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.

 

[silvertramp]

My used Yanmar has been starting every time for 5 1/2 years. Recently, I was using it to move firewood. I shut it down for 1/2 hour, and it wouldn't re-start. The battery was completely dead. I did manage to jump it, to get back up to the house. I put a used battery in it. Starts every time again.
Seems like they can go dead very quickly.

 

[paulfun9]

That's exactly why I sent the new battery charger I was given last year back! Who programs these things? When I want to charge a battery I want the charger to send a charge not have to wait for the on board computer to decide if it wants to charge it or not!

 

[sixdogs]

Anyone buy from Costco or Walmart?

I bought a tractor battery from Sam's Club and it quit a few years out. Not sure exactly on the age but when I took it back he looked it up and gave me a FREE one to replace it. I like free.

Also, the original battery in my '05 B7800 is still going strong. Last year I replaced my 9 year old Toyota Tundra battery--even though there was nothing wrong with it--just because of the age.

Worth noting is that I charge my batteries every fall just before winter sets in. I think that has had a positive impact on battery life.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I won't trust a battery after five years. Not for daily transportation anyway. Regardless they get replaced when five years old. I have always bought Diehard Golds. Last year my wife was an hour away with a horse in her trailer and the truck wouldn't start. Tow trucks won't tow a truck and trailer with a horse in them. Come to find out our two year old Diehard Gold had a dead cell. It wouldn't jump start. Warranty or not I'm looking at different brand batteries now.

That is something I have learned as well. You are living on borrowed time. I usually get mine at Advance auto but I have used Wal-Mart and Sam"s as well. Interstate is the only brand I avoid but that is based on 2 bad experiences that were over 25 years ago.

 

[oosik]

I had a gel-cell battery in my old tractor that lasted eleven years. When I went to Les Schwab to replace it - its no longer being made. Worked too well, lasted too long. I wanted to put an Optima AGM battery in the new tractor until I was quoted a price. The best battery I found was from the John Deere dealer.

 

[bcp]

With my chargers, the automatic charger will not charge a totally dead battery. The manual charger will charge it. I've read others complain about the same thing with automatic chargers.

One time the manual charger wasn't handy and the automatic wouldn't work. I connected jumper cables for a few minutes, removed them, reconnected the automatic charger, which then charged the battery.

Bruce

 

[ultrarunner]

You out smarted your smart charger...

My BX battery is now 10 years old and so far so good!

 

[sixdogs]

Small point here but when I worked in a garage many years ago we were taught to turn the headlights on for a couple minutes before we charged the battery. Apparently takes off the "surface charge" that can prevent a proper charge.

That's all I know but have been doing it for many decades and seem to get unusually long battery life. I charge all batteries every fall.

 

[timster2]

I have been buying my batteries at BJ's for a few years. If you buy a 48 month battery and return it after 40 months they give you a full refund, no prorating! They have no way of checking the battery so they just refund your purchase price. So replacing a battery cost you the difference in price from when you bought it to what it is selling for now. Don't know why but that is their policy. When I get a new battery I keep the transaction on a separate receipt so it is easy to locate if the battery needs to be replaced.

 

[aczlan]

One note, with a battery receipt (or any warranty related receipt) that is printed on thermal paper, make sure you make a copy of the receipt. Thermal receipts fade over time and once they fade out, they are pretty much useless.

Aaron Z