Replacement Battery

[EddieC]

My AC Delco battery is failing before it's 42 month "Free" replacement warranty expired and the (expletive) dealer who sold it to me offered prorating it for very little credit toward a new expensive one. I called AC Delco who might make good but there is an issue caused by the dealer with the original paperwork, but the whole snafu will cost the dealer any further of our business.
I always had good luck with AC Delco batteries but it appears that the dealer my have sold me a superceded (old??) model that I asume sat on the shelf and therefore is failing early.

I have never had an issue with Walmart batteries or warranty replacement so here is the question; Is it worth spending $40 more to get an AGM with an additional year of free replacement or just stay with the standard (MAXX) lead acid battery? The two have very close specs relative to CCA and reserve cranking time.
So, in a seasonally cold environment, is there any performance difference or would I just be buying another year of warranty for the $40?

Would there be any compatibility issue with the AGM?

 

[swathdiver]

I wouldn't get aggravated over a battery. The charging system in our trucks was not designed to charge the AGMs as they require so they will not last as long as they could have.

Check another dealer and look on their website for coupons or specials. Oftentimes they'll even install it for free.

I paid a little over $200 for a 48GHRA battery last August (O'Reillys). My daughter's boyfriend bought one today for about $150, his cost, as he is dealership employee.

The batteries are date coded and it doesn't matter how old they are, the warranty begins on the date of purchase. Remember my earlier battery posts, new battery was dated coded for 2 months after I bought it!

 

[Doubeleive]

my last set of Interstate AGM's lasted me almost 5 years (even with the California heat), they probably would have made 5 years+ but I could tell they were getting weaker
Costco sells them for around $170 with a 3 year warranty.
I believe that is $10 cheaper than a standard walmart battery, last time I checked anyway

 

[blondie70]

I just put a WalMart AGM into my Tahoe. No paticular reason....it was on the shelf and I got it. Old one was still good...but needed a battery for something else and used it there....had an old wreck of a battery for a trade in. Tell ya what....them suckers are HHeeaavy ...

 

[gtrslngrchris]

Any dealer should be able to honor that warranty and I just dealt with this last year. The new dealer didn't want to do the full longer battery test and the battery would just squeak by on the quick test. We had brought it in for a trans flush and specifically their longer battery test while they were absolutely slammed. They threatened that her truck would take longer and might even be an extra day or two if we wanted such a long test. I asked why it wasn't done as requested while they were performing other work on the truck and they had no answer. I then told them that we would be fine driving one of our 4 other vehicles and they were welcome to deal with keeping an extra vehicle in their bay/lot over the weekend as needed. Got a call 35 minutes later that we were getting a new battery and the old one failed as I expected and that they would love it if we could get it out of their way ASAP.

 

[tom3]

I will also say these new charging systems don't like sulfated batteries. I got a new Delco at our dealer and noticed it was charging over 15 volt constant, not once on a trip did it cut down to the 12.8 maintaining mode. I took a close look and that battery had been on the shelf for 8 months, manfu. date a couple months earlier than that. I put a new Non-AGM Walmart battery in it, looked at three stores to get the newest ship date, working great now. And, as above, that's one heavy chunk to get in that battery tray.

 

[SpyShops212]

I put a Autozone Duralast Platinum AGM battery 3 years ago. I paid $250 and was able to change it in 30 minutes in front of Autozone using there tools. They offered to do it for me but I won’t allow anyone to do it because they can scratch or damage my fender or paint. Duralast and Diehard are the same brand. Diehard is a sears brand that was always the best to get. Previously I bought a GM 42 month Delco Gold non-AGM for $220 which Cadillac roadside bought to me when my original battery died. Roadside convinced me that AGM is not good for our trucks so I believed him. 8 months later the new Delco Gold battery failed and I lost the receipt. I was told I had to go to the selling dealer that roadside was sent from but I was 1200 miles from home on vacation. I was not about to call roadside every time I needed to go somewhere with my truck with my family on vacation. It is embarrassing since I always brag about how great my truck is. I went to Autozone and bought the Duralast platinum AGM and now 3 years later it is still perfect. I can go to any Autozone in the world when my battery fails and get a new battery under warranty or prorated at any location using my phone number. The Duralast also has a 140 hour reserve. I can clean my truck for hours and no loss of battery. Our trucks are fully compatible with AGM.

Autozone sells the DuraLast AGM platinum:

Duralast Platinum Group Size 94R / H7 Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Battery H7-AGM | AutoZone

Duralast Platinum AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) Batteries are designed to give you the ultimate combination of power, durability, and flexibility. These batteries are engineered to meet or exceed the performance of your original AGM battery. Delivering maximum cold cranking amps and reserve...

www.autozone.com

Advanced auto sells the Diehard AGM platinum:

Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance

They are exactly the same manufacturers just labeled different. If you ask your grandparents about how good the Diehard Sears batteries were they will tell you they are top of the line.

 

[swathdiver]

Our trucks are fully compatible with AGM.

What are you driving?

 

[EddieC]

Any dealer should be able to honor that warranty and I just dealt with this last year. The new dealer didn't want to do the full longer battery test and the battery would just squeak by on the quick test. We had brought it in for a trans flush and specifically their longer battery test while they were absolutely slammed. They threatened that her truck would take longer and might even be an extra day or two if we wanted such a long test. I asked why it wasn't done as requested while they were performing other work on the truck and they had no answer. I then told them that we would be fine driving one of our 4 other vehicles and they were welcome to deal with keeping an extra vehicle in their bay/lot over the weekend as needed. Got a call 35 minutes later that we were getting a new battery and the old one failed as I expected and that they would love it if we could get it out of their way ASAP.

I called AC Delco before and after being refused the free replacement by the dealer where it was bought and asked if there was another place to get the free warranty replacement (another dealer or store) and I was told that it was unlikely that another dealer would make good on someone else's sale but I could try.

I tested the lead acid replacement in Walmart today and the CCA was significantly above the 730 CCA rating and it was dated this month so I took it home. And just $5 core charge.

My 3 year old Delco, rated at 770 CCA tested at about 480 on mu tester. I (now) suspect it was an outdated battery when I bought it.

 

[mikez71]

Didn't know there was a 100% free replacement? I always assumed it was pro-rated..

My AGM's also don't seem to be lasting that long. (36month warranty, been about 2 years..)
Parking outside. With two batteries, I don't notice any lack of power yet.

But I check the voltage some mornings, lately it's been dipping lower (down to 11.9V-12.1V)
Brand new, they didn't hold over 12.3V overnight (installed) Sometimes 12.5V, depending on the amount of time and temp I suppose.
Few months back I added a dash cam for parking recording, so that's probably drawing it down a little.

I did not charge them with a wallcharger when I first got them. Think I'll try that next time.
They were fresh batteries too, same date. Amazon, look legit.. I might try another brand next time around..

Dealers make everything difficult! I'm permanently scared of them..

 

[gtrslngrchris]

I called AC Delco before and after being refused the free replacement by the dealer where it was bought and asked if there was another place to get the free warranty replacement (another dealer or store) and I was told that it was unlikely that another dealer would make good on someone else's sale but I could try.

I tested the lead acid replacement in Walmart today and the CCA was significantly above the 730 CCA rating and it was dated this month so I took it home. And just $5 core charge.

My 3 year old Delco, rated at 770 CCA tested at about 480 on mu tester. I (now) suspect it was an outdated battery when I bought it.

Somehow I left it out of my post but originally the battery was bought through Smicklas Chevrolet, dealership my friend worked at, and they got bought out and are now Classic Chevrolet. We took the truck to Bob Howard GMC and they were a separate dealership that honored the warranty. I was also already paying for service so that probably helped a lot.

 

[EddieC]

Didn't know there was a 100% free replacement? I always assumed it was pro-rated..

 

[mikez71]

That brochure looks like it was printed in 2012.
Not making excuses for what they sold you, but the current warranty I looked up on amazon doesn't seem to cover as much..
Seeing free replacement for 18, 12, and 6 months depending on battery, pro-rated after that.

They don't make 'em like they used to!

Also noticed my battery is silver-calcium not lead-acid.. Maybe I go lead-acid next time..

 

[EddieC]

That brochure looks like it was printed in 2012.
Not making excuses for what they sold you, but the current warranty I looked up on amazon doesn't seem to cover as much..
Seeing free replacement for 18, 12, and 6 months depending on battery, pro-rated after that.

They don't make 'em like they used to!

Also noticed my battery is silver-calcium not lead-acid.. Maybe I go lead-acid next time..

Take a look at the label on the side of my battery.

 

[mikez71]

What's the asterisk say?

And how old is the battery anyway?

 

[BADRIDES]

Take a look at the label on the side of my battery.

Just put the same style 42 month free replacement battery on my daughter's Camaro at the dealership I work at. I took off an A/C Delco battery that had been on the car for 6 years. Changed it out for piece of mind with her going off to college and winter coming up.

 

[swathdiver]

Take a look at the label on the side of my battery.

What's the asterisk say?

Still free replacement til 42 months.

As for me and my house, we don't utilize the warranty, too much hassle. I like the 42 month batteries because they are the higher quality units. As of yesterday, all three trucks are running 48GHR or 48GHRAs now.

Nobody knows the difference between them either!

 

[ss4chad]

I currently work PT at O'Reilly's just for the discounts and pocket change. The 'Free Replacement" of a Battery is a true statement to an extent, yes you get a free battery in the event that your battery takes a crap (for example) in the 42 month warranty period.
However, your 42 month warranty DOES NOT start over! Your warranty is only applicable to the original purchase date.

So if you bought a 42 month battery on Jan 1, 2022 and it took a crap on Jan 1, 2025 then you get a 'Free Replacement' battery with a 6 month warranty!

O'Reilly's, AutoZone, NAPA, Advance all use the EXACT TERMS for Battery warranty. Yes some stores will try and work with you and your battery needs, but don't expect or demand it! I know that O'Reilly and Autozone don't Pro Rate batteries any more and stopped doing that about 5 yrs ago, as stated above you just get a new battery (free) with a greatly reduced warranty.

Chad

 

[swathdiver]

Exactly right! ^^^^^

Companies are in business to make money after all.

 

[EddieC]

Exactly right! ^^^^^

Companies are in business to make money after all.

But that doesn't give them a license to sell junk.
My original GM issue Delco battery lasted 7 years.
The replacement Delco lasted 5 years.
This replacement Delco a hair over 3 years. Something is wrong there.