Don't buy batteries from Advance!

My friend was having battery problems, so I brought my multimeter and jump pack over. He had an Autocraft Silver battery.

Resting voltage was at 12.4 or so, enough to start a car. We tried to start it, and got nothing, just the rapid clicking. Then we jumped it (when running it was 14.3ish volts) and drove to the store. They tested it with their little diagnostic tool. It said the voltage was good, it had 550 CCA, and the alternator was fine.

I thought okay, he must have left a light on or something. So it just needed to be charged back up from driving. I left my jump pack with him anyways just in case.

He had to use it to get to work and then again to go home. So I came back over and checked voltage again. 12.5 resting. Okay that's good, but weird.

"Turn your headlights on.."

Immediately the voltage dropped to sub 10 range after 30-60 seconds. Turning the lights back off, the resting voltage went back up to about 12.2. Not so good. Tried to start it, no start. Stuck it on the charger, and it said it was done after 5 minutes. Obviously there was a surface charge but it couldn't handle any kind of load. We tried to start it again, but it required jumping. The battery was likely stratified.

Went back to Advance. The battery had a 1/17 sticker on it and was within warranty (barely). So when he got there I told him to turn his lights on for a minute and then we'll go in the store.

Again, they come out and test the battery. Less than 10 volts to the battery. No start (obviously).

Here's what's really stupid. They put the battery on a CHARGER, and then read the voltage. "Your battery is good", they said. I'm going to assume they didn't put any kind of load on it at all. According to this "test", the battery was not eligible for a replacement.

It took a manager override to get the new battery, because their stupid "test" said the battery was "good". It is obvious to me that Advance has their tests conducted in such a way that the battery is not properly checked for good or poor health, instead just slapping it onto a trickle charger and reading the surface voltage, and not applying any kind of load to it whatsoever. When I turn on the headlights for a good battery, usually the voltage drops and settles to 11.8 or so under that load, then when headlights shut off it will go back up to 12.5. This battery was dropping well below that and not recovering.

Anyways, don't get a battery from Advance unless you're cool with the manager. Their tests are really biased.

Have you dealt with a particular store with ridiculous battery warranty eligibility process like Advance? I hope I don't have to go through this with Everstart batteries, though my Gold is well outside the warranty period (4+ years old).

 

Had a Optima that went bad. Took it back and they told me I'd have to deal directly with Optima on the battery warranty even though they sold it. Said Optima was such a pain in the ass to deal with they dropped the entire line. Apparently they wouldn't back the dealer with warranty claims and reimburse them. They did honor the warranty by discounting a new battery of another brand for me because I bought the battery there. Told me right there that Optima wasn't worth messing with. Also Optima didn't last anywhere near as long as they advertise.

 

Not my experience with them. Had 3 blue tops in my last boat with a massive stereo and they took a beating for years.

 

interstate just gave me one off the shelf when I had a battery go bad in my ranger. walked in had it tested was out the door with a new battery and fresh warranty

 

Had no issues with Autozone batteries. One in the runner went out and they replaced it no questions asked. Been running Duralast Golds in both for the last 6 years.

Autozone told me the same thing with Optima's, had to deal directly with Optima on the warranty even though they sold them. Glad someone is helping peeps out with them though. Just not so in this area.

 

Is that Costco?

 

no we have a interstate distributor here. probably why getting a replacement was so easy no third party shit to go through.

 

I had the same experience at a local Napa auto parts , I watched the guy not properly load test the battery,then he tries to tell me the batteries fine.I mentioned / told him he wasnt testing it properly,he tried to tell me there must be something wrong with the meter,i told him then throw that pos away.My point is I would have been pissed if reinstalled that battery in any vehicle period. That battery was only 1yr old .Dont get me wrong I still like napa auto parts

 

I bought an Autozone battery in 2014 for $89 with an 84-month "guarantee". (To me, that means that if I got 84 months out of it I was lucky enough to get the cream of that batch's crop). It was an Interstate battery.

Last month it died so I took the battery and my receipt to Autozone and was told that Autozone doesn't handle Interstate batteries anymore and that I would have to go directly to the manufacturer. So I told the store manager that his store cheated me, that Autozone has always sold the cheapest crap they can get away with (like a garage droplight for $24.99 that I found later at Walmart for $15.00 (same brand and type) and like motor oil, also much cheaper at Walmart for the same exact brand and type), and that it doesn't honor its warranties, and that the current price of $124.99 for a standard 84-month battery like the one I paid $89 for in 2014 is nothing but a ripoff.

Then I went to a place that sells batteries and other stuff to commercial companies and picked one up for $90 tax included. It's also an 84-month battery. We'll see...

Over the years, I've noticed that battery life in my vehicles has been gradually decreasing. Actually I think that most batteries are identical, and that the more you pay, the longer the guarantee is. You pays your money and you takes your chances.

 

...Or rather, since battery warranties tend to be non-transferable, perhaps the manufacturers are betting that you won't own the vehicle beyond the warranty guarantee.

 

I bet that's true. I usually look at the weight of the batteries, sometimes the longer warranty ones are heavier, sometimes not.

 

Seems to me that batteries (except stock originals) last about 3-4 yrs. and always have. No matter the brand or the price. Some klunkers once in a while and of course if you drain one down bad, you prob. hurt it.

Wal Mart is as good as anybody's. Interstate has had the reputation "They used to be good" since I started buying batteries in the '80s and bought my first one (at a gas station that supposedly had 'the good ones') it lasted 3-4 years.

 

If I get 2 years I am happy !

I am good for leaving discharged batteries freeze .

Since the failures are all my fault I have never warrantied a battery.

I do Have Good Luck with East Penn Manufacturing seconds being close to the plant

 

Autozone > Advance Auto

 

I thought there was only a few actual battery manufacturers in the states that sell many brands.

 

3 or 4 in country who knows what might be imported .

Last I heard Optima`s were made in Mexico

 

In my opinion, batteries are like any mass produced product these days. Mostly junk. Why make a battery last any longer than a couple years when most consumers only keep their vehicle 2-3 years. The manufacturers make batteries to meet the need for the majority of our society.

 

Just like most things nowadays, we live in a throw away society.

 

I’m on my 3rd Optima battery in 21 years and almost 600,000 miles.
Batteries DONT last forever and can go out without warning signs.

While they don’t last forever I’m more than happy with my Optima red top and
bought my last one from Advance last year

 

Its really hard to test a battery. 5/6 cells can be dead and it will still read as if its just fine but it will die any day.

Its really not a big deal just buy a new battery.

If he wants to change brands he should.

I guess I don’t worry about battery warranties like I don’t worry about tread life warranties on tires. If its a POS product I don’t want that product again. Keep your proration and your replacement.