Junkyard battery for beater?

[nedfunnell]

I know a bunch of you are thinking already "Dude, batteries are like $70. Just get a new one. It's not worth it." For reference, this is the car we're talking about: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2199968

It will probably be replaced within 6 months if it doesn't die before then. I'm fine with a battery only lasting that long.

The battery is on the brink of death- I've had to jump it several times due to a bad door switch causing the dome light to stay on, and I know that just destroys the battery. I've charged it up with an external charger after each instance and been OK until I leave the dome light on again. I've fixed the door switch problem (by ripping it out), so it shouldn't happen again. Still, this battery is probably close to dead now. I don't want to spend a bunch of $$$ on a new battery will only be needed for a few months, so I was thinking of seeing if I can get one from a junkyard. My logic is this: Nobody scraps a car because of a bad battery, so lots of cars are going to the junkyard with still-good batteries. There have to end up somewhere- I wonder if I can buy one. Has anyone bought a junkyard battery before?

 

[maidaa]

I did ones buy one at U-pullit yard, and it was bad-dead. But before I did buy it I did check when it was made, it was still inside full replacement warranty.
So I did just take it back to Bimart.

 

[nedfunnell]

I did ones buy one at U-pullit yard, and it was bad-dead. But before I did buy it I did check when it was made, it was still inside full replacement warranty.
So I did just take it back to Bimart.

Nice! I wonder if I can pull that off too.

 

[skull]

Theres a battery place by me that remans batteries in there original case. $25 for basically a new battery had one in my beater for a year works great. If you can find a place like that your golden. Mine is awesome they have all the motorcraft parts for my ford cars and trucks that most auto parts stores don't. They don't charge an arm and leg like the dealer.

 

[nedfunnell]

Theres a battery place by me that remans batteries in there original case. $25 for basically a new battery had one in my beater for a year works great. If you can find a place like that your golden. Mine is awesome they have all the motorcraft parts for my ford cars and trucks that most auto parts stores don't. They don't charge an arm and leg like the dealer.

Any idea what you'd find that under in the yellow pages?

 

[Doppel]

I think you can do better than $70 at walmart, they have a few lines of batteries, I am thinking you can get one in there for under $50 if you turn in the old one for $5 and they'll swap it for free. I'd do that over running around to save $20.

 

[nedfunnell]

I think you can do better than $70 at walmart, they have a few lines of batteries, I am thinking you can get one in there for under $50 if you turn in the old one for $5 and they'll swap it for free. I'd do that over running around to save $20.

I looked today, and oddly they only had the MAXX battery in my size (Group 35). It was over $100.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Unless your battery is actually giving you problems (aside from when you drained it via the dome light a few times) I wouldn't even bother messing with it myself.

Yes, it was drained, and yes, that's hard on the battery, and yes, it is probably weakened, BUT I highly doubt that a junkyard battery is going to be in any better shape at all. Who knows how long the thing has been sitting around, half discharged and low on water?

 

[Shawn]

I looked today, and oddly they only had the MAXX battery in my size (Group 35). It was over $100.

They may have one that will still fit. Just try to find one that matches or exceeds the cranking amps.

I was able to find a substitute for my sister's civic at walmart when she was stuck somewhere. It was late at night and she needed something asap so walmart was all that was open.

Found one that was exactly the same but the poles were reversed. Ended up just turning the battery around 180. This required the cables to stretch a little farther, but I just unhooked one of the plastic cable fasteners and they stretched far enough to work. It's been 4 years now and I think she is still using that battery.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Unless your battery is actually giving you problems (aside from when you drained it via the dome light a few times) I wouldn't even bother messing with it myself.

Yes, it was drained, and yes, that's hard on the battery, and yes, it is probably weakened, BUT I highly doubt that a junkyard battery is going to be in any better shape at all. Who knows how long the thing has been sitting around, half discharged and low on water?

This. I've killed the battery in my van more times than I can remember and it is 12 years old and still doing fine. Unless there is something actually wrong with the current battery don't bother.

 

[MaxFusion16]

see if you have an interstate distributor nearby, they sell refurb batteries for like $25 each.
90 day warranty.

I was told that most of the refurb batteries are bought up by used car dealerships.

 

[desy]

Yeah refurb batteries are usually OK
They reverse charge them to get the plates clean again and make sure the acid / water are up to stuff

 

[ShawnD1]

Yes, it was drained, and yes, that's hard on the battery, and yes, it is probably weakened, BUT I highly doubt that a junkyard battery is going to be in any better shape at all. Who knows how long the thing has been sitting around, half discharged and low on water?

You could always check it before you buy (steal) it.

Water level is simple. The water should cover ALL of the plates. None of it should be sticking up out of the water. The parts that are above the water level will be sulfated and useless but the parts below the water might still work.

~12V is a DEAD battery
~13V is good
~13.5V is fully charged
13.8 is the "float" voltage for a lead battery

If you happen to own a battery conditioner, you can take virtually any used car battery and make it at least usable. You can probably find one at walmart for under $50.

 

[Gillbot]

Unless your battery is actually giving you problems (aside from when you drained it via the dome light a few times) I wouldn't even bother messing with it myself.

Yes, it was drained, and yes, that's hard on the battery, and yes, it is probably weakened, BUT I highly doubt that a junkyard battery is going to be in any better shape at all. Who knows how long the thing has been sitting around, half discharged and low on water?

this

 

[nedfunnell]

I put some demineralized water in the cells- none of the levels were below the tops of the plates, but one was close. I added just a little bit. Until it gives me some more trouble, I'm going to let it be.

 

[Shawn]

You could always check it before you buy (steal) it.

Water level is simple. The water should cover ALL of the plates. None of it should be sticking up out of the water. The parts that are above the water level will be sulfated and useless but the parts below the water might still work.

~12V is a DEAD battery
~13V is good
~13.5V is fully charged
13.8 is the "float" voltage for a lead battery

If you happen to own a battery conditioner, you can take virtually any used car battery and make it at least usable. You can probably find one at walmart for under $50.

This is only true if the car is running. Battery should be 12v w/o the engine running.

 

[COPOHawk]

Let me put my parts store training to work here for voltages...it corresponds to this info from Wikipedia...


Open load voltages - vehicle not running/charging...battery allowed to sit for a few hours after charging

12.65 V 100%
12.45 V 75%
12.24 V 50%
12.06 V 25%


When the vehicle is running...voltage should be between 13.8 and 14.4 volts typically.

I would only use junkyard batteries as long you live someplace where winter isn't a problem...this doesn't apply to MN where I live 😉

 

[exdeath]

I had a Optima red top AGM battery even in my beater until I let it sit for two years and discharge completely... which you cannot do with a AGM battery.

Needed to get up and running in a hurry on moments notice. Bought some cheap $50 yellow battery from Walmart in the middle of the night, literally looking for the cheapest battery they had.

Still have the same battery 5 years later, never had a problem with it. It gets weak every now and then when it sits for 1-2 months at a time when I'm on travel, but nothing a 2 amp top off won't take care of.