Any experience with AAA Batteries?

After 5 years my OEM battery finally bit the dust, zero complaints as I've never had a battery last this long. I'm contacting AAA for a jump and received an insta-quote online to replace the battery for $131. So two questions, do you guys think that's a good price and anyone have personal experience with AAA batteries (not sure what brand they use)?

Additional info: Battery died at my home and I have all the tools/grease/beer necessary to replace a battery (except a 27F battery) so my options would be to get a jump from AAA, drive to AutoZone and pickup a new battery OR have the AAA guy install in my driveway.

 

I'd save your money and buy your own.

 

My mom had the same happen to her Highlander last week. She said that when the AAA guy showed up, he refused to jump the battery because it was older than 3(I think) years old and made her buy a new one. I'm not sure how much she tried to argue for a jump if she argued at all. Something to keep in mind, they may just try to make you buy a new one of theirs. $131 is what she payed.

 

My battery died in the heat of summer last year. I called AAA for a jump and they jacked me around for over an hour, then said they were real busy and it may take another 45 minutes. I told them show up or I'm no longer a customer. They suddenly rearranged their schedule to give us a jump. Next day I bought an Interstate on sale at the local auto parts.

 

I used to do roadside assistance for BLANK company. AAA batteries are JC (Johnson control) is what my shop told me. The AAA batteries I've replaced were anywhere from 1-6 years old, though most were around 3-4.
They offer a 6 year warranty with the first 3 years being free replacement. After that it's prorated.

Oh and the only reason a AAA mechanic can't jump a battery is if it's unsafe (excessive corrosion and battery swelling/ leaking)

 

I am a AAA member for 3 reasons only.

1) if needed, to be towed.

2) if wife has a flat and I'm not around, or if I'm physically unable to change the tire for some unknown reason. (my spares are always good and aired up)

3) discounts on a few related travel things, although that doesn't mean much.

I suppose a jump could be in order if I could not find a kind hearted soul to help out. I always have cables in the vehicle. Usually used to help others, not myself. But it does happen.

All the roadside services vendors I've ever seen have been slow to respond. Some have been efficient and polite, some have tried sales jobs.

If you have a bad experience, you need to report the shop to AAA and tell them what happened and why. Shops can get 'fired', or specific employees can be fired, based on customer inputs.

 

Remember that you just need to make it *to* the store, not back. Change the battery in the store parking lot and give them back the old one at the same time.

 

I think youll need a bigger battery op, at least a few d's.

 

So I ended up going with the AAA-branded battery. It came down to numbers, AAA charged $131 to install at my house while I worked at home and took away the dead battery. Autozone wanted $133 for their Duralast Gold and involved me driving there/time/etc.

After AAA installed the new battery, I re-tightened the connections for piece of mind.

I asked the guy who manufactured the batteries, he confirmed it was JC and they just slap AAA stickers for branding.

Ha, I'm not looking for any d's from the roadside assistance team.

 

AAA ended up being cheaper

 

I use Allstate Motor Club for roadside assistance. Although I do not have Allstate insurance, I have used them since 1973. I have called for a tow many times over the years and never had a problem. The response was quick and the annual cost is about the same as AAA.