Issues with batteries...

[mrsilv04]

I suppose it is just me, but lately I'm having a pretty bad run with batteries in my Silverado.

6/5/2004 - Truck placed in service (built 4/2004)
8/18/2007 - 42,400 miles - Replaced OE battery with NAPA battery.
6/13/2008 - 48,250 miles - Replaced first NAPA battery with a second one.
8/4/2008 - 48,775 miles - Replaced second NAPA battery with a third one (3rd one in less than a year, second one in less than 60 days).

On 6/10/2008, had Chev/Cad dealer verify charging system on truck. They told me all checked out within spec. They blamed my aftermarket XM radio as the cause. I've had the same XM radio in there since the day I bought the truck. Three days later the battery failed and I put the second NAPA battery in truck.

When I went back on Tuesday when the second failed NAPA battery (after it had only been under the hood of my truck for less than 60 days), the manager chose to be a jerk about it. That morning, I had my mechanic load test the battery, and it failed. The first one had failed a load test as well.

I'm not sure what to think at this point. The dealer says that it isn't the truck, and I really don't have any reason to suspect an issue with the truck either. I'm just concerned that I'm going through batteries at an increasing rate, and don't have a real reason as to why

Since I've complained about this once to the dealer already, I can request that they recheck the truck again at no charge (instead of having to pay the $100 deductible again). But I'm not sure what it will prove.

This last battery, once it started giving me trouble, it was done. It stopped holding a charge for more than a couple of hours.. That tells me that it failed internally. I had a full charge on it, and once we load tested it, it wouldn't start the truck.

 

[simple_gifts]

Why are you clinging to NAPA? I don't know good batteries from bad, but try a different brand; the most recent battery I purchased was a Sears DieHard that I got in 1997; lasted until I had the truck towed last year...

 

[duaneb9729]

i wonder if you have some sort of excessive amp draw when the truck is off?

one way to check that is to put an amp meter in line with the battery cable, as i understand it, there is a spec as to how much the computer and acc draw when the truck is off.

if you find an excessive amp draw, you can start removing fuses to narrow things down to the circuit that is causing the draw.

good luck electrical problems are no fun!

 

[mrsilv04]

I keep going back to NAPA because they replace the batteries for free for the first two years...

I guess I'll have to get my multimeter out and check to see if I have some parasitic draw.

However, that doesn't explain why these batteries are dropping dead, and failing a load test. If I had some parasitic draw working on the battery, wouldn't I be jump starting the truck every time after it sits for a couple of days?

 

[John K]

While the charging system is within specs I wonder if it could be at the high end and overcharging? Hard water? What type of battery, i.e., maintenance free, do you need to add water, etc.

Or sometimes the alternator belt is slipping. I once had a battery wouldn't keep a charge, and though I thought the belt was tight, I tightened it anyway and the problem went away.

Another way to check on drain is to put a 12V lamp between the terminal and the cable, if it lights there is a draw. Then remove fuses, etc.

You might also try one of the places that test for free, like Auto Zone, to get a different slant on things since the dealer isn't finding anything. Wonder why the dealer or NAPA doesn't delve into this more, rather than just saying it isn't our problem..... Batteries should last longer than this for sure.

 

[Fester]

If your discharging frequently, then the alternator steps up the voltage to recharge, unlike a deep cycle battery it cant handle the heavy drains, the battery will then fail when enough plates fall in to the bottom, shorting the battery out. An aggressive charging system along with a drain is probably the cause.

Have a good mechanic look at it, or get a deep cycle battery that can take lots of discharge.

 

[MrCritical]

Optima Yellow Top.

 

[NYEngineer]

Before you take any battery from any store, find the build date on the battery. it will be a round sticker about the size of a dime and it will have either a letter and a number or a two digit number. Whichever it has, you'll be able to figure it out easily.
One of the digits is the year, so it will be a 7 or an 8. The other will be the month.... A for January or 1 for January and so on... It depends which you have.
My friend owns a battery store and he rotates his stock very carefully. Most do not. He showed me how to read the build dates. Sometimes, when we're out, we check battery dates in Costco, Wal Mart, Auto Barn... I believe the winner was Wal Mart. They had a battery on the shelf that was three years old. Yeah, so they'll warranty it, who needs to be running back and forth and getting stuck??
My truck has 215,000 miles on it. I'm almost positive it's only on it's third battery. I get em from my buddy.

 

[PandaBear]

I'd say it is either:

1) The battery form this Napa is mishandled or dud, the entire batch.

2) The charging system has some interm problems that weren't showing up all the time, but enough to kill the cells.

3) The parasitic drain when off. You should see problem starting before the battery is suddenly dead.

4) Your car has heat issue that kills the battery, but still, should fail like #3 in symptom.

My guess would be #1 or #2. Try to get a replacement from another Napa, or ask for another brand and see if it makes a difference. I'm surprised after 3 batteries in such a short time the manager haven't refund you and ask you to go elsewhere for a new battery yet.

 

[Chris142]

Napa batteries = Exide junk.

 

[kc8adu]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Napa batteries = Exide junk.

a neighbors taurus went through 4 exide batteries in 2 months.
dealer refused to replace it the 5th time.
all developed a dead cell verified by my hydrometer.
all were the same cell.the one nearest to the + post.
i put a used one in it from something we sent to the shredding hole that had been sitting 5 months.no problems after 6 months.
exide has quality control issues and i bet you are getting replacements from the same very large bad batch.

 

[mrsilv04]

NAPA battery #2 - manufacture date was February 2008, installed June 2008.

NAPA battery #3 - manufacture date was July 2008, installed August 2008.

It would appear that the last two batteries haven't been from the same batch, being 5 months apart.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
.

It would appear that the last two batteries haven't been from the same batch, being 5 months apart.

Ya but they are from the same manufacturer. I bet that if you replace it with another brand your problems will stop.

I'd run an Orange oil filter before I would buy an Exide battery.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/1163585/

 

[Aldaris]

Try an interstate battery. I have one on my Lexus and it's amazing. Even better than the Optima red top I had in several of my cars.

 

[Papa Bear]

Why did you change the OEM battery ?? It should still be going strong ..

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
.

It would appear that the last two batteries haven't been from the same batch, being 5 months apart.

Ya but they are from the same manufacturer. I bet that if you replace it with another brand your problems will stop.

I'd run an Orange oil filter before I would buy an Exide battery.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/1163585/

 

[XPR]

Get you money back on the NAPA battery and buy an Optima

 

[MrCritical]

Any non OEM electrical accessories added to your vehicle?

 

[jtl]

Interstate megaton batts have been super in all seven family vehicles,both diesels are on year five and zero problems with any vehicles. Tried NAPA in our scissor lift(daily usesd)and they bombed at 13 months. Napa offered a $40 credit but we switched to interstate and 20 months so far.

 

[Eddie]

Really sounds like an issue with the vehicle and NOT the battery. Maybe one bad battery or two but, three. I think something maybe deep-cycling the batteries or maybe they are being shaken apart internally.