Battery replacement under warranty
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,682
Likes: 304
Battery replacement under warranty
I currently have an AC/Delco Gold professional 42 month battery that was purchased approximately 2 1/2 years ago. AC delco products are sold by a number of independent retailers one of which is Bennett which might have been where I purchased the battery. I called ACDELCO.COM and they told me my battery is guaranteed for free replacement for 42 months and I can go to any ACDELCO retailer to bring the battery back. The voltage across the top of the battery disconnected from the car after a full charge reads 12.55 with my Voltmeter. A fully charged healthy battery should read 12.66 or more (2.1 volt per cell). I have replaced this identical class of battery twice before, and I just about get close to 3 years or less before the battery fails. I'm trying to be pro active here and at 2 1/2 years it might be time here in the Torrid temperatures of Florida. Regardless, the resting battery is only showing 12.55 volts which is lower than the 12.66 for a healthy battery. Should I anticipate having any issues getting this battery replaced free of charge? Of course If I purchased this from Walmart, I would not be asking this question as they take ALL BATTERIES BACK without question as long as the customer has a receipt. Of course next time regardless I'll go Walmart as it is a much easier process. What do you guys think?
I currently have an AC/Delco Gold professional 42 month battery that was purchased approximately 2 1/2 years ago. AC delco products are sold by a number of independent retailers one of which is Bennett which might have been where I purchased the battery. I called ACDELCO.COM and they told me my battery is guaranteed for free replacement for 42 months and I can go to any ACDELCO retailer to bring the battery back. The voltage across the top of the battery disconnected from the car after a full charge reads 12.55 with my Voltmeter. A fully charged healthy battery should read 12.66 or more (2.1 volt per cell). I have replaced this identical class of battery twice before, and I just about get close to 3 years or less before the battery fails. I'm trying to be pro active here and at 2 1/2 years it might be time here in the Torrid temperatures of Florida. Regardless, the resting battery is only showing 12.55 volts which is lower than the 12.66 for a healthy battery. Should I anticipate having any issues getting this battery replaced free of charge? Of course If I purchased this from Walmart, I would not be asking this question as they take ALL BATTERIES BACK without question as long as the customer has a receipt. Of course next time regardless I'll go Walmart as it is a much easier process. What do you guys think?
Just a side note have you experimented with the optima batteries before? I have been thinking about getting another optima yellow top I had one for about 14 years and it was sold with the car it was in and still worked.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 279
From: Ohio
There's no predicting whether the warranty will be honored. I just had the same issue with AutoZone. They declined to honor their battery warranty since I did not buy the product from them, but got it with a car purchase. As a result, they will no longer get any of my business. As the OP mentioned, Walmart is a good source and I know for a fact that they honor their battery warranties.
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,682
Likes: 304
Thanks all. I did buy my battery from Bennett and have the receipt for almost $150. I don't know what the criteria is for their testing the battery, but 12. 55 volts is not 12.66 which will not give a full charge at 100%. I'll take the battery out within a week and bring it to one of these retailers after first calling and asking if they have an exact replacement battery with aRECENT MANUFACTURERS DATE. If so.. I'll got to the retailer for replacement.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,584
Likes: 392
From: PA
To be honest, I don't think anyone knows until you try. For the first time recently, I had a free battery replacement at the Three Stooges. Never before has a battery failed during the free replacement, always maybe 9-12 mos out of it.
I can say I had a bad experience with Advance Auto. The battery had a 84 mo. replacement and failed about 42 mos. in. The morons at the store said the computer says the warranty has expired (I was looking for pro-rata, not free). I asked them is 2009 minus 2005, does that sound like 7 years to you? The guy laughed and said he didn't know. So I said you obviously can't do math.
If it helps, my buddy put a AC Delco battery in his 2nd gen Maxima and had no problem getting a replacement at another AC Delco reseller, but this was in the mid 90's. Obviously a lot has changed since then, I had a hard time with a AC Delco starter when I tried to find a retailer in the Phila. area (small city so understandable lol).
p.s. they would likely do a load test to validate that the battery has failed (Sears and the Three Stooges did that). If it passes, they would probably say you're good to go and no replacement. i.e. a battery can be at the proper rest voltage, but when it's asked to start the motor, the voltage drops and there are insufficient amps to turn it over. Good luck, let us know....I'll probably be doing Costco from now on with all cars except the BMW...
I can say I had a bad experience with Advance Auto. The battery had a 84 mo. replacement and failed about 42 mos. in. The morons at the store said the computer says the warranty has expired (I was looking for pro-rata, not free). I asked them is 2009 minus 2005, does that sound like 7 years to you? The guy laughed and said he didn't know. So I said you obviously can't do math.
If it helps, my buddy put a AC Delco battery in his 2nd gen Maxima and had no problem getting a replacement at another AC Delco reseller, but this was in the mid 90's. Obviously a lot has changed since then, I had a hard time with a AC Delco starter when I tried to find a retailer in the Phila. area (small city so understandable lol).
p.s. they would likely do a load test to validate that the battery has failed (Sears and the Three Stooges did that). If it passes, they would probably say you're good to go and no replacement. i.e. a battery can be at the proper rest voltage, but when it's asked to start the motor, the voltage drops and there are insufficient amps to turn it over. Good luck, let us know....I'll probably be doing Costco from now on with all cars except the BMW...
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,584
Likes: 392
From: PA
I"m willing to bet that the Costco where you go, does not understand how a 36 free replacement works, or maybe they don't ask you for a receipt and simply go by the sticker on the battery, in which case, they're not doing their jobs. I can tell you when I bought the battery, it was a young kid who could not explain the warranty to me. They are terrible when it comes to accepting returns from another store (one even told me you're not supposed to do that--um, no! I don't think so!). For example, it used to be DE 0%, PA 6%, NJ 7%. Today NJ is lower. But how can you refund 7% tax, or 6% tax, when 0% was paid? And how would PA return tax revenue they never collected in the first place? I always thought, for pete's sake it's 2011 (first time I noticed), there are computers, and you guys can't get it right? (I cannot be the only person who's thought of it lol)
edit This month, I overheard a guy tell his parents he's borrowing a 4K ultra HD tv for the Super Bowl. His dad said what do you mean you're borrowing a TV for the super bowl? He said I just return it after the game. we're all paying for the returns in the price of the products....saw on the news LL Bean feels people have been taking advantage of them (wouldn't know never bought from them)
Last edited by Johnhav430; Feb 10, 2018 at 03:02 AM.
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,489
Likes: 107
From: AZ
I've been buying Costco batteries for decades. Here's how it goes. I know from experience with my car that in this desert heat, that the battery will fail between 2 to 3 years. I don't wait for it to fail. At 2 years, I take the battery out and return it to Costco. Then look the receipt up on their computer and then refund me the full purchase price. They do not test the battery. I then purchase a new battery. I've done this for over 20 years, so don't tell me it is not possible. I don't question Costco policy on returns. Years ago they would prorate the refund on a failed battery, but that has changed.
Pit Crew
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 203
Likes: 33
From: Texas
I dont think so I know a guy who goes and exchanges his 6 batteries from various things every year and gets new ones all under warranty. He does this every year when he come back to NY from florida, he has 0 problems so I do not think you will.
Just a side note have you experimented with the optima batteries before? I have been thinking about getting another optima yellow top I had one for about 14 years and it was sold with the car it was in and still worked.
Just a side note have you experimented with the optima batteries before? I have been thinking about getting another optima yellow top I had one for about 14 years and it was sold with the car it was in and still worked.
Last edited by Catalina45; Feb 10, 2018 at 08:59 AM.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,584
Likes: 392
From: PA
We're all business people here, so likely a battery is only as good as its warranty, and the seller's ability to honor it. A couple names have been thrown around as denying valid claims, Auto Zone and Advance Auto I believe, and then Costco was mentioned as free batteries for life. In a way, this is like floor jacks, a 3 ton low pro floor jack can be $80 - $1,400, depending on who you get it from. What they have in common is they're all made in China. So the place you buy it from has to be able to stand behind it. imho I like Costco for convenience and price, but not for BMW, where I'd likely haggle with the dealership (online people have paid from $250 to $550, all over the place). my .02
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