Trouble getting Walmart to replace my (N)Everstart battery

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I bought this battery last June, so it is 11 months old. It says free replacement for up to 3 years on the side as it is the Maxx version. It is in my daily driver Impala which I commute 65 miles each way to work and back. It is not a case of starting and stopping and restarting which can discharge a battery.

So the last 3 days I've noticed getting a bit weaker each day as I start the car in the morning. It barely started this morning so after driving 65 miles to work, I let it cool then checked voltages at lunchtime. It measured 12.4v with the engine off. After starting, it measured 14.4v so this tells me the alternator (which was replaced 4 months ago) is good. I checked voltage across the actual battery terminals so this tells me the cabling is good with the 14.4 reading while charging.

When I got to walmart after driving home 65 miles, their tester showed 12.6v and 650 cca. He said he couldn't replace it and I asked doesn't the low voltage mean anything? He said nope. I told him it should be closer to 13.2v and he said sorry, that they go by their machine which somehow checks cranking amps.

I think I know what to do to get another battery out of them but I'll post later to let you guys know the outcome.

 

[s219]

I think I know what to do to get another battery out of them but I'll post later to let you guys know the outcome.

Yeah, let it sit in the WalMart parking lot overnight, and then have them test it before it's been charged any by the alternator. I bet it will show a dropoff.

 

[shortthrow50]

probably not the battery. could be corroded line to the starter, or negative cable. could be starter going out.

 

[texasjohn]

had similar problem about a year ago...same symptoms...same test technique...same refusal to replace.

Just this week, I had a Walmart battery not recharge overnight on charger. 3 year free replacement, 3 months short of 3 years.....it did test bad but initial statement was that there was a new directive of some kind that would not allow them to honor the free replacement statement printed on the battery itself.... I muttered and grumbled and commented that I didn't think that was a game I wanted to play...that I could read what was clearly printed on the battery and I could read a calendar...3 months short of 3 years. I just kept standing there and after a while they brought out a replacement battery.

My tractor battery also went bad this week...about 9 years on the original battery...because of the recent Walmart experience, I checked with a local tire/battery shop...amazed to discover that the battery I needed was CHEAPER there than at Walmart...I think I've switched where I get batteries in the future:thumbsup:

 

[CurlyDave]

I usually get batteries at O'Reily auto parts (they also own Kragen and Schuck's). They associate the battery receipt with my phone number and any store can look it up on their computer.

I have had a few batteries replaced under warranty with no problems.

 

[bp fick]

The battery may or may not be your real issue, but nonetheless, my experience with WalMart, their batteries and their battery replacement policies has left me turned off. There are lots of better places to buy a battery.

 

[Western]

Only time I had to have WM replace one under warranty, it tested weak on the truck. All they asked me was if I had time for them to swap it out. I wonder if this is a store problem, regional or a company policy on their batteries? Maybe I was just lucky.

 

[Chuck52]

I've taken batteries in to at least two different Walmarts and had them replaced without even being tested. Must be my good looks.

Chuck

 

[grsthegreat]

most batteries left standing out of the vehicle usually read in the 12.5 volt range.

then again my wife once bought a pear of Jeans from Walmart that were mis labeled... i would have had to gain about 100# to fit into them. the label was obviously wrong but Walmart refused to return them.

that was about 5-6 years ago... and we have never stepped into that store since

 

[DefEddie]

Wal mart batteries are the lowest quality built by the lowest bidder.

In my personal experience (6yrs as a dealership electrical/driveability specialist,4yrs as a part time manager @ Autozone,10+yrs building/modifying custom vehicles) they are the worst battery.
I have gotten into more arguments with customers that were mad because it cost them $80 for me tell them their brand new walmart battery was the reason thier car had issues.
Like a few a month at least,same working nights at the parts store when I ask to test their battery for problems they have.
"but it was the best one" is always the argument.

I stopped using them long before I worked at the parts store or the dealer.
Ease of replacement is an issue depending on store and who's working.

ALL my personal vehicles use the Duralast gold series,which are 99% lead content with reinforced gridded plates-3yr free replace and 5 pro rated after that.
Built by Johnson Controls under contract for AZ.
Walmart is different builder depending on which is closest warehouse and lowest bidder as I understand it. Here it is Interstate pretty sure.
My warranty is good at any AZ so long as I don't forget my phone number (which is the only issue we run into with returns-no number/no warranty!

They do enough volume at such low cost/high markup that returns don't affect the bottom line.

I also have two of the Optima batteries,one in my lawnmower and one for racecar.
Johnson controls also builds these,though they are overkill unless it is for offroad or high vibration or heat location or need an AGM type battery for different mounting.

I keep all my vehicles away from wal mart. I've made thousands doing engine's because they can't replace a filter,drainplug and oil correctly.
We are small town (~10k pop) and for awhile we changed a couple engines a month almost.


Wal-mart aside,there is a chance it might not be the battery.
My wife drives an impala,and I have some experience in them.
(her car got SS cloned last year,about to finish up a new engine in it now-all coated and lightened internals,ported/polished/coated heads,manifold and supercharger etc...)

Impala's have issues with security system,ignition,and starter(no crank symptom)
Also fuel system restriction/fuel filter (long crank/hard start)
As well as intake manifold leaks into cylinder (hydrolock/hard starts)

I have the same tester in my box that walmart uses,as well as a ford unit.
Both are made by midtronics and fairly reliable.
Assuming a competent person,I would have it rechecked at autozone for free and go from there.

Sorry for the book,hope you figure it out.

 

[jmurray01]

I can empathise with you about your battery troubles, as I've had a similar experience myself.

Last summer we bought a 1998 Rover 216 SLi (I don't expect you'll be familiar with it as it is a UK car, but it is a 5 door hatchback with a 1.6 litre Inline-4 Cyl engine to give you a brief summary) and it had a battery which had only been purchased a few months prior to our ownership.

I assumed that would provide reliable starting, well, no...

After being parked up in the drive way (waiting to be fixed up to pass a safety inspection) for two weeks the battery went completely flat, to the point of not even clicking the starter solenoid, despite no electrical items being left on.

I jump started it using out other car (1997 Ford Fiesta 1.25), then we took it for a 100 mile drive to charge the battery back up (I didn't have a battery charger at that point) and it did take a good charge again, starting up energetically afterwords, but after sitting another two weeks, back to square one!

Needless to say it now has a Bosch S4 battery in it which has proved reliable so far (even though the car isn't on the road yet, long story, don't ask!)

 

[jmurray01]

I've taken batteries in to at least two different Walmarts and had them replaced without even being tested. Must be my good looks.

Chuck

I have the same problem.

 

[Turbys_1700]

This surprises me somewhat in that I have never had an issue with Wal Mart replacing anything...
I did buy 2 batteries last year for my Power Stroke from them...
They were manufactured by Johnson Controls and the technician that installed them was a young mechanic that previously worked at a local dealership...
He was actually very good and I was actually very surprised...
The cost was $70 less for the two not including tax...
So far so good...

 

[Travelover]

I usually buy batteries at Costco. If within the warranty, they replace them no questions asked.

 

[jonyyuma]

Good to read about O'reilleys and their policys on batterys..One of the best batterys i have owned in the near past was a Johnson control--OEM...I had not considered the Walmart unit being the Cheapest Bidder for the job. I did like reading the codes and always getting a fresh dated battery...there...

 

[Davestc29]

I have always used my local napa mainly becuase they have no problem returning batteries and they let me look in there paper catalogs when I'm trying to find something wired and have no problem with taking time to find unusual items

 

[aczlan]

I think I know what to do to get another battery out of them but I'll post later to let you guys know the outcome.

I would carry the battery in after driving another car in, but I have 3 walmarts within 20 minutes of my house.

Aaron Z

 

[kootch88]

I've had several returns on Maxx Batteries at Wal-mart with no troubles, but I got so sick of their garbage and my general dislike for them anyway, that I went and got an interstate from the local shop 3 years ago, and so far so good.

 

[Bird]

The last 2 car batteries I've bought were from my local Ford dealer. The only batteries I've bought from Walmart were the starter battery for our motorhome in 1993, a Cub Cadet riding mower battery in 1998, and a trolling motor battery in 2007. Never had a problem or complaint with any of them.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I think this Walmart battery is made by Johnson Controls too. The cables are good. voltage tests while off and running at the battery show differential. The alternator replaced a few months ago. It is Autozone gold (lifetime warranty).

I think the reason it is hanging in there is because the car gets daily long drives which charges the battery fully. It doesn't hardly do any city driving (turning off and on) short distances.