Car battery shopping.

[mrsilv04]

After my experiences with the current Exide-made NAPA battery in my Silverado, I'm done with Exide.

I'm on battery #3 at this point. I've checked for draw when the truck is parked, and have not found any above acceptable levels, and the dealer has checked the charging system.

 

[bigmike]

Originally Posted By: DieselTech
Couldn't give me An optima. The old versions were great but the newer bats are garbage and their warranty is garbage. A battery will go bad no matter what. A battery is only as good as it's warranty and availability of getting it warrantied. Interstate has 200,000 dealers nationwide. Whatever podunk town your in there is an interstate dealer there.

The process for optima to warranty a battery isn't consumer friendly at all. First the dealer must be given the oppertunity to revive the bat. This is a 24 hour process. Costco will send you to a distributor to get is replaced.....Good luck having one around.


All 3 Interstate batteries I've owned (1 in an 81 Monte Carlo, 1 in a 86 Mazda, and 1 in a 94 Honda) all BLEW UP. Two Green tops and 1 Black top.

I'd rather not have to warranty a battery. I've had great success with red top optimas and AC delcos.

 

[artificialist]

Carquest/Deka is my choice.

I wouldn't buy a battery from Wal-Mart, because my dad had 2 of them explode under the hood of a Honda Accord.

 

[Vikas]

I create a savings account for battery replacement program. Every month I deposit a dollar in it. By the end of 5 years, I have $60 plus interest. I then use that money to buy new battery.

OK, I am kidding; but you get the idea. Given that replacing a battery costs almost the same as filling the tank up, just replace it every 4-5 years and don't worry about it.

- Vikas

 

[qship1996]

Originally Posted By: Corvette Owner
Originally Posted By: DieselTech
Couldn't give me An optima. The old versions were great but the newer bats are garbage and their warranty is garbage. A battery will go bad no matter what. A battery is only as good as it's warranty and availability of getting it warrantied. Interstate has 200,000 dealers nationwide. Whatever podunk town your in there is an interstate dealer there.

The process for optima to warranty a battery isn't consumer friendly at all. First the dealer must be given the oppertunity to revive the bat. This is a 24 hour process. Costco will send you to a distributor to get is replaced.....Good luck having one around.


Wow, hard to understand, COSTCO is usually good with returns!

I bought my previous Exide AGM (Champion XLT warrented for 3 years 100% replacement and 108 months pro-rated) battery at SAM'S CLUB. They tested it and gave me money back (a percentage) when it was bad. It lasted 4 years 9 months in my Corvette, I never used a battery tender on it. Purchased Optima from them, as they stopped carrying Exide (SAM'S CLUB is owned by WalMart). Using a battery tender on this when it sits 3 days or more. Corvettes drain batteries and AGM batteries don't like to sit and drain. Optima has been in since Nov 2007 with no problems. Optima Red Top has a 4 year 100% replacement warranty.




Incorrect, the Optima has a 3 year free replacement warranty......but the Odyssey/diehard Platinum AGM DOES have a 4 year free replacement warranty{and pro-rate out to 100 months vs NONE for current Optima}!!!!!!! A much,much better battery all around{ more CCA, Longer reserve time,longer warranty, better test results from consumers Reports for the last 3 years in tests.

 

[Rumble]

I'm not big on WalMart, and usually consider it a "last resort" type of shopping place. I have over the past few years started buying oil there, as the prices are certainly good. The parking lot is way too hectic to ever bring my Caddy there, but I will risk it with my truck, lol!. In fact, my truck battery is possibly due for replacement pretty soon, and I may try an Everstart.

Of all the places I went looking for batteries, O'Reillys was the only auto store that told me up front they would match anyone else's price. Of course, as it turns out, it was only Walmart that had the lowest prices. Across the board, I imagine O'Reillys is pretty much in line pricewise with Advance, Autozone and Napa.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: bigmike

All 3 Interstate batteries I've owned (1 in an 81 Monte Carlo, 1 in a 86 Mazda, and 1 in a 94 Honda) all BLEW UP. Two Green tops and 1 Black top.


Did you ever check the water level in them? If the water level drops too low, that does increase the chances that the battery will blow up, as parts which are normally covered by the electrolyte are exposed to air.

The one and only time I ever saw a battery explode, it was seriously low on water.

 

[Corvette Owner]

Originally Posted By: qship1996
Originally Posted By: Corvette Owner
Originally Posted By: DieselTech
Couldn't give me An optima. The old versions were great but the newer bats are garbage and their warranty is garbage. A battery will go bad no matter what. A battery is only as good as it's warranty and availability of getting it warrantied. Interstate has 200,000 dealers nationwide. Whatever podunk town your in there is an interstate dealer there.

The process for optima to warranty a battery isn't consumer friendly at all. First the dealer must be given the oppertunity to revive the bat. This is a 24 hour process. Costco will send you to a distributor to get is replaced.....Good luck having one around.


Wow, hard to understand, COSTCO is usually good with returns!

I bought my previous Exide AGM (Champion XLT warrented for 3 years 100% replacement and 108 months pro-rated) battery at SAM'S CLUB. They tested it and gave me money back (a percentage) when it was bad. It lasted 4 years 9 months in my Corvette, I never used a battery tender on it. Purchased Optima from them, as they stopped carrying Exide (SAM'S CLUB is owned by WalMart). Using a battery tender on this when it sits 3 days or more. Corvettes drain batteries and AGM batteries don't like to sit and drain. Optima has been in since Nov 2007 with no problems. Optima Red Top has a 4 year 100% replacement warranty.




Incorrect, the Optima has a 3 year free replacement warranty......but the Odyssey/diehard Platinum AGM DOES have a 4 year free replacement warranty{and pro-rate out to 100 months vs NONE for current Optima}!!!!!!! A much,much better battery all around{ more CCA, Longer reserve time,longer warranty, better test results from consumers Reports for the last 3 years in tests.


I was wrong, MY Optima Red Top has a 36 month Free replacement with another 36 month pro-rated period. BUT, Red Tops purchased AFTER 2/1/2009 only have a 36 month free replacement. Different batteries (e.g. Yellow Top) have different warranties, check here:

http://www.optimabatteries.com/optima_products/warranty/postFeb.php

 

[bigmike]

Originally Posted By: brianl703
Originally Posted By: bigmike

All 3 Interstate batteries I've owned (1 in an 81 Monte Carlo, 1 in a 86 Mazda, and 1 in a 94 Honda) all BLEW UP. Two Green tops and 1 Black top.


Did you ever check the water level in them? If the water level drops too low, that does increase the chances that the battery will blow up, as parts which are normally covered by the electrolyte are exposed to air.

The one and only time I ever saw a battery explode, it was seriously low on water.


I check water levels with normal inspections. For me, that's usually every gas fill up. I believe they were defective and, as much good as I hear about Interstate, I'd never buy one.

Yes - this is my NEVER statement! I don't have them very often.

 

[Lurch]

Interstate batteries are 10% off at Northern Tool Stores. I think I could have got one for my car for about $80 + tax.

I'm going to need a new battery one of these days.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: bigmike
I believe they were defective and, as much good as I hear about Interstate, I'd never buy one.


I'd never buy one either, but only because you can get the same Johnson Controls battery with some other brand name on it cheaper, such as Costco's Kirkland Signature batteries (although Costco doesn't have a real large selection).

 

[Herz]

I actually just had to repalce the battery in my sierra after 8 years. I got a Kirkland Signature, made by JC built in the US. 75 bucks after taxes. 3 year warranty and rated for 5 years.

 

[[RT] ProjUltraZ]

Originally Posted By: brianl703
The one and only time I ever saw a battery explode, it was seriously low on water.


i saw that happen once, on start up. good thing the hood was closed, it sounded like a .45 and sprayed acid

 

[Herz]

I had a cheap exide battery explode on my Jeep once. Ruined a bunch of hoses and other parts, battery was 4 months old. Started the car one morning, bam! Never will I purchase a exide battery again.

 

[postjeeprcr]

Originally Posted By: DieselTech
Couldn't give me An optima. The old versions were great but the newer bats are garbage and their warranty is garbage. A battery will go bad no matter what. A battery is only as good as it's warranty and availability of getting it warrantied. Interstate has 200,000 dealers nationwide. Whatever podunk town your in there is an interstate dealer there.

The process for optima to warranty a battery isn't consumer friendly at all. First the dealer must be given the oppertunity to revive the bat. This is a 24 hour process. Costco will send you to a distributor to get is replaced.....Good luck having one around.


Just sounds like you shouldn't buy batteries at Cosco, I bought an Optima at Advance and I have no worries about the warranty process.

 

[dgee]

duralast on my camry has been good for the last 5 years paid about 80$