). Both said it was bad, with less than 10 volts under a load. When my wife took the battery to Walmart, they said they couldn't replace it without testing it (fair enough). Their test took approx 30 minutes, and they told her the test equipment said the battery needed a charge, but otherwise was fine. She told them about Advance Auto and Autozone, and asked for them to test it again (another 30 minutes). The second time it failed their test. They pro-rated the replacement, which ended up costing us about $15 or so. This was after 2 years, 2 months. The new battery is in the car now, and is doing fine so far. Because of the pro-rated replacement cost, I figure I'll give this one a shot. If it gives decent life, I'll continue getting batteries at Walmart depending on price. If it doesn't last atleast 5 years, I won't get my batteries from Walmart anymore.
My Walmart's batteries are made by Johnson Controls. I believe northern and southern batteries are made slightly different. Something to do with the space between plates for the different climates. They'll work in all climates, but region specific batteries will last longer in the climate they are designed for. I read that info on a battery distributor or manufacturer's site, but can't verify it as fact. The way it was explained did make sense to me, though.
Just my experience with Walmart batteries.
Dave
My Walmart's batteries are made by Johnson Controls. I believe northern and southern batteries are made slightly different. Something to do with the space between plates for the different climates. They'll work in all climates, but region specific batteries will last longer in the climate they are designed for. I read that info on a battery distributor or manufacturer's site, but can't verify it as fact. The way it was explained did make sense to me, though.
Just my experience with Walmart batteries.
Dave
That is because you are a trained professional.
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