best place to buy a car battery?

[disney_5]

It looks like ours is losing charge and needs replacing. Its also 5 years old. Does anyone have recemendations for the best place to go for a new car battery? I am thinking Sears Auto or Pep Boys but any recemendations would be great.

thanks, Jen.

 

[Chaoster]

Costco or Walmart.

 

[jeepwreck]

i have bought one at costco a few years ago, i only got it because it was a decent price at the time

 

[mrodgers]

I always buy Sears silver DieHard batteries. For the price, you can't beat them. There are cheaper alternatives, but they are not as good of a battery. There are also far better batteries, but the expense far outweighs how much better they are.

I typically replace the factory battery at about 100,000 miles, then end up selling the car anywhere from 175-190,000 miles with the DieHard in it.

 

[POOHsie]

Sears Diehard for me. Always great quality, and price has been consistent for years. This battery is a winner.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Over the years we have used Walmart, Sears, and Autozone.

The question you also need to answer is....................if you ever have to replace it under warranty, and you are in town or out of town, which place will be the easiest to deal with?

By the way, regardless of the warranty, 48-60 months is the point where most batteries start to become unreliable.

Many places that sell batteries will also check them free...............a good idea at the 48 month mark. Just because the car still cranks does not mean tha battery is healthy. The only way to tell for sure is to have it tested.

Final thought................battery prices have gone up quite a bit over the past few years. If you plan on keep the car for several years, buy a good one even if it hurts a little bit.

 

[mikehn]

I will tell you a little secret, Costco has the best car battery warranty on the market, period.

Here is the kicker. Costco batteries rarely last beyond 3 years. The batteries die right around the three year mark. But if you are willing to disconnect the battery and bring it in, they will replace it for free. You dont even need a receipt, because the original date is stamped right on the battery. There is no other retailer out there that will give you that guaranty. Costco counts on the fact that most people will not bother to return the battery.

 

[S. C.]

DH called earlier today to price a battery for a 2003 Chevy Impala. Auto Zone $106 .... Walmart $89 .... Sams club $74 ... 800 amps, all had 3 year warranty.

 

[DisneyBill]

All the main batteries sold are made by one of 3 manufacturers. I select the one that has the best output, and the most attainable replacement in the event of the next failure. Beyond the stated specifications, for the ordinary driver there really isn't much difference.

 

[dfchelbay]

I will tell you a little secret, Costco has the best car battery warranty on the market, period.

Here is the kicker. Costco batteries rarely last beyond 3 years. The batteries die right around the three year mark. But if you are willing to disconnect the battery and bring it in, they will replace it for free. You dont even need a receipt, because the original date is stamped right on the battery. There is no other retailer out there that will give you that guaranty. Costco counts on the fact that most people will not bother to return the battery.

Just an FYI, around here, Costco won't install the battery though. My battery is completely encased. It takes time and much effort to even get to it...not to mention removing it. So, Costco was not an option for me a few weeks ago.

 

[dpratt68]

When my husband's battery dies we priced out buying the battery online and AAA was much cheaper and they will even install it on the spot. It was $30+ cheaper installed and they came to us!!!

 

[MineMail]

Definitely call around - I recently had AAA come to jump-start my car and the mechanic said that he would have brought a replacement just in case it was needed, but they don't carry my car's battery. I thought he was putting me on to get me to go to the AAA service station, but I checked online at an owner's message board and some car reference sites. My car has an unusual battery that few places stock; it's a special-order item.

So, check the prices at your dealership, too, so you get a starting point for prices/service.

I've had to get jump starts that I've blamed on my kids leaving dome lights on, or the trunk not closing/turning off the lights. Since most of my driving is during the day (when you don't notice the lights), I keep the interior lights off (there's a button for this on my console) and it really helps.

My mother's car had a glove compartment light that used to stay on after the door was closed because it didn't close tightly. Her battery used to run down - she replaced it twice before my very-handy BIL noticed the glove box light one night. He put a rubber bumper over the spot where the door pushed the pin down and the problem was solved.

Good luck

 

[CTdiznymom]

The last time we had a dead battery we called AAA and the guy came to the house and replaced it. DH thought it was a reasonable price at the time being that we would have needed to get it jumped anyway and then find another installer. Great service, and DH didn't have to figure out how to do it!

 

[JB2K]

It looks like ours is losing charge and needs replacing. Its also 5 years old. Does anyone have recemendations for the best place to go for a new car battery? I am thinking Sears Auto or Pep Boys but any recemendations would be great.

thanks, Jen.

Generally, the warehouse clubs have the best pricing, but you have to be a member...

...if you're not a member, I would go to Sears Auto Centers, as their Die Hard batteries have always come with a pretty good guarantee.

Conversely, I wouldn't buy any Die Hard batteries at Kmart (even though they and Sears are related stores), as those batteries sit on the store shelves a heckuva lot longer (plus, Kmart does not have auto techs to install them).

 

[starry_solo]

I will tell you a little secret, Costco has the best car battery warranty on the market, period.

Here is the kicker. Costco batteries rarely last beyond 3 years. The batteries die right around the three year mark. But if you are willing to disconnect the battery and bring it in, they will replace it for free. You dont even need a receipt, because the original date is stamped right on the battery. There is no other retailer out there that will give you that guaranty. Costco counts on the fact that most people will not bother to return the battery.

Sam's Club does the same thing. You need to make sure, though, that the date on the battery isn't more than a month off your purchase date (if you end up losing the receipt).

 

[pilesoflaundry]

We bought our last one at advanced auto parts. They offer a warranty and they do free testing.

Our battery was only 3 years old so I wasn't happy I had to replace it (factory battery too). The new one is working a lot better so far for the last year.

 

[disney_5]

Thanks everyone. I decided to go with AAA. The AAA tow truck driver came back today and he tested the battery. He said the battery is fine so he did not replace it. I guess it saved us some money but I don't like the idea of having this happen again so I might go over to Sears sometime in the next few weeks and just get another one there.

Jen.

 

[willowsnn3]

Over the years (many, lol) I have bought batteries from Sears, Pep Boys, KMart, WalMart, Advance, Auto Zone, you name it, lol. The last couple I bought from WalMart & they lasted well past the 3yr warranty with no problems. Did not think about AAA. When I need another I will try them as they can bring it to you.
Oh, be careful & confident that the person installing the battery knows what they are doing tho. My elderly sister stopped at the grocery a few months ago & car wouldn't start when she came out. Had it jumped off & drove to the Auto Zone across the street to buy another battery. The guy that installed it put it in wrong & messed her car up. Had to take it to the dealership to be repaired (Auto Zone had to pay).

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

I got a Diehard battery at Sears and had to replace it under warranty. It was replaced by a lesser quality battery than my original. I was quite unhappy. Apparently, there is only one battery now that fits our Honda Civic so I was stuck with it.

And then they wanted $25 to install it! To me, it should be installed for free as part of the warrenty. After going back and forth, I agree to pay $10.