New Battery -- Help Me Choose

[WhipperSnapper]

I think it comes down to these:

Sams Club Energizer $82
CCA: 700
CA: 875
Reserve: ???

Champion Pro with Powerframe Grid $95 at Wallymart
CCA: 700
CA: ???
Reserve: ???

Everstart Maxx $90 at Wallymart
CCA: 700
CA: ???
Reserve: ???

I'm probably going to go with the $82 one at Sams. It's the cheapest one that gives 700 CCA.

 

[LTC8K6]

Why are you not getting a warranty replacement from Costco at the prorated price?

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Why are you not getting a warranty replacement from Costco at the prorated price?

I originally bought a battery from Costco about 6 years ago. About 2 or 3 years into it my car would not start because of a neutral safety switch problem (which I thought was a battery problem). So I swapped batteries at Costco. We also no longer have a membership there.

I suppose I don't mind trying to get them to prorate and give me another battery if they wouldn't have a problem doing that for a non-member. Would it really be worthwhile?

 

[LTC8K6]

I originally bought a battery from Costco about 6 years ago. About 2 or 3 years into it my car would not start because of a neutral safety switch problem (which I thought was a battery problem). So I swapped batteries at Costco. We also no longer have a membership there.

I suppose I don't mind trying to get them to prorate and give me another battery if they wouldn't have a problem doing that for a non-member. Would it really be worthwhile?

It should be worthwhile, I believe they refund the full price inside of 3 years and prorate after.

Not sure about the member deal, but you bought it there as a member so I'd think they'd help you if you have a receipt or records.

 

[phucheneh]

Rated CCA really doesn't matter. While a 675 may perform differently from a 700...another 700 might, too.

Some brands will consistently test over their rating. Some below. Hard to know which is which. Interstate is the most common one I can think of where conductance tests will often put them 100+ CCA over their stated rating.

Most common experience for below rating? Nissan. When I did PDI's on Infinitis (Japanese-made; they weren't rolling off the line of the local Nissan plant), every single battery would test low, often to the point of failing. We had to have a passing test with the PDI sheet, though, so the trick I learned was to let them dumb-charge at a relatively high setting while I was doing other stuff, and then test the overcharged (but not dangerously so) battery. It wouldn't hit spec, but it would get a slight boost into 'good' territory.

...awesome knowing how the dealer treats their new cars, right? This wasn't choice; I simply just wouldn't be allowed to put a battery into every new car that came through.

 

[BUTCH1]

I can't get any battery to go past 3 years, maybe it's the FL heat or the fact that IMO my car's battery is way too small but every 3rd year I have to replace it..

 

[Soccerman06]

Tough to believe it was 100% with only 5 cells. That would be 5 seriously overcharged cells.

I might be able to find the readout, but I think I threw it out a few weeks ago...

 

[sontakke]

I just don't get it. So, you have to spend $100 over 3 years for new battery. That is like $33 per year. Most people pay more than that every week in just gas and about that every few months for oil change. We are not even talking about other maintenance. My point is, of all the things on the car which can suck money from you, battery is the cheapest item. Just replace it and forget it for 3 more years.

Personally, I don't even take my DVM out before putting a new battery in the vehicle at the first sign of *any* electrical problem. Even if i needed a battery every single year, it would still be the cheapest maintenance item. I am amused by people trying to save $15 on battery by agonizing over the choice and the other dozen folks who are the enablers.

 

[WilliamM2]

I just don't get it. So, you have to spend $100 over 3 years for new battery. That is like $33 per year. Most people pay more than that every week in just gas and about that every few months for oil change. We are not even talking about other maintenance. My point is, of all the things on the car which can suck money from you, battery is the cheapest item. Just replace it and forget it for 3 more years.

Personally, I don't even take my DVM out before putting a new battery in the vehicle at the first sign of *any* electrical problem. Even if i needed a battery every single year, it would still be the cheapest maintenance item. I am amused by people trying to save $15 on battery by agonizing over the choice and the other dozen folks who are the enablers.

At 2500 miles a year, I don't think the OP is spending anywhere near $33 a week on gas.

Replacing the battery at the first sign of "any" electrical problem is just stupid. First you find out what the problem is. And I don't think he was asking just to save $15, but to find a good quality battery. One that won't leave him stranded again.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

...In the end, my wife convinced me to just bring the battery into the Costco even though we didn't have a membership. I had originally bought a Costco battery back in 2007, then exchanged it for a new one in early 2010 (thinking that my starting probs were caused by a bad battery and having no idea that it was a neutral safety switch issue.)

Costco gave me a full refund of the original 2007 battery purchase and I agreed to buy a membership. So I was basically able to get a new Kirkland 700 CCA battery and Costco membership for about $72. Not bad I guess; same battery as the one that died. However, we did end up spending $140 on food at Costco after that.

 

[exar333]

...In the end, my wife convinced me to just bring the battery into the Costco even though we didn't have a membership. I had originally bought a Costco battery back in 2007, then exchanged it for a new one in early 2010 (thinking that my starting probs were caused by a bad battery and having no idea that it was a neutral safety switch issue.)

Costco gave me a full refund of the original 2007 battery purchase and I agreed to buy a membership. So I was basically able to get a new Kirkland 700 CCA battery and Costco membership for about $72. Not bad I guess; same battery as the one that died. However, we did end up spending $140 on food at Costco after that.

Nice!

Really been happy with the Autozone gold we got 2 years ago for my wife's car. Anyone who says their battery is fine after 8 years either (1) doesn't live up north or (2) both parks their car in a heated garage at home and at work. I grew up in northern MN and still live in MN, and 5 years is when you should really replace any battery. When a tow is always $100+, why try and cheap-out and get a crappy battery or try and go another year or two and risk it? That's my $0.02.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Anyone who says their battery is fine after 8 years either (1) doesn't live up north or (2) both parks their car in a heated garage at home and at work.

The woman at the CostCo auto center said that batteries last about 3-4 years up here (North Dakota). I asked if that means that they end up giving everyone new batteries and she said that it's pretty much a member service they provide. (I guess CostCo must know that they're going to be doing prorated battery refunds.) I do love CostCo! I like it much better than Sam's Club.

 

[WilliamM2]

Nice!

Really been happy with the Autozone gold we got 2 years ago for my wife's car. Anyone who says their battery is fine after 8 years either (1) doesn't live up north or (2) both parks their car in a heated garage at home and at work.

I'm the one that said my Autozone red battery was fine after 8 years. I live in Northern Michigan, and don't park in heated garages. So much for that theory.

Although I have had car batteries last as little as 4 years, it's usually 7 or 8. I had the original Yuasa battery in my ZX-11D for 11 years, and it's parked almost half the year. It was still working when I replaced it out of paranoia. The OEM Yuasa replacement lasted just over 2 years, although it's Walmart replacement is still going strong at 7 years. I think it's more important how fresh the battery you get is, than the brand.