vehicle batteries

[gonefshn]

I literally just replaced the Interstate battery in my kids truck (my old one) yesterday. Took it down to Interstate, it had a bad cell. Battery was 6 years old. They gave me $15 credit, which was the remainder of the pro-rated warranty, not sure how that worked out for me but whatever.

$150 later I'm on the road. Yeah, they are expensive but I think 6 years is a decent life for a battery, also when it's ass cold outside and they do the replacement work....that's worth an extra $20 all day long.

You guys have had better luck than me with Interstate. I've always bought Interstate, but every other year I have to get a new one in my truck for some reason. And even though they say they have this good warranty every time the rep has some excuse NOT to give me any credit for it. So, just the other day when my year and half old Interstate kept needing to be charged I decided to save some money and got one from Walmart. I'll tell you in a year or two how that went.

I did the same a few years ago with my boat batteries (5 of them). After Interstates not lasting more than a year and a half or so (still being prettty good but not being able to run hard all day), I went with batteries from CARQUEST. This summer was my third year on them and they would still take a whole day of running hard. Maybe in the bigger towns where you have an actual Interstate store it's better, but the rep who delivers and handles areas like Devils Lake sure doesn't uphold their warranty very well.

 

[martinslanding]

Just an example : at Fleet farm Road Runner Supreme Power Battery 840 CCA - 72 month warranty with 24 month free replacement $89.99
INTERSTATE BATTERIES 770 CCA AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY - 42 month free replacement warranty - $114.99
Seems like a horse a piece to me honestly you are taking about $100 factored over several years for assurance that your primary mode of transportation gets you from point A to point B every time….

 

[Norske]

When you're comparing batteries, pay attention to the battery case. My boat has an Interstate starting battery an a pair of Walmart deep cycles. Except for the color of the plastic and the label, they look like they came from the same factory. See if you can access a History channel program about batteries on your computer. Their video of how fast 12V batteries come an assembly line is surprising. The guy who loads the labels so they match the case color has to pay attention. Every battery is continuity tested at each step of the process, and the guys running the forklifts at the end of the line can barely keep up with production. The line isn't interrupted to change the insides as brands change.

 

[Mort]

Its always the first cold snap we have every year that puts batteries to the test, thats when you find out when its good or bad.. Sales go thru the roof. Ironically, I helped my ex brother in law changed out his battery in is '12 F-250 yesterday. It still had the factory motorcraft battery, so it held up to the 4 yr mark, which isn't bad. We repalced it with a Durastart, see how it goes. I don't like Everstarts that wally world sells, had one go bad on me in short order, never again. Napa batteries tend to be somewhat pricey depending which battery you buy, the longer lasting ones will cost more, I bought a 72 month here couple years ago, it went dead, they replaced it - no problem.

More cold crank amps, the better. We replaced a 650 with an 850. Manufacturers will put the lowest they can get by with, that boils down to a cost thing to them. Keep your connections clean and corrosion free.

Happy motoring guys - Last and not least, if you have block heaters in your vehicles, use them! They help LOTS when it comes to cranking the motor over, the battery will not work as hard, its was -16 at 8:30 am today here in willy.

 

[dust in the wind]

Yeah, mine was still the factory battery in my 2011 (picked it up in july of 2010) so it's about 6.5 years old. Knew it was getting weaker and after it barely wanted to start the other day, it was time to replace it.

Went with an 850 CCA battery. Put it in last night and I can tell a difference in starting it in the garage. We will see how it does after sitting outside all day.