Wal Mart Car Battery Value Power $48.88 Any Good?

[Lubener]

Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Originally Posted By: tomcat27
certainly it contains less lead and is built to a lower spec - but if your need fits that model... yes, I do recall the unusual battery size for my 74 beetle.....


Do you have anything resembling PROOF of this assertion?


Bet the weight is different, that's proof to me.

 

[zzyzzx]

These batteries are too new for anyone to say for sure if they are any good. When I needed a new battery for my 1995 Escort a couple of months ago, I got the Interstate from Costco, and it was $80 (after core and taxes) vs $50 + tax for the 1 year battery from WalMart. Generally speaking cheap auto parts are often the most expensive ones you can buy since they fail so quickly.

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
These batteries are too new for anyone to say for sure if they are any good. When I needed a new battery for my 1995 Escort a couple of months ago, I got the Interstate from Costco, and it was $80 (after core and taxes) vs $50 + tax for the 1 year battery from WalMart. Generally speaking cheap auto parts are often the most expensive ones you can buy since they fail so quickly.

Depends on the situation. One time I was looking for a replacement battery to replace a Costco battery (we got the full refund) that my wife kept on draining with the map lights on. It was toast after less than 3 years.

Looked on the Sears website and saw a DieHard Weatherhandler North available for pickup for about $50. It was cheaper than any other place. I don't even recall we could find a 51R at Costco any more. I got there and they said there was no North or south version like on the website, just one which they handed to me. It's gone through more than six years of maps lights and at least once where I was waiting with the lights on, but didn't hear a warning since I didn't open the door.

OTOH, the one thing I did have more recently was a few battery chargers, and I made a habit of hooking them up after the battery was jumped or sometimes just randomly because I thought it should be charged after only short trips. Heck, it was sitting in a body shop for over a month once. I did replace the map and dome lights with LEDs.

 

[andyd]

This battery is perfect for my usage. They have been out of stock since Nov. I just got a raincheck

 

[Nick1994]

I'm a fan of them. 1/16 I put one in my Camry. 8/16 I put one in my grandparent's Trailblazer. The one in my Camry a couple weeks ago had the slightest leak, and I mean small. Just looked a little oily on the top, really not a big deal. But I took it into Walmart anyways and got a free replacement, 2 weeks before the warranty was up.

 

[Black_Thunder]

tried one in my dad's truck last year when the interstate in it took a dump.


battery was bad off the shelf, barely started the truck after we put it in, thought it was just because of the cold.


the battery didn't hold 12 volts unless a charger was on it.


returned the battery and bought a different battery from fleet farm instead.


so i dunno maybe i just got a bad one.

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: Black_Thunder
tried one in my dad's truck last year when the interstate in it took a dump.


battery was bad off the shelf, barely started the truck after we put it in, thought it was just because of the cold.


the battery didn't hold 12 volts unless a charger was on it.


returned the battery and bought a different battery from fleet farm instead.


so i dunno maybe i just got a bad one.

Did you check the manufacturing date code before you bought it?

 

[circuitsmith]

For years when I go in WalMart for a battery I carry a small DVM and measure several batteries (in the size needed) and pick the one with the highest voltage.
I've seen variations of 0.5V with the same date code.

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: circuitsmith
For years when I go in WalMart for a battery I carry a small DVM and measure several batteries (in the size needed) and pick the one with the highest voltage.
I've seen variations of 0.5V with the same date code.

Not sure that really makes that much of a difference when it comes to longevity. These days when I buy a new battery I'll charge it first before installation. The date code might not even be that good an indicator of anything as long as it hasn't been in a depleted state long enough to sulfate.

Voltage inevitably drops. Some retailers or distributors test them and top off batteries past a threshold. Topping off batteries before they have a chance to sulfate can help a lot. Interstate is known for rotating older batteries out and placing in freshly charged ones. I don't recall if they change the date code though.

 

[kc8adu]

its not the batteries.its the cheap buyer who does not address the underlying cause for the failure.and does not take proper care of the battery or what it goes in.
in a product group from same mfr the label is the difference.i know folks that are just plain stupid with cars.and if it wont start they go get a new battery.and i usually tell them that it should be charged and tested first.they often insist and ask me to pick it up as i go by 2 dealers.so i take a truly spent one in for the core then charge and test their old one.its usually ok.always have a few spares on hand.
now if the old one is 5+ years old its likely done.
but a set of agm d31 with 8 month old datecodes i have in my trunk are worth keeping.the guy swears up and down the truck is ok and since i can get deals from the battery shop i picked up the replacements.the agm are both fine after a charge.
the cause?a junk cb amp that was getting so hot it melted its heatsink into the carpet while off.
and ALL battery retailers/dealers want the old one.its often state mandated for recycling.and a battery dealer also knows a significant number of newer batteries left as cores are good.so they charge,test,and resell.
Originally Posted By: Hemispheres
Stay away from Wal-Mart batteries. I worked there as a lube tech for 2 years and I've seen many fail inside warranty. Wal-Mart keeps old batteries to be sent out and recycled.

 

[Black_Thunder]

Originally Posted By: y_p_w
Originally Posted By: Black_Thunder
tried one in my dad's truck last year when the interstate in it took a dump.


battery was bad off the shelf, barely started the truck after we put it in, thought it was just because of the cold.


the battery didn't hold 12 volts unless a charger was on it.


returned the battery and bought a different battery from fleet farm instead.


so i dunno maybe i just got a bad one.

Did you check the manufacturing date code before you bought it?



this was right after they started stocking them at my local walmart, the battery date was from the month before.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Just put in a 24F in one of my cars a week ago. Time will tell how long it will last in Florida heat.

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Just put in a 24F in one of my cars a week ago. Time will tell how long it will last in Florida heat.


Just remember to post back when it dies.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Just put in a 24F in one of my cars a week ago. Time will tell how long it will last in Florida heat.


Just remember to post back when it dies.


For the price, if I get 2.5 to 3 years out of it, I'd be happy.

 

[stewtheman]

Anybody else have some feedback on the reliability of these batteries? I purchased one 3 months ago for our 2003 Suburban and have had to jump it a couple times this week. Sticking it on the charger only bought us a few days before it needed another jump. Alternator is putting out 14.3V and no meaningful parasitic draw while the truck is resting. I took it to Walmart today to get it exchanged but they said it needed to be fully charged before they could test it and I didn't have the time. I'll have to give it another go tomorrow.

 

[philipp10]

Couldn't a person argue that some of the cost of a typical, 3 year warranty battery would be the cost to cover said warranty for the people that leave their door ajar, draining their battery and thus damaging it before the warranty was up? The Walmart cheapo battery with it's shortened warranty does eliminate the last 2 years of those costs. Perhaps the battery is better than you think.

 

[stewtheman]

Originally Posted By: philipp10
Couldn't a person argue that some of the cost of a typical, 3 year warranty battery would be the cost to cover said warranty for the people that leave their door ajar, draining their battery and thus damaging it before the warranty was up? The Walmart cheapo battery with it's shortened warranty does eliminate the last 2 years of those costs. Perhaps the battery is better than you think.


That was my hope. The problem is that this battery hasn't been abused and it's dead. Hopefully it was just a dud but I wanted to get more data from others.

 

[quint]

I have one in the Corolla my daughter drives, I think it was put in last December? I'll have to check the date. Its been well over a year, I know that. Mostly short hops, her school is less than two miles away and her work is about three miles.

 

[stewtheman]

Yesterday they said it wasn't charged enough to test it. I brought it in today after charging it all night and they exchanged it without even testing it. I'm not complaining, just hoping this one lasts.

 

[Malo83]

Originally Posted By: Hemispheres
Stay away from Wal-Mart batteries. I worked there as a lube tech for 2 years and I've seen many fail inside warranty. Wal-Mart keeps old batteries to be sent out and recycled.

Disgruntled x employee