I need a new car battery

[Craig234]

Advice?

What seems like a typical local garage will sell Interstate brand for $120 or $140 installed.

Costco wants $84, but doesn't install.

Should I get the Interstate? Suck up the install (how do you get rid of an old battery anyway) and go with Costco? Or any other suggestions like continuing to comparison shop local garages?

 

[Gerle]

Normally you turn in the old battery to the same place you bought the new one from. Only you know if you installing it is worth $40/60 to you. If you have tools, take a quick look at YouTube or something and do it yourself.

 

[NutBucket]

Costco. Why do you need someone to install it? Buy it at Costco, swap it in the parking lot and return the core. Done.

 

[PottedMeat]

Costco. Why do you need someone to install it? Buy it at Costco, swap it in the parking lot and return the core. Done.

maybe lifting it out is a problem? or maybe its one of those audis where you're supposed to take it to the dealership. if it's by the engine the battery is usually held in by a bracket and 2 long bolts with the same size nuts as the terminals.

but yeah just get one at costco, keep the receipt ( ask them to look it up for you if you lose it ). install it and return to get your core charge back.


a while back i tossed my old battery into a cart in the sams parking lot, bought a new one, and they offered to put it in for free

 

[NutBucket]

We replaced the 5 year old battery in our car recently and got about a 50% refund on the old one thanks to the warranty. No complaints!

 

[crashtech]

Believe it or not, not everyone should install their own car battery. I think it's a question OP needs to answer based on skill level, location of battery, condition of cables, etc. If one's time is valuable and changing a battery doesn't sound like fun, it's a no-brainer to have a reputable garage do it.

 

[jlee]

Believe it or not, not everyone should install their own car battery. I think it's a question OP needs to answer based on skill level, location of battery, condition of cables, etc. If one's time is valuable and changing a battery doesn't sound like fun, it's a no-brainer to have a reputable garage do it.

Or willingness to learn?

Replacing a battery is one of the easiest vehicle maintenance tasks that exists.

 

[NutBucket]

Uh, its faster to do it yourself than go to a garage IMHO.

 

[crashtech]

I know an experienced tech who almost lost a finger changing a battery. Maybe he got complacent, but still, it's not without risk, not without requisite skill requirements, and not something I'm gonna recommend to someone I've never seen in action.

 

[HarryLui]

Anything and everything has risk. Even drinking water. There are idiots out there would take on a dare and drink themselves to death.

My Advise on battery? If you can't do it yourself, pay someone else to do it. It's that simple.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

When I was in college, I left my dome light on for... must have been about a week.

My jump-battery didn't do the trick. It was summer, so all my friends were out of town, and no family around. So I walked a mile to K-Mart, bought a car battery, a screwdriver, and a couple wrenches, walked home, changed my battery, and drove back to K-Mart to get back the core charge and return the tools.

Up until that point, I had never even filled the wiper fluid myself. (It was topped off by the dealership at every oil change.) I totally understand not wanting to do things you're not comfortable with, but... at least watch. Challenge yourself a little. A day you don't learn something is a day wasted.

And basic car maintenance is zombie apocalypse survival stuff.

 

[Torn Mind]

Or willingness to learn?

Replacing a battery is one of the easiest vehicle maintenance tasks that exists.

That depends on the vehicle. Bimmers can have complications. http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1355106-Why-can-t-I-replace-my-own-battery.
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Always have a big jug of water mixed with baking soda nearby. Now, I don't if the fizzing and heat will damage you, but it will stop any acid burns in its tracks.

 

[jlee]

That depends on the vehicle. Bimmers can have complications. http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1355106-Why-can-t-I-replace-my-own-battery.
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Always have a big jug of water mixed with baking soda nearby. Now, I don't if the fizzing and heat will damage you, but it will stop any acid burns in its tracks.

lol, BMW...the same guys with the $500 water pumps that fail without telling you. Can't say I'm surprised.

 

[Craig234]

Bleh. Gloves. Acid. Unknown sizes of tools. pads. anti-corrosion seal spray. Cleaning. Whatever else. I watched multiple how to videos just now, not one identified tool sizes. Pep Boys guide, first google result, several tools mentioned none with sizes. Mainly the inconvenience of something to be done once every 4 or 5 years.

 

[T2urtle]

I just bought and install a Costco battery. I think it ran me $88

It's was 12 degrees outside. I just quickly did it in the parking lot. Just a 10mm ratchet and 12mm for the hold down. Took me about 25 min.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sontakke]

I have done this for years on almost all of my cars but when I get a competitive deal on battery replacement with the free installation, I take it. I just did it myself last week and dropped the hold downs couple of time. Thank God, the bottom rubber skid pads are somewhat hanging and allowed them to drop on the floor. The battery also did NOT come with the built-in handle so to put inside the tray was quite difficult. I no longer consider doing battery change or oil change by myself as an accomplishment.

 

[Torn Mind]

It makes more sense to buy a set of wrenches or sockets anyway. The cheapest sets from Harbor Freight or Craftsman will suffice for light duty tasks. Or the smallest crescent wrench if you are not willing to spend more than $5.