Batteries

[Cummins2014]

Well it finally happened , got 5 years ,and 8 months out of the OE's. Better then some ,worse then others.

Went out yesterday , and all I got was a click. Jumped it with my pontoon boat battery, fired right up, drove it over to my sons house, and back home. It started fine this morning ,and its 36 degrees right now. Not sure what to think ,but pretty sure the batteries are on their way out. Will load test them to be sure.

Kind of a toss up on where to get the new ones, not too interested in AGM, although have had good success with them for the inflatable pontoon boat. Costco Interstates , or Walmart EverStart . Walmart has the best warranty 3 year free replacement , and 2 years prorated , Costco just the three years . I wouldn't think either would be any better then the other. Same price for both.

 

[nukegm]

i have a friend who owns a fleet of rams for plowing. he has had good luck with deka batteries ( spell ) and here in colorado napa sells them. i have had good luck with interstates too. cheers!

 

[jhenderson]

Walmart hasn’t worked out for me or my buddy. The written warranty is great but it’s execution isn’t. I’ve already told the story of my 750 amp battery that only had around 400 amps but I was refused a replacement even though it had over 12 volts in it. Do you carry your battery receipt with you ? My friend had a Walmart battery go bad. Went into the local store and even though the date was punched and the battery tested bad, they wouldn’t honor the warranty without the receipt. He asked for a manager and was told the same story. I’ve never been told that from any other battery supplier.

 

[Cummins2014]

Walmart hasn’t worked out for me or my buddy. The written warranty is great but it’s execution isn’t. I’ve already told the story of my 750 amp battery that only had around 400 amps but I was refused a replacement even though it had over 12 volts in it. Do you carry your battery receipt with you ? My friend had a Walmart battery go bad. Went into the local store and even though the date was punched and the battery tested bad, they wouldn’t honor the warranty without the receipt. He asked for a manager and was told the same story. I’ve never been told that from any other battery supplier.

I have never paid much attention to batteries, but do they have a manufacturing date on them ?? I would thing that would be the only way to at least prove how old they were, plus the fact if its an older battery off the shelf, then kind of out of luck without a receipt if it proves its past its warranty. I do know the Walmart batteries have a date sticker on them.

Its hard to believe anyone would warranty a battery without a receipt, but they may I guess. If you think about it what would stop anyone from just taking a battery in for replacement when it went bad, unless like I said it has a dated stamped in it.

As far as receipts , yes I do keep them on stuff like that ,tires, batteries etc. There is a lot of stuff you can return, but to me batteries without a receipt is not one of them, but as said ,have never tried .

 

[Cummins2014]

Walmart hasn’t worked out for me or my buddy. The written warranty is great but it’s execution isn’t. I’ve already told the story of my 750 amp battery that only had around 400 amps but I was refused a replacement even though it had over 12 volts in it. Do you carry your battery receipt with you ? My friend had a Walmart battery go bad. Went into the local store and even though the date was punched and the battery tested bad, they wouldn’t honor the warranty without the receipt. He asked for a manager and was told the same story. I’ve never been told that from any other battery supplier.

Was curious after reading your post again, went out ,and looked at a couple batteries I have for my pontoon boat, one is a AGM group 24, the other a group 27 lead acid, no date on them that I can see .

 

[Ozymandias]

Oem is AGM, your alternator charges with a high current of 14.5V up to 15.2V
I don't know how long an open cell lead acid will last in this setup.

 

[Cummins2014]

i have a friend who owns a fleet of rams for plowing. he has had good luck with deka batteries ( spell ) and here in colorado napa sells them. i have had good luck with interstates too. cheers!

I have owned ,and driven cars ,and trucks now for just over 57 years. Never got hung up on anyone brand of battery. There was a time when I bought Interstate's, we had a account with a dealer, and I got a discount. That was the reason for getting them.

I couldn't single out one particular brand that stands out, other then a couple of the old Kirkland RV batteries I have in my 12 year old fifth wheel that are pretty close to 10 years old. Bought new from Costco when the original battery in the fifth wheel was about two years old ,and went bad . I seem to get about 5-6 years out of about any battery that I have had. We just replaced the OE battery in your 2013 Ford Escape , that was bought new in late Sept. 2012, went 7 years on that one.

As far as I am concerned either Costco or Walmart for the money should be good as any. If there is a reason why they are not, I suppose someone can tell us WHY !! Their warranty seems as good as any.

 

[Cummins2014]

Oem is AGM, your alternator charges with a high current of 14.5V up to 15.2V
I don't know how long an open cell lead acid will last in this setup.

I think we have been thru this, and no they are not AGM , just lead acid .

 

[rancher Mike]

I second the Deka batteries. Best batteries I ever had in my saltwater boat. Starting battery and trolling motor batteries. They took a beaten and kept on ticken.

 

[Cummins2014]

I second the Deka batteries. Best batteries I ever had in my saltwater boat. Starting battery and trolling motor batteries. They took a beaten and kept on ticken.

What kind of life are you getting out of them .

 

[AEdelheit]

I only use Deka and have seen them last 8+ years in some applications, mine are only 3 years old and expect at least another 3 or more out of them.

 

[jhenderson]

Was curious after reading your post again, went out ,and looked at a couple batteries I have for my pontoon boat, one is a AGM group 24, the other a group 27 lead acid, no date on them that I can see .

Every aftermarket battery I’ve ever purchased had a date of sale sticker on it. The sales person punches out the month and year of purchase at the point of sale. That way any dealer of that brand may warranty that battery. Picture yourself in Florida when your Walmart battery gives up. Are you going to have your receipt in your wallet? Any decent dealer will replace a their brand of battery. What good is a warranty on such a mobil piece of equipment if you can only replace it at the point of purchase? Would you tolerate that with the warranty on your truck? How about your tires? Do you keep those receipts in your wallet in case one fails 1000 miles from home? Any Interstate Battery dealer in the country will warranty an Interstate battery if the date sticker says it’s within limits. Same with NAPA, Deka, AutoZone etc.

 

[SnoKing]

My BIL 2008 needed batteries a week and a half ago. He bought it used a few years ago. Batteries were Deka with a L1 code sticker on the side. L1 = December 2011. So they lasted almost 2 times the batteries in my 2015 that I replaced in Sept.

 

[Cummins2014]

Every aftermarket battery I’ve ever purchased had a date of sale sticker on it. The sales person punches out the month and year of purchase at the point of sale. That way any dealer of that brand may warranty that battery. Picture yourself in Florida when your Walmart battery gives up. Are you going to have your receipt in your wallet? Any decent dealer will replace a their brand of battery. What good is a warranty on such a mobil piece of equipment if you can only replace it at the point of purchase? Would you tolerate that with the warranty on your truck? How about your tires? Do you keep those receipts in your wallet in case one fails 1000 miles from home? Any Interstate Battery dealer in the country will warranty an Interstate battery if the date sticker says it’s within limits. Same with NAPA, Deka, AutoZone etc.

EVERY aftermarket ?? Okay got it. Yes my receipt will be in the truck glove box, along with any other receipt that pertains to a warranty for the truck. What good would it do if I were out of town, and its in a file in my home Yes there are Walmarts, and Costco's all over this country. Big reason I will purchase from them, or maybe one that has been mentioned.

And here we go again, now its batteries, never asked , just stated where I was going to get a battery . Walmart hasn't worked out for you or your buddy, well I guess that means everyone that gets a Walmart battery its not going to work out for them.

Another thing, no expert on batteries by any means ,but never ,and I repeat never have I bought a battery that failed under warranty, been lucky, It would seem so, or MANY of you do not know how to take care of a battery. If you think I don't know much about the warranty's or date stickers you would be right. Doesn't mean I don't know anything about batteries.

 

[Cummins2014]

My BIL 2008 needed batteries a week and a half ago. He bought it used a few years ago. Batteries were Deka with a L1 code sticker on the side. L1 = December 2011. So they lasted almost 2 times the batteries in my 2015 that I replaced in Sept.

Thats good to know ,but I have been pretty lucky with batteries it seems , they ALL have lasted pretty well, at least beyond any warranty they had .. As said my OE are over five and half years old

I know a few fisherman that swear by the Walmart Deep cycle or RV batteries for their pontoon boats.

 

[Cummins2014]

I only use Deka and have seen them last 8+ years in some applications, mine are only 3 years old and expect at least another 3 or more out of them.

Thanks.I will look into them, its not the first time I have heard good things about Deka, but I have had good luck with others as well. As said never got too hung up on a certain brand.

 

[Wayne M.]

I’m having a incredible run with my DieHard platinums (I know you weren’t interested in AGM’s) but I thought I was going to replace them 2 winters ago, and I got an incredible deal on them.
I’ve also had very good luck with Costco Interstate in 2 other vehicles. I think that’s the route I’ll go for the next battery buy. I have a Costco 10 mins from home.
I understand the call for Deka, but for me, they’re just not easy to get. I have to pay a toll to get to a NAPA, which I believe the high line battery is Deka, or a CAT dealer.
I recently put a Advance Gold AGM in my ‘14 Durango because I got a 20% off deal, and that’s been good too.

 

[rancher Mike]

Every aftermarket battery I’ve ever purchased had a date of sale sticker on it. The sales person punches out the month and year of purchase at the point of sale. That way any dealer of that brand may warranty that battery. Picture yourself in Florida when your Walmart battery gives up. Are you going to have your receipt in your wallet? Any decent dealer will replace a their brand of battery. What good is a warranty on such a mobil piece of equipment if you can only replace it at the point of purchase? Would you tolerate that with the warranty on your truck? How about your tires? Do you keep those receipts in your wallet in case one fails 1000 miles from home? Any Interstate Battery dealer in the country will warranty an Interstate battery if the date sticker says it’s within limits. Same with NAPA, Deka, AutoZone etc.

I keep the battery receipts in the glove box.

 

[rancher Mike]

What kind of life are you getting out of them .

In my saltwater boat I would get 5-6 years out of the engine starting battery and about the same out if the trolling motor batteries. That was in Florida heat and they take a lot of shock abuse in a boat, water conditions depending. I would think in a truck they might have an easier life with regard to abuse from the ride.

 

[SnoKing]

I’m having a incredible run with my DieHard platinums (I know you weren’t interested in AGM’s) but I thought I was going to replace them 2 winters ago, and I got an incredible deal on them.
I’ve also had very good luck with Costco Interstate in 2 other vehicles. I think that’s the route I’ll go for the next battery buy. I have a Costco 10 mins from home.
I understand the call for Deka, but for me, they’re just not easy to get. I have to pay a toll to get to a NAPA, which I believe the high line battery is Deka, or a CAT dealer.
I recently put a Advance Gold AGM in my ‘14 Durango because I got a 20% off deal, and that’s been good too.

It is a little strange, but Costco warranty seems to vary by location. I bought mine in NW Washington in Sept and they have a 42 month full replacement warranty. BIL got his in Mesa, Az and they have a 36 month warranty. Maybe because the hotter weather they shortened the warranty?