Walmart Value Power dying...

[blupupher]

Well, I bought a Value Power Group 65 battery for my '02 F150 in July 2017, and it is about to give up the ghost.
While I got the 1 year warranty use out of it, at 16 months it is just about done.

I noticed about 6 months ago it was sitting around 12.3-12.4 v after sitting for a few days, 10 v when starting.
Now that it has started to get cooler, it is sitting at 12.2 v, and drops to 9.7 v when cranking (and cranks slower than usual).
I had hoped that by charging the battery with a trickle charger once a month or so and making sure the fluid level was fine (always was, never added anything) it would last closer to 24 months (which was the break even point vs the Everstart).

So now to decide if I want to just get another Value Power or just get the EverStart Maxx.
I have no idea how much longer I will be keeping the truck, it could be less than a year, or up to 5. If I knew I would be keeping it for 5 years for sure, I would be looking at a Deka made battery, but I thinks I should just get the Maxx since I gambled last time and lost.
I know others have had good luck with these, but this one was not it for me.

 

[SatinSilver]

Is this a JC made battery? I know the Value Power batteries in Virginia are made by East Penn. Not sure what other states East Penn supplies to WM. Sure wish I knew. But in Ohio they're made by JC. I'm on 6 years with an Exide that I bought at Rural King. It cranks fine, never charged on a charger, added a little bit of water to each cell and had the Walmart NOCO battery treatment service done at WM TLE which stopped the sulfating on the positive battery terminal.

 

[javacontour]

Sorry to hear that.

I'm at or beyond 24 months in my 99 MGM. It's relegated to spare car status. I take it out on weekends to make sure it still moves, etc.

I realize it's anecdotal, but I bought mine in November of 2016, so if I get to next fall, I'm very much money ahead. It was 19F when I got up yesterday and took "the boat" to the gym. It started without drama after having sat the week.

As with anything in life, YMMV

 

[Sayjac]

I've got 17 months on a JCI VP on a Tacoma that's not garaged. Coincidentally I put a maintainer on it a few hours ago, checked and now in float mode. Honestly haven't checked the standing/starting voltage because it's still cranking the engine over easily. I'm hoping for two years, I'll be happy with that.

I'd say you ought to go with the Maxx this time.

 

[danez_yoda]

The Everstart 65 (regular not Maxx) on rollback for $75 rated well in consumer reports if that makes a difference. The value power is not rated. for an extra $25 I would spring for the everstart.

 

[Onetor]

Odyssey is a dependable battery. But, you pay for it. Put it in the wife's SUV. Don't want to worry about her and our kids.

 

[JMJNet]

Looking at your location, TX heat kills the battery. Most answers come from the Northern part of the US.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted by danez_yoda
The Everstart 65 (regular not Maxx) on rollback for $75 rated well in consumer reports if that makes a difference. The value power is not rated. for an extra $25 I would spring for the everstart.



That's not a bad spread anymore. When they came out with the ValuPower 3 years back it seemed like everyone else wanted $130+ for a "gold" battery and WM wanted $109 or so for their "yellow".

There was some sort of run on the price of lead.

 

[Linctex]

Originally Posted by blupupher

I have no idea how much longer I will be keeping the truck, it could be less than a year, or up to 5.


Try to nail this down first.... If it were me, I'd swing towards "5 more years" and get a better battery

 

[SatinSilver]

Plus the OP can get a free replacement under warranty by getting the better battery if it dies in less than 2 years. I'd give it a whirl.

 

[blupupher]

It is a JCI made battery. I knew I was taking a risk (especially with the Texas heat), but was hoping for the best.
My truck may sit for a week or so since I got my motorcycle, but as I said, I put it on a charger every so often to keep it up. I had it on the charger not even 2 weeks ago, and it did not help it. Terminals are still spotless.

For the next battery on my wife's vehicle (it currently has a 2 year old JCI made AAP Gold in it right now and holds a charge just fine) and any other future vehicles that I will be keeping for many years will be getting a Duracell Gold or other Deka made batteries.

For the truck, I am not getting another Value Power, and not wanting to spend the extra for a Deka for it since I don't know how long I am keeping it.
I had not thought about the regular Everstart, but it is only $19 less than the Maxx and only has a 2 year replacement warranty. For the extra $19 I will take the Maxx and not have to worry about the battery for the rest of the time I own the truck.

 

[BigD1]

Check Rural King if you have one close by. Their cheap batteries are about the same price as Value Power, but they have better warranty.

Right at 18 months on a Value Power installed on my Oldsmobile. Hoping it makes it through the winter!

 

[DONWATERS]

Thats the same size as used in an Explorer. I have good luck with the autozone duralast gold batteries, best warranty IMO. Walmart is too much of a hassle to get in and out of, autozone is not. I am in Florida, super hot here. I have the Duralasts in 6 vehicles. 3 are over 6 years old. The vehicles do have a battery minder on them when not in use for a long time.

 

[DONWATERS]

Thats the same size as used in an Explorer. I have good luck with the autozone duralast gold batteries, best warranty IMO. Walmart is too much of a hassle to get in and out of, autozone is not. I am in Florida, super hot here. I have the Duralasts in 6 vehicles. 3 are over 6 years old. The vehicles do have a battery minder on them when not in use for a long time.

 

[blupupher]

Well, put in a Everstart Maxx just now, starts much better.

They had 4 Group 65 in stock, all 4 of them tested 12.73-12.77v, and were stickered 11/18. They are also still JCI made.