Trouble getting Walmart to replace my (N)Everstart battery

[jmurray01]

I can empathise with you about your battery troubles, as I've had a similar experience myself.

Last summer we bought a 1998 Rover 216 SLi (I don't expect you'll be familiar with it as it is a UK car, but it is a 5 door hatchback with a 1.6 litre Inline-4 Cyl engine to give you a brief summary) and it had a battery which had only been purchased a few months prior to our ownership.

I assumed that would provide reliable starting, well, no...

After being parked up in the drive way (waiting to be fixed up to pass a safety inspection) for two weeks the battery went completely flat, to the point of not even clicking the starter solenoid, despite no electrical items being left on.

I jump started it using out other car (1997 Ford Fiesta 1.25), then we took it for a 100 mile drive to charge the battery back up (I didn't have a battery charger at that point) and it did take a good charge again, starting up energetically afterwords, but after sitting another two weeks, back to square one!

Needless to say it now has a Bosch S4 battery in it which has proved reliable so far (even though the car isn't on the road yet, long story, don't ask!)

 

[jmurray01]

I've taken batteries in to at least two different Walmarts and had them replaced without even being tested. Must be my good looks.

Chuck

I have the same problem.

 

[Turbys_1700]

This surprises me somewhat in that I have never had an issue with Wal Mart replacing anything...
I did buy 2 batteries last year for my Power Stroke from them...
They were manufactured by Johnson Controls and the technician that installed them was a young mechanic that previously worked at a local dealership...
He was actually very good and I was actually very surprised...
The cost was $70 less for the two not including tax...
So far so good...

 

[Travelover]

I usually buy batteries at Costco. If within the warranty, they replace them no questions asked.

 

[jonyyuma]

Good to read about O'reilleys and their policys on batterys..One of the best batterys i have owned in the near past was a Johnson control--OEM...I had not considered the Walmart unit being the Cheapest Bidder for the job. I did like reading the codes and always getting a fresh dated battery...there...

 

[Davestc29]

I have always used my local napa mainly becuase they have no problem returning batteries and they let me look in there paper catalogs when I'm trying to find something wired and have no problem with taking time to find unusual items

 

[aczlan]

I think I know what to do to get another battery out of them but I'll post later to let you guys know the outcome.

I would carry the battery in after driving another car in, but I have 3 walmarts within 20 minutes of my house.

Aaron Z

 

[kootch88]

I've had several returns on Maxx Batteries at Wal-mart with no troubles, but I got so sick of their garbage and my general dislike for them anyway, that I went and got an interstate from the local shop 3 years ago, and so far so good.

 

[Bird]

The last 2 car batteries I've bought were from my local Ford dealer. The only batteries I've bought from Walmart were the starter battery for our motorhome in 1993, a Cub Cadet riding mower battery in 1998, and a trolling motor battery in 2007. Never had a problem or complaint with any of them.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I think this Walmart battery is made by Johnson Controls too. The cables are good. voltage tests while off and running at the battery show differential. The alternator replaced a few months ago. It is Autozone gold (lifetime warranty).

I think the reason it is hanging in there is because the car gets daily long drives which charges the battery fully. It doesn't hardly do any city driving (turning off and on) short distances.