No date codes on Walmart batteries?

[Chris142]

Had to replace the battery in the mother in law's Sentra. Pulled the old one out and took it with me. It's a group 26R.

Only had the $54 one on the shelf. I looked for a fresh one but no code on any of them.

Brought one home anyway. My tester showed 12.65v and 100% charged unlike the one I bought a few months ago.

Rated @525a. Tester said 540a.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

I've seen batteries with future date codes

 

[y_p_w]

Often they're placed there at delivery. Interstate is interesting with its rotation program. I hear that they'll put a new sticker on after it's been charged to reflect the last time it was put back on the shelf after being charged. It's supposedly OK as long as the battery is rotated quickly enough to avoid sulfation.

 

[AutoMechanic]

I have noticed that some of the ones recently there haven’t been dated. Especially the more common ones. Come to think of it I actually don’t see a lot of dated batteries anymore but maybe that’s just me or in my area.

 

[2010Civic]

I like having the date sticker so I can look at it years later and know how old the battery is.

 

[RooflessVW]

I like having the date sticker so I can look at it years later and know how old the battery is.

A sharpie works for that.

 

[y_p_w]

I like having the date sticker so I can look at it years later and know how old the battery is.

Don't most batteries still have labels with the dates that punch out to indicate when they were installed?

 

[TheLastWord]

They are often digitally etched on the case side. Hard to see.

 

[maineiac]

I just purchased a Group 35 Maxx this week and the sticker was prominently affixed to the top of the battery as was the case with all the batteries I saw on the rack.

 

[Kira]

My Group 59 (the specified battery) is a tad hard to find. The Pep Boys had 5, 9 month old ones in stock so I passed.
Even the Group 58 (1/2" shorter), which the PO installed >4 years before, was not to be found.
Walmart had all but bare shelving, so I waited....an advantage to planned maintenance.

In a week Walmart's battery shelves were restocked. It was January of 2020 and a sticker on it read "1/20".
Imagine my disappointment when I read here that the round, colorful stickers are an inventory tool....NOT a manufacturer's date.

FYI: A morning battery test of 12.2v or lower means a "failed battery". Mine oldie read 10.2v but still cranked the engine.
I replaced it anyway.

 

[supton]

I've seen batteries with future date codes

I bought one like that. Decided it was close enough I guess.

 

[maineiac]

Imagine my disappointment when I read here that the round, colorful stickers are an inventory tool....NOT a manufacturer's date.

Good to know!

 

[joekingcorvette]

I purchased a new batter for my F-150 a few months ago and it had the sticker attached. The battery was a couple months old when I bought it according to the date sticker.

 

[benjy]

ACTIVATION date is key!! batteries can be stored DRY + acid added later as well as fully charging BEFORE installation. + if you dont drive a lot charging with a good charger is just smart! right now my bikes + cages have batteries over 5 years doing well! retired + winter is here in Pa kinda so driving is lesser by choice!

 

[mk378]

Activation is really only a thing with motorcycle batteries. Car batteries almost all ship from the factory filled with acid.

 

[FordSVTGuy]

Just exchanged an Everstart Plus 96R under warranty today. Both the old and new ones had date code stickers on them. The dead one was 10/20 and only lasted 14 months… at least it didn’t cost me anything to get a new one… the new one was 11/21…