(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Walmart batteries?

H

hadley

Member
Thinking I should put a battery in wifes car since it is now five yrs old with orig battery and newer vehicles give no warning as to when they are not going to start. Wally world has lowest price by quite a bit. I have used there batteries before in the camper, atv's, and tractors with mixed results. Just looking for some other opinions on quality and durability.
 
You will probably get a lot of differing opinions on Walmart batteries.

I personally won't put one in my own vehicles. Had the same trouble with them you described, no warning, just sudden failure, totally dead.

I really don't have a brand preference, impossible to know where the battery is made or who makes it, the name on the outside is just a decal on a case. I do have my suspicions that Walmart may be accepting a lower quality battery, able to pressure for lower manufacturing cost due to the quantity they order.

I generally buy mine from the most popular auto supply in the area. That way if I need warranty they are never too far away.

But, I have never replaced a battery that was still working. Just no way to know how long it will last.
 
I think they are made by Johnson Controls to meet Walmart price/specs. I have had reasonably good luck
with them in my tractor and lawn mowers. Around here they are not much cheaper than the parts houses.
 
If it was my wife's vehicle and I was only changing it
because I was worried she may become stranded
at some point I'd go either to the dealer where the
car was originally bought or a reputable auto parts
store and ask them for their best. It might save her
from having to trust a stranger for help sometime
she's alone.
 
I bought one from there maybe 5 or 6 years ago ? for in the lawn mower. It lasted as long as it was warranted for and then some. As in a 60 month battery lasted 60 + months. Now that one died without ANY warning. Started up and mowed fine for an hour or so. Stopped for lunch 1/2 tops ? and went back and it would not turn over just 1 click and then no more. It died that fast !
 
Batteries seem so hit and miss nowadays,
9 years ago I had a Toyota pickup on its
last legs, bought a cheap 19.99 battery
from Kmart, was barely larger than a
lawn and garden battery. The truck was
junked a year later and the battery went
into my Ford 3400 which sometimes sits
months at a time and often started below
zero to split firewood, it's still going
strong now at 9 years old. Wish I had a
dozen of those batteries!
 
My experience with Walmart batteries has been no different that with any other brand. They all quit at the most un-handy time. My bud uses nothing but Napa batteries and my Walmart batteries last as long has his but he gets to pay more plus...this last time he took a Napa battery back under warranty they informed him the warranty on the new battery STARTED at the purchase date of the original. Never had that with a battery purchased at Walmart.
 
A few years ago Consumers Report said COSTCO batteries were the best. If your battery fails any time in the warranty period, you return it for a full refund and go buy another battery with full warranty. My local parts store puts the old warranty on the new battery.
DAVE
 
have had good luck with Walmart batterys. Just remember to put them on the trickle charger for 24 hours when you get them, as you would with any other battery
 
I liked it when I took one back to Walmart that died under warranty and they just replaced it, no hassles at all. I have returned batteries to Sam's club and Interstate, had to wait for two hours while they made sure it was charged and could test it. On top of that, Interstate charged me a prorated fee that was as much as I could have bought a new Walmart battery for.
 
I had a DieHard that was out of warranty but the Sears guy somehow punched in a 30 dollar discount for the new one. Sears was far fro home a bit .
 
I had a deep cycle battery from WM (Johnson Controls), and another of same size and type from TSC (Exide), both with the same warranty, both in series, both charged from the same 24V solar array. The WM battery lasted 3 years and flat out died. The Exide lasted 5+ and would still power things but at that point was losing significant reserve capacity. At the time of purchase, the Exide cost all of $6 more. I now get my batteries from TSC.
 
Been buying them for 20 years for all of my vehicles mostly no problems. I think I had just one I had to take back. Seems like before numbnuts got in the whitehouse they user offer a 5 year warranty.
 
(quoted from post at 08:51:35 11/30/16) Thinking I should put a battery in wifes car since it is now five yrs old with orig battery and newer vehicles give no warning as to when they are not going to start. Wally world has lowest price by quite a bit. I have used there batteries before in the camper, atv's, and tractors with mixed results. Just looking for some other opinions on quality and durability.
Click to expand...

Since the car is just 5 years old, I will strongly suggest taking it to the dealer you bought it from. I know there is no warranty, but a reputable dealer will most often have the best price on the highest quality battery.

WalMart is for trinkets and doo-dads that you do not need to depend on.
 
You better check again ,Walmart does exactly that:warranty on new battery starts on old battery purchase date.
 
I tried Wallyworld a few years ago to get a battery for my Impala. I told the boy to put the largest capacity battery he could in the battery tray. He looked in his spec. book and said this is the only one I can install in this car. I said thank yew velly much and went to Auto Zone and got my battery box filled up like I asked for.
 
I've had a few W/M batteries over the years. I bought the first one
after reading good reviews right here on Y/T.
I needed one in our Olds mini van, W/M was the only supplier that
didn't charge $30 labor to change the battery.
I've bought them there since.

Steve A W
 
at just 5 years old i would not change it yet. i'd wait another year at least or 2 even.

usually (my experience of going 8+ years on them) the OE batteries will outlast anything you can buy anywhere including the "factory brand" (Ford, HOnda for example) battery you might get at the dealer.

all batteries are different regardless of who made them. A Johnson battery for Sears is likely totally different from wallymarts JOhnson controls battery. the walleymart battery you buy today may not be anything like the one you get next week. They will and DO change specs and companies for a 1/2 penny profit.

I've heard quite a few folks going thru 2 or 3 batteries from the big chain stores before they get one that lasts. I had that with Sears diehard gold and all 3 had the same part number but all 3 were completely different looking batteries.

I've had decent luck with AC delco batteries i've gotten (4 total) from our local independent Auto parts and they are WAY less $ than wally or Azone or advance or napa

for the tractor i use the big "commercial" batteries from napa with good luck. for the riding mower i've used Deka's and have gotten about 4 years from them. the napa mower batteries i can only get 18 months or less regardless of how much they were used.
 
For something I plan on keeping, I have been buying the "Max" batteries at Wal-Mart, and had very good luck. I believe those are similar or same as the Interstate made by Johnson Controls. On the other hand
if just something you plan on trading soon, Wal-mart has a battery for about $50 that will get it going, but I doubt those will last as long, or start as well. I typically buy the largest I can put in the
tray for my daily driver that I plan on keeping. I usually get 7 years or so out of them, but when they start showing their age and any indication of problems I typically replace.
 
I know epa regulations from the white house have caused battery prices to double.Then they want a 14 buck fee if you don't have an exchange battery.
 
I've had good luck with them. Even once when I took one in thinking it was a worthless old core, the kid at the counter scanned it and found out it was still within the 3 year free replacement. I went in expecting to pay about a hundred dollars for a new battery and walked out with a free one.
 
(quoted from post at 10:40:42 11/30/16) You better check again ,Walmart does exactly that:warranty on new battery starts on old battery purchase date.
Click to expand...

ANY place that sells batteries has that policy. How long do you expect them to warranty the battery?

If it worked like you want it to, that would be the equivalent of a LIFETIME warranty. Every 5 years you run the battery flat dead, take it into Walmart, and get a free new one? Why bother even selling batteries at that point?
 
(quoted from post at 11:49:30 11/30/16) I know epa regulations from the white house have caused battery prices to double.Then they want a 14 buck fee if you don't have an exchange battery.
Click to expand...

Here in NY I've never paid more than $5, and it's not even a law apparently. I know of at least one large retailer that does not apply any core charge, and does not want your old battery back. Maybe it's a fluke but I've purchased multiple batteries from this place and never paid a core charge.

You can get $5-$10 a piece for them at the scrap yard.
 
I bought two batteries from them that didn't last a year and the guys that worked there said charging system is bad. Well charging systems
had nothing wrong with them. I purchased a NAPA battery for one and a Delco for the other and got 6 + years out of a system they said was
bad.Walmart battries are made to Walmart specs. not the manufactures specs. that manufactures.
 
(quoted from post at 14:52:32 11/30/16) at just 5 years old i would not change it yet. i'd wait another year at least or 2 even.

usually (my experience of going 8+ years on them) the OE batteries will outlast anything you can buy anywhere including the "factory brand" (Ford, HOnda for example) battery you might get at the dealer.

all batteries are different regardless of who made them. A Johnson battery for Sears is likely totally different from wallymarts JOhnson controls battery. the walleymart battery you buy today may not be anything like the one you get next week. They will and DO change specs and companies for a 1/2 penny profit.

I've heard quite a few folks going thru 2 or 3 batteries from the big chain stores before they get one that lasts. I had that with Sears diehard gold and all 3 had the same part number but all 3 were completely different looking batteries.

I've had decent luck with AC delco batteries i've gotten (4 total) from our local independent Auto parts and they are WAY less $ than wally or Azone or advance or napa

for the tractor i use the big "commercial" batteries from napa with good luck. for the riding mower i've used Deka's and have gotten about 4 years from them. the napa mower batteries i can only get 18 months or less regardless of how much they were used.
Click to expand...
list:393d069594]

What I am worried about is the fact that on newer gm vehicles at least if the battery drops below a certain voltage the vehicle will not even try to start, won't even click. Had this happen when she drove an 07 impala. She came home from work one evening in the summer and next day wouldn't do anything but all lights worked. Called mechanic buddy and he said check voltage at terminals and call back. Don't remember exact voltage but was in mid-high elevens. Called back and he said put charger on and try it. Did that and fired right up. Said what gives and he said they are made that way to keep from frying computer and such trying to start with a weak battery so made to not even attempt to start under a certain voltage. Now she driving a 12 chevy traverse and don't want to run into same thing. She wants to trade come spring/summer but I am still going to put a new one in it now for my own piece of mind over the winter. [/list:u:393d069594]
 
Without looking it up I think east penn is the manufacture of them, I get batteries from a local repair shop that
handles batteries from them, he said they are the same as the Deka just a different name, had good luck so far.
 
Not so, Bob. The MOST retarded thing I have ever read on this site would be the comments about gas prices being linked to elections. You can call it the SECOND most retarded thing, though!
 

I've had good luck with WalMart batteries. I usually pay the extra and get their top of the line batteries. 8)
 
I have used Wal Mart batteries with no problems. This summer I bought a new battery for my tractor from NAPA. It was completely dead and it would not charge up. I also had a battery from Advance Auto parts that lasted 8 months.
 
I've used Walmart battery's in my diesel pick up
twice now, and so has my brother, we never had
and problems with them. I also use them in our lawn
mowers no problems either.
 
The core charge has nothing at all to do with government regulation. it has everything to do with what the dead battery is worth at the recycling center, and how much the retailer wants to advertise their batteries in their ads.

Sale. 975CCA battery for $95
Sale! 975CCA battery for $85! (less $10 core charge)
SALE!!! 975CCA battery for $75!!! (less $20 core charge)
 
I like Deka batteries. Starting my 7th summer next year with my boat engine batteries. I like Deka also because I can buy their blemished batteries.
 
Sometimes we have to look back at what kind of a life the battery had. Was there one time during it's lifetime when it was run completely dead? That's not good. Our van has a six month old Interstate battery that was run dead as a door nail a month ago when a side door was left open all night. This van has a flaw, in my opinion, where the headlights stay on and will not automatically shut off if a door is left open anywhere on the van. If the lights are off and a door is left open the interior lights will cycle off, but if the headlights are on, everything stays on and nothing shuts off. It's the only thing the Toyota engineers screwed up on, in my opinion. I'm expecting a shorter out of this battery now.
 
A 6 volt battery is around 100 bucks.Napa now gets 20 bucks for a core charge,even on a new battry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

kcm.MN
Battery - part 2
Replies
15
Views
780
INCase
I
T
Batteries. Dead ones?
Replies
17
Views
3K
TonyIN
T
A
battery revival
Replies
11
Views
2K
souNdguy
S
S
NC or Bust - Reminiscing - Long Post (Sorry)
2 3
Replies
40
Views
3K
KevinBfromIllinois
K
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top