We bought our 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan in March 2021.
It was equipped with a PartsMaster (NAPA?) Group 34 battery of unknown age.
In my experience, a factory battery will last at least seven years, and often longer. However, I figure an aftermarket battery is good if I get three winters out of it.
After 5+ years, the PartsMaster battery had never given us a lick of trouble.
I went to drive the van late Saturday afternoon, and got the death rattle of starter solenoid. My wife and I had done at least three trips earlier in the day with the battery presenting no issues whatsoever.
I checked what tools I would need (10 mm wrench for the terminals, and a 13 or 14 mm socket, ratchet, and extension for the hold-down clamp), boosted the van with the 50 A setting on my charger, and drove to Canadian Tire. (The only other option at that time on a Saturday is Walmart, and their website is very poor, at least w.r.t. automotive batteries. A lot of people here like Costco for batteries, but I'm not a member.)
I removed the old battery in about 2 minutes, wheeled it into the store on a cart, got the $20 credit for the old battery, came out with new battery, and had it in quickly.
We've had some very hot weather, with yellow heat warnings from Environment Canada. This weather is hard on batteries, as evidenced by several others in line to buy new batteries.
I bought the high-end conventional battery with a 48-month warranty for c. $225 + tax. (I like AGMs, but didn't want to spend the extra on an old vehicle that we won't have forever.)
I would have liked to check out NAPA, but didn't want to wait until Monday.
We will see how the new one does.
It was equipped with a PartsMaster (NAPA?) Group 34 battery of unknown age.
In my experience, a factory battery will last at least seven years, and often longer. However, I figure an aftermarket battery is good if I get three winters out of it.
After 5+ years, the PartsMaster battery had never given us a lick of trouble.
I went to drive the van late Saturday afternoon, and got the death rattle of starter solenoid. My wife and I had done at least three trips earlier in the day with the battery presenting no issues whatsoever.
I checked what tools I would need (10 mm wrench for the terminals, and a 13 or 14 mm socket, ratchet, and extension for the hold-down clamp), boosted the van with the 50 A setting on my charger, and drove to Canadian Tire. (The only other option at that time on a Saturday is Walmart, and their website is very poor, at least w.r.t. automotive batteries. A lot of people here like Costco for batteries, but I'm not a member.)
I removed the old battery in about 2 minutes, wheeled it into the store on a cart, got the $20 credit for the old battery, came out with new battery, and had it in quickly.
We've had some very hot weather, with yellow heat warnings from Environment Canada. This weather is hard on batteries, as evidenced by several others in line to buy new batteries.
I bought the high-end conventional battery with a 48-month warranty for c. $225 + tax. (I like AGMs, but didn't want to spend the extra on an old vehicle that we won't have forever.)
I would have liked to check out NAPA, but didn't want to wait until Monday.
We will see how the new one does.
