I need a mechanic

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It less than 4 years old (purchased August 2017) not over 6 and if you read my previous post (#25) that is what I am doing but I can't do it until Tuesday. With a 100 month warranty that (to me) means it should be good for 8 years with normal use.

How much did you get out and about this past year though with the pandemic? If you didn't go out a lot or you did a lot more short trips that can impact the battery life.

Frequent and longer driving helps keep the battery charging.

 

[disneychrista]

How much did you get out and about this past year though with the pandemic? If you didn't go out a lot or you did a lot more short trips that can impact the battery life.

Frequent and longer driving helps keep the battery charging.

That is why my daughters battery is still good 6 years later. She drives an hours each way 4 -5 days per week for work. My commute is less than 2 miles (5 minutes) each way. The pandemic did slightly change my driving habits. I didn't go on my bi-weekly trips to breweries an hour away. But other than that my normal daily driving stayed the same. I had to go to work everyday.

 

[bcla]

How much did you get out and about this past year though with the pandemic? If you didn't go out a lot or you did a lot more short trips that can impact the battery life.

Frequent and longer driving helps keep the battery charging.

Anyone who doesn't drive regularly might consider getting an inexpensive battery charger. Doesn't have to be terribly powerful, but they can keep a battery from discharging and keeping it near a full charge. Most cars have a parasitic draw minimally powering some electronics. Stuff like keeping the remote entry running. Also - these types of chargers usually charge more completely than the alternator.

An automatic battery charger can be anything form 0.5-3A and be considered a "maintainer". But for that kind of use they have to have an automatic stop to charging when the battery is at full capacity. They'll then wait a while before possibly charging again unless the voltage drops enough to restart charging. A lot of these are used on batteries stored in garaged classic cars or on marine batteries. Even on a car that's driven more often but just once a week, keeping it charged can extend the life of the battery. But the big help is in keeping a battery from going into a deep discharge. Even if map lights are left on, a maintainer can usually keep it from discharging,

 

[bcla]

That is why my daughters battery is still good 6 years later. She drives an hours each way 4 -5 days per week for work. My commute is less than 2 miles (5 minutes) each way. The pandemic did slightly change my driving habits. I didn't go on my bi-weekly trips to breweries an hour away. But other than that my normal daily driving stayed the same. I had to go to work everyday.

The biggest problem is draining it down to where it needs a jump. One or two times might not kill a battery, especially if it's charged up to maximum capacity. But a lot of people who get jumps just worry about having enough to start the car. Leaving it incompletely charged for long periods results in what's called "sulfation".

Short trips may not fully charge the battery. I've heard estimates that each cold start might need about 7 miles of driving to fully charge, although there are a lot of variables. An inexpensive battery maintainer can help. They're not really meant for charging dead batteries, but they can charge to some extent. This one would be pretty good:

https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GENIUS1-Fully-Automatic-Temperature-Compensation/dp/B07W46BX31

 

[ScubaCat]

I suggest getting your batteries from Costco if you have a membership. You'll have to change them yourself but it's generally very easy to do. They have a no-questions-asked 36 month warranty, so if mine ever gets a little weak before the end of the 3 years, which is more typical than one would think, I just swap it out. I'm on my 4th or 5th right now. You just pay the price difference every time (however much it goes up by, generally somewhere betwen $4 and $10).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That is why my daughters battery is still good 6 years later. She drives an hours each way 4 -5 days per week for work. My commute is less than 2 miles (5 minutes) each way. The pandemic did slightly change my driving habits. I didn't go on my bi-weekly trips to breweries an hour away. But other than that my normal daily driving stayed the same. I had to go to work everyday.

I had a 5 year battery last 7 years and it was def. because I was commuting a lot though. But back then the batteries were only about $50-$75 for my car at least. My husband's battery yesterday for a 2 year one was $150+tax. My battery last August was a 2 year for $100+tax. Makes me wonder what AAA would have charged us (I could see less but I could also see more). It's harder to find ones that are more than 3 years it seems these days.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have had AAA since I started driving and would never be without them. I also got it for both my daughters when they started driving (I still pay for it too). I never thought about AAA for changing the battery though.

We've had a number of batteries changed with AAA. Very good service.

 

[kymom99]

I had a 5 year battery last 7 years and it was def. because I was commuting a lot though. But back then the batteries were only about $50-$75 for my car at least. My husband's battery yesterday for a 2 year one was $150+tax. My battery last August was a 2 year for $100+tax. Makes me wonder what AAA would have charged us (I could see less but I could also see more). It's harder to find ones that are more than 3 years it seems these days.

I had a dead battery after work several years ago when it was 18 degrees out. AAA jumped it and told me I needed a new one. They said something like $125. I about choked. So I went to advance auto to get one. Same price.

 

[Dan Murphy]

AAA battery website

For your car, $138

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I had a dead battery after work several years ago when it was 18 degrees out. AAA jumped it and told me I needed a new one. They said something like $125. I about choked. So I went to advance auto to get one. Same price.

Ugh I feel ya! Good to know though about the price being the same between AAA and potentially other places.

 

[disneychrista]

I had a 5 year battery last 7 years and it was def. because I was commuting a lot though. But back then the batteries were only about $50-$75 for my car at least. My husband's battery yesterday for a 2 year one was $150+tax. My battery last August was a 2 year for $100+tax. Makes me wonder what AAA would have charged us (I could see less but I could also see more). It's harder to find ones that are more than 3 years it seems these days.

My older daughter just paid something like $225 for the battery for her car (a Kia Rio).
What happened to $50 car batteries?

 

[disneychrista]

AAA battery website

For your car, $138

148.99 in good 'ol everything is more expensive California.

 

[bcla]

My older daughter just paid something like $225 for the battery for her car (a Kia Rio).
What happened to $50 car batteries?

In the mid-90s I remember Target had car batteries. I didn't need it, but they had some for a Honda that cost $40. I've been looking at the identical type battery for my wife's car, and the price is anywhere from $80 to $160 for a rather small car battery.

That being said, there are some really cheap batteries out there. Walmart has their value line, and most of them are about $50-60. I think the warranty is one year. I wouldn't necessarily install one on my own car, but if I needed a new battery to sell my car I might consider it. They used to call it "ValuPower", but now the name has changed to "EverStart Value".

For the OP, Walmart lists the EverStart Plus 96R for about $90. Walmart sources from the three big companies, so it could be East Penn, Exide, or Clarios depending on regional distribution.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStar...ttery-Group-Size-96R-12-Volt-590-CCA/16782657

 

[bcla]

I suggest getting your batteries from Costco if you have a membership. You'll have to change them yourself but it's generally very easy to do. They have a no-questions-asked 36 month warranty, so if mine ever gets a little weak before the end of the 3 years, which is more typical than one would think, I just swap it out. I'm on my 4th or 5th right now. You just pay the price difference every time (however much it goes up by, generally somewhere betwen $4 and $10).

I've gotten a number of batteries from Costco over the years. They've changed their sourcing over the years, where now it's an Interstate branded battery, but where only Costco has the specific type.

I think in the 90s they had Energizer branded batteries made by Johnson Controls, and I think they were a Costco exclusive. Later they had their own Kirkland house brand but they were made by Johnson Controls. I bought a few over the years when they had a 24 month full replacement and I think an 84 month. Strike that - 36 month full replacement and 100 month prorated.

However, I can attest from experience that it was pretty easy getting the warranty service at Costco. I'd gotten the full warranty when one battery died after about 2-1/2 years. It wasn't really a "full replacement". It was really just a refund of the purchase price. And by that time they didn't have the same battery type, so I had to find one somewhere else. I've also gotten the prorated warranty near the end of the 100 month warranty. I guess it was better than nothing, but it was maybe 15% of the purchase price. I also got a refund of the core fee since I hadn't returned the core (they looked that up). I just found a recycling center that would take my old battery. But that meant I needed to pay the core fee with my next battery without getting a refund.

 

[Dan Murphy]

My older daughter just paid something like $225 for the battery for her car (a Kia Rio).
What happened to $50 car batteries?

I remember $25 batteries and $25 tires, back in the 60's. AAA battery for my car now is $258.

 

[bcla]

I remember $25 batteries and $25 tires, back in the 60's. AAA battery for my car now is $258.

What battery group? I've gotten group 35 batteries recently for about $80 before the core fee and sales tax. Other stores list about $142.

I've actually paid less than $60 for a car battery within the past 15 years. Not sure what's resulted in the price spike in the last 10 years or so. And price doesn't necessarily correlate with quality. There are only a few manufacturers left, and if the specs are about the same and they come from the same manufacturer, they're likely functionally identical. Another thing many don't consider is that the bigger numbers aren't necessarily that beneficial. The CCA rating is a battery of peak current at cold temperatures when new. And there are different ways to achieve this. The most obvious is to use a bigger battery. Car maintenance forums are filled with people who discuss modifications needed to install a larger than OEM sized battery. Another way is to just use a lot more thinner plates, but that can come with a tradeoff in long term longevity. And then there's the use in hot climates, where often it's just evaporation of the water in the electrolyte mixture. That can be restored just by checking the battery and topping off the water.

The car battery business is interesting. Car batteries that sit on the shelf too long without being recharged eventually lose capacity. Interstate Batteries (which doesn't actually make any of the batteries they sell) has a system where the rotate in an out batteries that are freshly charged. Costco sells tons of batteries and have a ridiculous amount of turnover.

 

[Dan Murphy]

What battery group?

H648 $115 at Costco

 

[ScubaCat]

There's probably at most 3 companies left that make batteries. I don't care enough to look it up. I just take it back to Costco every 30-35 months or so, get a new one, pay the difference, and move on. Seems to work well

In any harsh climate, they only last so long anyway. I think the warranty is generous because they're usually underperforming but still able to crank the engine for a fairly long time before people realize there's a problem, so by the time the warranty is up it's too late. If you get 12.6V on a 3 year old battery these days it's practically a miracle.

 

[bcla]

There's probably at most 3 companies left that make batteries. I don't care enough to look it up. I just take it back to Costco every 30-35 months or so, get a new one, pay the difference, and move on. Seems to work well

In any harsh climate, they only last so long anyway. I think the warranty is generous because they're usually underperforming but still able to crank the engine for a fairly long time before people realize there's a problem, so by the time the warranty is up it's too late. If you get 12.6V on a 3 year old battery these days it's practically a miracle.

One name has changed. It’s Exide, East Penn, and now Clarios (was Johnson Cpntrols). There are two major Japanese makers (Panasonic and Yuasa) plus some bit players. Also a lot of European makers. Some batteries sold in the US are made in Saudi Arabia from a joint venture with Clarios. Yuasa is big in motorcycles and powersports. I’ve only seen Yuasa car batteries on Japanese imports, but they have manufacturing in the US for motorcycle

Batteries typically come as cold weather or hot weather types. Cold weather means more thinner plates to help with cold temperatures. Hot weather works better with thicker plates that take longer to degrade from the plates reforming repeatedly. Most batteries sold are the cold weather type. They can advertise a higher CCA number.

As far as voltage goes, there’s always going to be that surface charge I mentioned if the battery has been recently charging. But that will quickly drop. I’ve seen 13+V on a known bad battery when measured just after shutting off the engine. An hour later and it was 11.6V.

 

[disneychrista]

Went to start the car this morning, just so I could drive it to keep the battery charged so I don't have issues on Tuesday morning and it wouldn't start. UGH! Wish they would have just replaced the battery when I took it in two weeks ago.