Battery Warranties worthless?

[ultrarunner]

True... most batteries are really sealed.

At one time I could still get "Maintenance Free" batteries that could be opened... have not seen them in awhile.

 

[jimainiac]

I pay attention to Consumer Reports' recommendations, and they generally give Walymart batteries good reviews, depending on type. Their default advice is to at least choose a battery with the longest free replacement warranty.
I'll probably jinx it by saying this, but my longest success story is the battery that came in the John Deere lawn tractor I bought at Home Depot in 2002. I take the battery out and bring it inside every Winter, add distilled water when necessary, and trickle charge it before use in the Spring. I almost broke down and replaced it this Spring for general principles, then decided to keep it and go for the world's record.

 

[paulfun9]

Those old green eye ac batteries lasted me an average of 8 years I don't even know what brand it is but the battery that came in the wives dodge has lasted for 11 years now. I will have to take a look at it to see what it is.

Trusting the battery is easy. Pay attention to how your vehicle cranks during start up as they almost always give a sign long before they decide to quit.

 

[texasjohn]

I used to think the same thing. My buddy and I have even talked about it...seems that was the way it was back when...we're both over 70. But in more recent years both of us have had lots of experience with batteries which work...and then just don't. No slow crank, nothing...just CLICK, CLICK. Between his and his kids, he watches over a fleet of about 7 vehicles, I worry over 8. Failure before end of warranty life has become much more common. For some reason, batteries which come in a NEW vehicle always seem to have very good reliability and even last well (sometimes years) beyond the warranty period.

Sometimes there seems to be a clock built into the batteries...they know to fail just a month or so beyond the warranty period.

I just replaced a Walmart battery which died in about 19 months....free replacement....it was 3 year free replacement, 5 year prorated. For me, the hassels of getting a battery replaced under warranty at Walmart have increased over the years...from no questions and no test to now...automated test, paper read out, receipt request, call manager, use battery manufacture date even though install date is on battery sticker. A hassle, and prorated uses inflated price, not current store sale purchase price...bummer.

Trusting the battery is easy. Pay attention to how your vehicle cranks during start up as they almost always give a sign long before they decide to quit.

 

[prosperity]

The newer batteries are different in a way. As was said above, used to be if you pay attention to how the car/truck/tractor cranks, it would give you some indication that it was starting to go.

I had an experience with my Deere battery a few years ago. Worked fine all along. Was out mowing a couple different properties, got done with one and put it on the trailer. At the next job 5 miles away it was dead. Brought it home - would not jump or take a trickle charge. After checking everything else out, replaced the battery and all was good. These newer batteries will die without any notice at all.

My F-150 is now 5 years old. Due to circumstances, I had to start having someone else change the oil and service it, so I went to the Ford dealer. I told them I wanted the battery load tested. It is off a little bit - will be replacing in at the next service this fall no matter what. I've read on some truck forums that batteries will act just like my tractor battery did and die without notice and won't take a jump.

I'm already researching batteries, and have concluded that I will go with either Wal-Mart or the Ford dealer (Motorcraft). The Ford dealer is about the same price for their best battery as Wal-Mart with the same warranty. I am going with the Ford battery because in the warranty details, it says there is free towing to the nearest dealer with a dealer installed battery.

Warranty includes FREE towing on dealer-installed battery.

That is a huge benefit in my eyes.

 

[Travelover]

I think that batteries have changed. Had an experience a few years ago where wife's Taurus couldn't be jump started by me or AAA and had to have it towed to a shop, where a new battery fixed it. Now I notice that AAA carries new batteries with them and selling batteries is a regular part of their business model.

They must have realized that the old jump it to get home model doesn't work with the new batteries.

 

[jenkinsph]

I keep up with about 25 batteries now, a few years ago I had 32 of them to worry over. I have found the Walmart batteries to be a good bang for the buck in applications of frequent use. For long term storage and deep cycle use I have had the best results with DieHard Platinums and Odyssey (one and the same). I use the deep cycle agm batteries in rv, boat and trolling motor, service truck secondary battery.

In the $75 to $150 price range for starting batteries I just can't determine much difference in any of them, to me there is no clear "winner". I have found that the better Walmart batteries seem to last as well as most others in this price range and at the lowest cost per year. Typically I don't care for Walmart anything but this has worked for me over the last 12 years or so.

 

[paulfun9]

I simply haven't found a battery to die without any sign before hand no matter how small it may be. I also have not found a dead battery that would not let me override it and get the car/truck running. Sometimes it takes more than a one car jump but they all start. Now keeping them running with a dead battery is a hole other discussion by itself and one of the main reasons my next truck will be an old truck built to my specs.

 

[Bird]

I think that batteries have changed. Had an experience a few years ago where wife's Taurus couldn't be jump started by me or AAA and had to have it towed to a shop, where a new battery fixed it. Now I notice that AAA carries new batteries with them and selling batteries is a regular part of their business model.

They must have realized that the old jump it to get home model doesn't work with the new batteries.

I guess everything is different today. The first time I had the battery replaced in my Ford Ranger, it was because, when I was getting an oil & filter change, the dealer said the battery tested weak and wouldn't last long. I had seen no indication of a problem, but I let them replace the battery. The next time, the battery was replaced was when I found it wouldn't start here at home. Now I had battery charger that was supposed to have the high output (jump start feature, or whatever they called it) and it didn't help a bit, even after leaving it on the slow charge awhile. So the AAA guy came and with his battery pack, it kicked right off. So without shutting it down, I drove it to the dealer and got a new battery.

But on the Crown Vic, once again I was at the dealer for routine service and they said the battery was weak. Now I hadn't noticed any problem, but after they put a new battery in, then it was very noticeable that it spun the engine faster to start.

 

[ultrarunner]

It does seem I'm finding more batteries that simply stop working...

In the old days, typical was a battery that was "OK" in the summer and have cranking problems as the temps drop.

I bought new a very good battery tester about 40 years ago that has a large meter and several types of loads to test.

My old standby was to charge to full and then test capacity...

My new chargers simply refuse to charge some batteries... still have a big heavy charger from the 1960's that nothing can refuse... sometimes it works and sometimes not.