Thanks for watching, and the kind words. Here’s what my “old used” two cars look like, (2004 & 2010); ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IE3Hh4xuGpw.html -Chuck
I used to install, diagnose, & sell batteries. Costco will "eat" warranties until Interstate refuses to pay or one or the other looses enough money. Ppl abuse them & expect a free one in return. Its NOT the battery's fault it hasn't been charged for several months, or it wasnt bolt down & bouncing all over thr place, or just not driven. On the dept store aspect, they can sit on thr shelves for months, sulfating, & shortening the life of the battery. When purchasing, INSPECT THE DATE STAMP/ NOT STICKER. If date okay, trickle charge before install & check to make sure alternator ia charging. Doing this will get your battery off to a good start & prolong its life. Saying all of this, I'm a senior now & u sir, know your stuff & this is an EXCELLENT video! U are spot on! 👍
Well hello Mr. Rice, Thanks for stopping in, and your kind words, and the great feedback. Btw, I just bought another Costco battery five days ago to replace the Walmart battery. But not because it’s bad I just wanted a spare for future uses. I’m having trouble finding a trustworthy website / source to decode the various heat stamped / embossed manufacturing codes. Can you help? The Walmart battery I purchased Feb 2018 has two codes. B8OFP on the top right next to the negative terminal post. 8A23CPKB on the front just above the EverStar Maxx label. The Costco battery I just bought Feb 2023 has three codes. A3BNU on the top on the other side of the positive terminal post. 01639570 2M27AN2B on top to the left of the first code but upside down. I’m guessing the B8 on the Walmart is Feb/2018, and the A3 on the Costco is Jan/2023. But what about the rest? Walmart; OFP = ? 8A23CPKB = ? Costco; BNU = ? 01639570 2M27AN2B = ? Thanks again, -Chuck
I got the Walmart MAXX 5-year battery 7 years and 1 month ago. It is still very powerful and starts the engine every day with no hesitation - even in the coldest weather we get here - zero in Winter.
I'm thinking about getting one, my Sam's Club Duracell has been great, it's 6 and 1/2 year old, and just in the last two weeks has been hard to start if it's been sitting for awhile.
@@doninmichigan Same here ..Duracell--get about 6+ years out of them until they faulter. If you drain in after 6 years then it will come to an end quickly and need replacement. I went with another Duracell each time. They seem to last longer than the Walmart Maxx and I have heavy battery usage and large engines.
Have a 1995, never winter driven, Ford f350, 7.3 liter diesel which has two Everstart group 65 batteries. It's a Centarus conversion which I've had for twenty years. The Everstarts have only been replaced once on each side during those twenty years. Absolutely pleased with this brand.
I've returned two batteries to Walmart during the replace free warranty period over the past decade and it was no questions asked both times. I think your experience depends on the personnel at the store more than the company.
I tell them that I charged the battery and it won't hold it's charge when I drop them off at customer service. The gals at the counter don't really care. They just check your receipt to see date of purchase and give you credit toward a new batter. @@TimSmith-db1iu
Yeah, Walmart is not an automotive company so if they don’t recognize the born on date and recycle the batteries, you might get a battery that’s been sitting around for months. Autozone for example puts a date sticker to make it clear how old the battery is.
Just so you know going forward, Walmart batteries do in fact have the manufacture month and year on a sticker just like most other batteries. And they sell so many batteries, when I go there it's hard to find a battery that was NOT made within 60 days. Additionally, neither Walmart or Auto Zone, or any other jobbers for that matter, make their own batteries. Most all 12 volt auto batteries are made by Exide, Brookfield, Clarios or East Penn and they make all the well known brands including Walmart and Auto Zone batteries . @@grazz7865
If you didn't already know, both batteries are made by Johnson controls (now Clarios), the cases are the same, they're literally the same battery with different branding... But nice to see I'm not the only one who is this meticulous about my car crap.... 🤣 Great video Sir!
Hey man, another lover of the Ford Panthers here. Dad recently got rid of his mid 2000s Mercury Grand Marquis and bought a used 2011 Ford Crown Vic Police Interceptor. It had like less than 80,000 miles, small rural town cop car so not abused, AND my dad knew the mechanic they used for it. Ol' boy said to him years ago, "THIS is the Vic you will want if the city decides to get rid of it." Silent auction, he bid $2,510 - seriously - he freakin' won the bid and got it. Blew my mind. Car is amazing. Getting the last year of the Vic, and a cop version to boot, for two and a half thousand was LUCKY. True posi (or whatever Ford calls their version of posi), and she hooks up real nice. I'm gonna tell him to buy one of these batteries when the time comes. Personally, I had good luck with Die Hard in my F-150. Lasted like at least 7 years with little maintenance, but I think battery companies purposely have degraded their quality lately to make more money... Just FYI stay the hell away from NAPA batteries or any parts. Nothing but problems with that crap. Good video man, appreciate the info.
So I actually work at Costco at one of the kiosk selling a product. My kiosk actually connects the batteries. Having said that they replace no questions asked for 3 years No prorate no nothing. You bring that battery in within 3 years they give you a brand new one they don't even test it. They have nothing to test the batteries with so the return policy is phenomenal
Costco has the best replacement policy of any product regardless of item, money back within the warranty period , and no questions asked, and all receipts of the customer are in their computer database, you dont even need to have your copy of the receipt, Return Warranty and money back guarantee like no other, Home Depot return policy you need your receipt or Credit card , if you paid Cash and lost receipt you're out of luck, if you DIDNT REGISTER the Ridgid Tool no warranty , this is how Home Depot and Ridgid make money, people forget to register the tools, happened to me many times.,LSA of Ridgid need Registration.
@@Sleepy731 they dont test the battery, you walk in ,they search their computer records and if they find that they sold you one they give you a new one,provided it is in the warranty period, A Costco membership card is your record, ALL your purchases are recorded, and probably in the last 5 years or more I just tried to return an old none Costco battery what they call "CORE CHARGE" , any old battery that you take to them when you buy a new Costco battery , the returns desk looked at my past battery purchases and said that whatever battery i bought in the past 6 years I had been reimbursed the " Core Charge".
@@Sleepy731 yes they will take it back and replace with a new one , they have no Tester , of course it has to be WITHIN the WARRNATY PERIOD your Costco Membership card is your record, Everything purchased is on computer record.
This was an extremely detailed test as it’s obvious. I think the one thing that was not considered was if you’re out and about away from home Costco is far less available than Walmart.
Correct. Last time I checked there were 500 Costco stores, and 5,000 Walmart. I guess, process you're warranty before you leave home. Lol Thanks for watching. -Chuck
The last battery I bought was on the basis of a Consumer Reports recommendation. Costco's was rated as a best buy. Their testing was pretty thorough. The battery worked well for as long as I had the car.
I've used enough car batteries that I've gotten to where I only buy Interstate batteries. We have a farm supply store chain here that adds an extra 6 months to the warranty when you buy through them, and the price is usually a little cheaper there to boot. Thanks for the video.
Here in Canada they don’t carry the Interstate batteries. They sell the Costco Kirkland branded batteries and Energizer AGM for cars/trucks Warranty on both brands are excellent. They are warranted as follows for 100 months (8.33 years): Kirkland: 0-48 months - free replacement 49-66 months - 50% refund based on purchase price 67-100 months - 25% refund based on purchase price Energizer AGM: 0-60 months - full refund 61-80 months - 50% refund based on purchase price 81-100 months - 25% refund based on purchase price And returns are super easy. Had to return a Kirkland for my father who’s battery failed after 3 years. Brought it back to Costco and they gave me a new battery with zero trouble. I’ve been using Costco Kirkland for years now in other vehicles and they’ve been excellent.
I just returned an Interstate to Costco. They had the receipt (as I couldn’t find mine. 3 months left on the warranty, so I paid about $24 for a replacement. Easy transaction, as you mentioned in the video. Thanks for all the work doing these.
I used the NeverStart battery religiously for almost 20 years and got great service. A 5 year battery would last 6 to 7 years here in Arizona. But these days they no longer make a 5 year battery for my cars, '99 Camry and '05 Ford Escape only has a 2 year battery. But the Costco Interstate still has a 3 year warranty so that's what I use now. Both are made in Mexico.
Thanks for all the n4. You are a delight to listen to how you explain things. Walmart sounds beautiful on paper but they attack when you actually need to return,replace or refund the items. How dare you ask for a refund, replacement or a refund we wasn't going to actually give it to you but we wanted to make you believe we was how dare you make us live up to our words. Less than enchanting 😂😂 that was a delicious way to put it.
Once owned a 1996 Ford Ranger XLT with power steering,power brakes and A/C.owned it from 1996 until 2003 when I retired.Replaced the original battery which was not maintenance free and replaced all 4 tires.Odometer was maybe 45 or 50,000 miles.Only used it for work 20 miles round trip.I live in Texas where it gets very hot.After 7 years the battery sounded a little slow and the tires were still good but decided to change both.That’s what I call…FORD TOUGH.
I picked up 2 group 65 interstate batteries from Costco yesterday for my F350 based solely on the warranty policy. I'm picking up 2 more in a few days for my Excursion. Tha k you for the great videos on these.
Thanks,a good video especially using the Load Test...I learned here that Costco sells Interstate &30.00 cheaper than Walmart. The warranty differences are so little (relatively) that I'll try Costco next time. I replace my batteries right at 36 months and claim no warranty at that time.
Thanks for your report. BTW, the internal resistance of batteries with 850 CCA is measure in MILI ohms. Also, the batteries seem to be deteriorating at about the same rate. Your digital tester showed a SOH (State of Health) for the Walmart battery at 85% and the Costco battery at 91% which is consistent with the age difference. You are taking good care of your batteries IMO. Most batteries are installed and never checked again until something goes wrong.
@@leecromwell502 Yes... AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries have a longer life than typical "flood" batteries. And AGM batteries are less susceptible to vibration, hence they do well in motorcycle applications.
@@leecromwell502 AGM batteries last longer if they are shielded from engine heat and the car has good voltage regulation. But AGMs suck in old cars (60’s and 70’s) due to the heat from the engine and poor voltage regulation. Love them for motorcycles where the battery is in its own box
I had a Walmart battery for my MDX. It developed an intermittent bad cell when I was in a parking garage visiting my brother-in-law in the hospital, and was in-route to vacation in Myrtle Beach. AAA checked the battery and sati it was defective and asked if I wanted it replaced. I declined since I had a valid Walmart warranty. I went to the nearest Walmart to have it replaced and was told they couldn’t do it because of ‘staff shortage’. A lot of good the warranty was! So I got a new battery at Advanced Auto and kept the old battery to take back to Walmart when I returned home. Every time I tried to talk to the manager in the auto department he ‘was off today’ , ‘on vacation’, ‘in a meeting’, ‘out to lunch’,etc. I wlll NEVER buy another battery from Walmart.
I have an old snow plow truck, 2 batteries hooked in parallel, no isolator etc. Both group 65, one is an Everstart(Walmart) born year 2015, the other is Interstate, born 2016. Heavily used in winter only, truck sets all summer. No issues with either 9-24
I had a Walmart battery that lasted 1 year. I took it back for a free replacement, no problem. I used the second battery until I totaled my car hitting a deer, then I put it in my work van. Battery lasted 8 years.
I suppose you can’t go wrong with an interstate battery form Costco. If you have a family and buy in bulk , then the $100 membership fee might be justified. Heck, I remember the first (and only time) I joined Costco. I got so carried away with what I thought were super duper great deals. One of the items was a pack of 4 tubs of peanut butter and I was so overjoyed with it , only to get home and have to unpack all of that useless merchandise from my trunk. It was back breaking. When I unloaded the peanut butter, it suddenly hit me . WTF am I go😢to do with all this damn peanut butter. I don’t even particularly like peanut butter …… but Costco convinced me that I need it. And that’s why I dislike Costco. MINDLESS CONSUMERISM AND WRETCHED EXCESS. Where was I …… oh yeah, it was about the $100 dollar membership. I gotta pay them to shop. Seriously. I’ll save the $100 and get an Everstart at Walmart. I don’t like Walmart either, but that’s a good thing ‘cause all I want to do is get in and get the hell out. I only buy my automotive stuff there anyway. And I don’t have to spend a hundred bucks to walk in. I really enjoy your content and I think you are genuine.
Thanks for stopping in, and the kind words. The current Costco membership fee is $60 a year. I myself buy 95% of everything at Walmart. There's only certain things I buy at Costco. Tires, Batteries, and $1.50 hot dog & soda. lol Since we shop both stores you have to admit there is a different clientele in Walmart. How many "People of Walmart" videos have you seen vs. "People of Costco" videos. The membership fee is a "paywall" to try to keep those types of individuals out of Costco. lol I hope you see this is just humor. -Chuck
That's funny stuff. It sounds more to me like mindless wretched lack of self control and if unloading peanut butter from your car in backbreaking then I'd get some medical help. You fell for the mindless consumerism and got carried away. You're the problem.
Thanks Panzer, only thing I'd add is you must keep them charged above 12.3 Volts at all times. Allowing them to float at 12.1 or so for a while not good. I bought the EverStart after watching other testers of car Batteries. Also of course, keeping the distilled water above the plates. Thanks again.
Both are very good quality; for me full replacement 3 years versus 2 years at 30 bucks less I would go with Costco. Never had any issue with any Costco return.
both of those are good batteries. I use them both at -20F in Minnesota winters, never have them on battery tenders (though my motorcycle sure is ...). Cars are parked outside overnight. out of convenience, I've been buying Costco car batteries lately. For motorcycle (seasonal) use I highly recommend Odyssey batteries. Yes they are expensive, but they hold a charge like nothing I've ever seen before - and they last me about 8 years when kept on floating charger.
Second that emotion on the Odyssey! I put one in my '95 Harley FLHT in April 1998, always kept it on a Battery Tender, removed it when I sold the bike 2 years ago, and put it in my 12Kw Firman generator where it still resides today. After 26 years that puppy still holds a charge as well as the day I bought it. 👍
Great job 🎉. My only criticism is your always hooking up positive terminal first then the neutral or negative. I was always taught that you were supposed to hook up negative first and then the positive. Sorry if I’m being nit picky- just got it drilled in to me old school. Besides that- you rock! Never met anyone who took such meticulous care to detail, so my compliments sir !
I understand both brands (and many others in this size like Duralast, Motorcraft, etc.) are produced by Johnson Controls so the only practical difference is the vendor and warranty. My Mercury was consuming batteries because of a bad alternator, replaced the alt and even old batteries work fine in it now.
@@PanzerPlatform not sure why it went wrong, but it was not charging batteries and was draining them. I kept my core so in theory I or a rebuilder can repair it for me.
Correct. There are only a few real "manufacturers" of batteries and they label them for the customer to suit. Pep Boys Champion brand batteries are also Clarios (the old Johnson Controls).
I had to replaced my battery from Costco a couple of years ago. The battery had lasted about 30 months. That was the first time in over 40 years of driving where a battery actually had a short life. Before my batteries would consistently last at least five years. I got a slow crank one morning and I checked the charge state which was low. The CCA was really low also. I tried to recharge it but it wasn't holding a charge. I took it back to Costco and the replacement was as easy as can be. They had the battery I needed and did some paper work and I took the battery home.
I’ve been buying Walmart batteries for many years. Never had a problem with the warranty because I always run them out and I was stranded working out of state on night shift and was glad there was a Walmart open late at night fast forward to now I don’t think they stay open 24 hours anymore.
The reviews on the the Costco site for recently purchased Interstate batteries are really bad. For the last 20 years I've only bought Costco Kirkland then later Interstate, no problems -but my last Costco/Interstate battery is from 2019 and still alive. Maybe the new Interstate batts at Costco are not good. Thanks for taking the time to post this in depth, LONG TIMESPAN, test!!
The last Everstart battery I got didn't ever last 2 years, and Walmart will not stand behind their car batteries, STAY AWAY!! COSTCO batteries are good
I’ve had good luck with Ever Start’s until the one I got in June or July of last year. It was dead and was not holding a charge. Unfortunately I could not find the receipt but I was able to exchange it free of charge for another one. While in the automotive department exchanging my EverStart I saw a pallet full of cores and 4 or 5 of them were EverStarts and most of them were less then one year old. I wonder if Johnson Controls is still the manufacturer?
I believe I have a Cosco battery in my pickup which I bought about four years ago. This battery is called a Kirkland and I haven't had to replace it as yet. The truck seldom gets driven, maybe about once a month and I've never had to charge it up, although maybe I should use one of those special desulphating chargers on it. But when it pegs out, I believe my next battery is going to come from Cosco.
Right on Chuck, great job! I have the Walmart battery in my Crown Vic for about 5 months without issue. I haven't had to return 1 yet to Walmart but I can verify the replacement process at Costco is amazing as you said. I had their battery in my Subaru and it failed from sitting too long. I went in and replaced it with only wanting to see the receipt.
@@PanzerPlatform it was a Motorcraft. It doesn't have a date on it but I know it's at least 7 years old and still holds a charge for 5 days or so. When I parked the Vic for 7 days it would be dead.
That idea of swapping batteries is great. A couple years ago I purchased 2 batteries that were 850 CCA & had both top post & side terminals on them. They have both been installed in different vehicles. I have this idea that if a battery in one vehicle won't start, I can swap it from any of my vehicle. I am in the process of converting all my vehicles to the same battery type. Its a part of my normal maintenance scedule during an oil/filter change to pull the battery terminal connectors to clean & inspect them. I change my oil/filter at ~3,000 miles; I have found over the years no matter what vehicle or oil type, my gas MPG begins to drop at ~3000 miles due to the oil going bad. After an oil change the MPG goes back to normall!
Right on ColdGuy, Thanks for stopping in, and the great feedback. I figured I rotate my tires to get even wear, why not rotate the two identical batteries in my two identical cars. lol -Chuck
I did not finish watch the whole video. But I have never known anybody who took such good care of car batteries. I bet the all-state battery is better than the other one.
@@PanzerPlatform my all-state battery worked so much better than any battery from walmart. I think lead acid batteries should work fine in cold weather, one rare advantage over today's lithium batteries.
I believe you should re-think your rotation period. Rotate once a year. Your way , the same battery is in the same vehicle every winter. The same battery is in the same vehicle every summer
I had a problem with returning Walmart Battery. They didnt want to take it back because their test showed it was OK. Even though i took it to AZ who said it wasnt. Then the guy told me to come back in 3 days and theyll test it again. The car of course wouldnt start. I jumped it took it back still wouldnt take it back. At that point i just said give me a new battery. I had the care for about 15 mos afterwards and never had a problem. It was the battery!
Yo LGN, Thanks for stopping in, and the great feedback. Given this situation, would you be willing to try a Costco Battery next time? Their warranty policy is no questions asked. This would have saved you the run-a-round you experienced. -Chuck
@@PanzerPlatform After that ive never back to Walmart for batteries. I had the same exp with PepBoys 2 years ago ( different car) i would for sure willing to go to Costco....
I just looked at my Costco Interstate battery. It's seven years old. Never been subjected to super cold but still in good shape. I was quoted $250 at the local battery store. I will get another Interstate battery again.
@@PanzerPlatform I have three Costco Interstate batteries in Honda vehicles... The oldest 5 !/2 years and still going strong. I found that the extended warranties (gold, platinum, etc) sold by the parts store chains are a waste of money. Buy the 36 month Costco batteries and a decent tester. Good review! 👍
very good video Ive had similar experience at Walmart however Im shopping now for a new battery and auto zone is handing me a $10.00 dollar coupon to spend my money with them, I find in my neighborhood auto zone they've made a big effort to improve their customer service but i agree with you price and warranty is equally important with this purchase !! thanks for video....
I have a 2003 Crown Victoria that currently has 44,000 miles on it and the original Motorcraft lasted 8 years but the Interstate battery I replaced it with now is going on 12 years. Of course the car sees little miles per year.
This was a very good video. It prompted me to check Consumer Reports's car battery ratings. Consumer Reports finds that battery ratings differ by size. That is, brand X might score well with its size 24 battery and not so well for its size 48. They also found that the ratings vary a lot from one year to the next. This makes it difficult for them to make blanket recommendations based on brand. With that in mind, I checked the current ratings for the battery that fits my car (size 24). For size 24, both brands have the same overall rating of 86, but the Walmart battery costs $140 and the Costco battery costs $120. Both have a 36 month warranty. But, the Walmart has 750 CCA and the Costco 700. In comparison, the highest rated size 24 battery has an overall rating of 97, 840 CCA, a 48 month warranty, and costs $350.
That was a really good compare/test. I have had good experience with the wally batteries as well. What I like about the wally batteries is there is virtually a walmart in any large city around me if I have an issue.
I had a horrible experience at the Service Center at North Henrico Walmart outside of Richmond VA regarding a battery exchange. While I was there another customer said that they had left the oil drain plug loose and all of the oil drained out and damaged the engine. Very unorganized. Cashier was clueless about their processes. Total chaos!
I believe that both batteries are made by JCI - they are most likely identical and made on the same line. Really glad to hear that you rotated the batteries for this comparison! I'm looking to replace the 12V battery in my car (Chevy Volt) and battery prices have pretty much doubled since 2018 - ugh!
I had the Walmart MAXX die in 25 months. The battery was the one that was specifically for my 2018 Mazda 6 with the 2.5L 4 cyl. They were pretty good about the return, they put it on their tester, it failed and they gave me a new one. No receipt, I brought it back to the Walmart I bought it at and it was in their system. I'm sure it was in their systems nationwide.
Walmart MAXX batteries now cost more than the Costco batteries. And both batteries have much worse warranties. The Maxx now has 3 year replacement and no prorate. The Costco Interstate has ZERO year replacement and 36 month prorate! Yes ZERO. Outside of the return periods, the warranty is pro-rated.
Project Farm also did a comparison between Battery brands and the Ever Start won out in his testing, I will say though the Vehicle has a lot to do with over all battery life with Drain, under/over charging and the temperature extremes they are exposed to. Nice video.
I now have 6 years on a one year warranty group 24 battery from wal-mart. Voltage is around 12.2v, the key is charging your battery every few months. I just had to add a tad of water last month, and I live in Arizona.
Today, Walmart Group 65 Maxx is $120 at my NJ store. I've been using Walmart batteries for about a decade now; I have 11 of them between home and farm. I've never had an issue warranting them at customer service. Only one before 36 months (the car had a parasitic draw and ate batteries) or in the prorated term.
I have used the Everstart H7 Maxx with terrible results. 3 batteries in 5 years. Don’t buy these batteries. They are crap. Walmart has a bad return policy. They don’t stand behind the warrantee. Each time I have to go back they give me some BS about Walmart policy. Now they saying they have to do a 2 hour test before they can determine if the battery is bad. I will never shop at Walmart again for anything. Costco is the best in my experience. I took a 3 year old battery back to Costco and not only got a new battery for no charge but they gave me $9 back because the price of the battery had gone down. No retailer will beat that.
Right on John, Thanks for stopping in with fantastic feedback. I think we've cracked the code. lol Since everyone down below says these batteries are more, or less the same coming out of the same factory. The only real difference is the retailer you buy it from, and how they administer their warranty program. See you at Costco. lol -Chuck
3 batteries going bad in 5yrs in the same vehicle shows there is either an issue with the vehicles charging & or Elec system or maybe you live in an area of extreme heat that kills all lead acid batteries quicker.
Just replaced the Costco battery I purchased in 2016. Right at 7 years old and it finally tested bad. Have another one in our Highlander that is also 7+ years old and still doing great.
I just had to return a battery to Walmart. It was 2 years 7 months old, so I was within the 3 year free replacement period. After the battery tested bad on Walmart's tester we went and got the new replacement. As I checked out they informed me that I would be charged the difference between the present battery price and what I paid 2 yrs and 7 mo ago. This came out to $30.00. I was not happy with this because the original battery says "Free 3 year Battery Replacement". So the warranty should read more like a full original price CREDIT towards a new battery and not a free replacement!
Right on Scott, Thanks for stopping in. You are 100% correct. The exact same thing hapened to me when I ended up returning the Costco battery in this video. I received a full cash refund of the original price of $95. A new Costco Battery was $100 so I decided to buy it, However they have shortend the warranty period from 42 months to 36 months. I made a video about it here; ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-P_qy8SNBJcA.html Given your recent experience at Walmart, the next time you need a battery will you continue to buy from Walmart. If not, where will you buy your next battery? -Chuck
@@PanzerPlatform Hi, I am not sure. I will need 2 new batteries for my diesel soon, so I am going to have to weigh my options. Walmart and Costco have the best price so I will research this further. Thanks for the insightful video.
I had a Walmart MCA go bad before the 3yr they didn’t even want to replace it at all.. tried to tell me it was to long.. then I showed them it says 3 yr free replacement on the batteries all everstart batteries are 3 yr I believe.. then they wanted the inflation cost of the new one.. tried to give me a refund and told me to buy the new one I said no ! I stuck it out for the free replacement at no charge.. lol
I only once replaced a battery that was under warranty once at Bj's and didn't even have receipt but the date on battery was right over the 3 years and they gave me free replacement battery only reason that one went bad was because it was several months old when i bought it was a weird size and nobody had any fresh ones.
Costco is great for warranty work. As for the quality of the batteries, I can tell you that three out of three Interstate batteries I bought recently failed in year (4). It seems that all car batteries are designed to fail within 5 years.
I had a positive experience with a Walmart battery and never owned the Interstate brand. While traveling out of state I filled up my Grand Marquis and it started kind of sluggish. I took it to the closest Walmart with an auto center. They tested the battery and said it was bad. It was under three years old, they replaced it for free with no paperwork. Thats why I buy Walmart batteries but don't shop at Walmart for anything else.
No joke. I live in the south. I've been around awhile. Heat destroys a battery. Every 2 years I replace my battery with the cheapest one that fits. I keep the old ones and add them to my solar power system I bought at harbor freight. Old batteries last forever.
Right on Peter, Thanks for stopping in. Another viewer left a similar comment. He said; "Summer heat damages a battery, and the winter cold kills it". Lol -Chuck
It’s really tempered climate of California. I never seen a battery last 4 years in South Florida heat unless it is in the trunk or garage kept. Batteries die quickly in the heat.
Great video. I went with the Interstate group 35. My son was able to get the MT35, with 550 CCA for 120 dollars out the door. Its has a 24 month warranty, but I feel its a step up from what I had before. Which was an O'Rileys Super Start group 35 battery. I paid 100 dollars for it 3 years ago with a 3 year warranty, and it died exactly 3 years, and 1 month after I bought it.
I got almost 11 years of service out of my Everstart battery in my Dakota, i replaced it with a NAPA battery and i had to return it about a month l8r, battery acid was leaking around the posts and top case corroding the sheet metal under the battery, got my money back and bought another Everstart, they are good batteries for the price. My jet boat has an Everstart starting battery since i bought it 10 years ago, i noticed this past fall it was cranking slower than normal, i might replace that battery with another Everstart, but i know that boat battery has to be older than 10 years old.
I went to walmart today because I thought my battery was an ever start maxx with the three year warranty. 3 years is coming up in two months so I thought I'd be getting a new battery. I told the woman at the auto center that I had the maxx and that it's under the three year warranty still. She said they could test it and pro rate the last few months of the warranty. I told her that I read on the walmart site it was a free replacement and she said no. It didn't smell right so I said I'm going to switch brands. I almost couldn't start my truck at the store but I got home and found out it was an ever start PLUS and that one came with a 2 year free replacement warranty. But the employee didn't know mine was a plus. She wasn't going to replace it if it was bad, just pro rate it for the last two months of the warranty. I had the same model plus for 4.5 years before this one and I never brought it back for the core so I still have it. The older one had 610 CCA and the newer dead one that lasted less than 3 years had 590 CCA. The price jumped big between both and now it's even higher. Some get lucky with walmart batteries, but some people get unlucky with them and have to deal with employees trying to screw them out of the warranty. Go to costco if possible. My interstate battery before the walmart ones lasted about five years.
I have never has a problem with Wally World when it comes to battery warranties. I use their batteries in all my vehicles coz I travel around the country and I can always find a Walmart when other joints are closed. BUT, Walmart has to deal with many more scammers and thieves. So, it's understandable that Costco customers are usually less likely to pull crap.
In Winnipeg , Manitoba, Canada I couldn’t find Interstate batteries at my Costco. If I did I would have bought them in a flash! Interstate has always been reliable for us cars and boats. But in Canada retail competition is sometimes limited so we are gouged.
The real test is by using a carbon pile tester. That way you test the whole 850 amps at one time. Would have been nice if you would have weight them to. The heavier the thicker the lead plates are. Or we hope soo. They don't make any battery like they used to. Most important thing is to check the date the battery was made. Some batteries sit on the rack for 6 months sometimes which nobody charges them and if you ask them they say we charge them every week. Sure they do with 6 months of dust on them. Walmark and Costco sell so many batteries they not left on the rack more than a few weeks of being made. Like motorcycle batteries you use to have to add the acid to the battery so it was just activated and no time to degrade. I have not bought a motorcycle battery in years so I don't know how they do it now. I have had batteries last over 12 years and some crap out at 6 months or sooner. Most places they will charge it up full then test it and they say it is good. Sure it does because it has the surface charge on it. Battery wholesale is one of those that pull this carp. You have to leave the battery so they can charge it up to full then check which takes 24 hours . Then they check it and they say its fine. Of course it is because it has a surface charge on it. They no your not gonna wait that long and buy a new one as you need it now. Even if you let them charge it and they test it sure it will test fine. The real test a battery should sit a week or 2 weeks and start your vehicle with no problems if it a good battery with no parasitic draw of 50-milliamp. Most of the time I see about 5 or 20 milliamps. Some new cars it may take 1 or 2 hours to shut stuff off to get that low. Bottom line if it can't start your car or truck and less than 50-milliamp draw the battery is junk even if it test fine. I have had a few of those in my lifetime a new battery always fixed the problems.
Yo Arthur, Thanks for stopping in. I looked at a carbon pile tester and it was in the range of $300-$500. So I settled on my $20 Hazard Frought. lol -Chuck
Right on JT, Thanks for stopping in, and the kind words. Next month the Walmart battery in the video turns 5 years old. I'm thinking about replacing it. Guess which one I'm going to choose as a replacement? And of course I'll make a video about it. lol -Chuck
I have had a couple of each brand. My own personal experience is I had better luck with the Ever Start’s. I had one in a Subaru over 10 years. They can last a long time if you never leave the lights on or drain them down.
These are both some of the last rebadged Johnson Controls batteries available. I have one of each, going on 6 yrs old, and they still treat me well. As of mid 2019, JC was bought out by clarios, which I also own two of each of the Clarios Everstart and Interstate batts, and they are junk compared to the JC variants. These Clarios turds always go dead every two weeks if I don't use or charge them. Don't expect them to last like they used to.
Make sure you put your receipt in plastic or save a pic of it to your phone ,Walmart wont honor the warranty without it at least not in Georgia ,I bought an Ever start Maxx 850 cca in Feb 2022 and it died in July 2024 not even 2 years old when I tried to get replacement they couldn't find the receipt of purchase from serial number and refused to do anything for me, I had the receipt but after a year the ink faded ,they gave me credit for core charge towards a new one but that was it .
I just bought a new car battery at Walmart in September, 2023, and now it is early January, 2024, and it is already DEAD!! And my car's alternator is working fine! But Walmart says that since the battery tests GOOD, they won't warranty it with a replacement. They should change the name on their batteries to NEVERstart!!
This is kind of the reason I like the Costco battery. Costco does not perform any kind of test on the battery for warranty, they just refund your money, or replace it. Would you be willing to try Costco next time? -Chuck
I needed to replace some auto batteries recently: I went with Walmart's EverStart Platinum AGMs and IMO, they're a really good battery at a very decent price. Maybe even better then (or as good as) some batteries costing more. -- BR
Right on Andrew, Thanks for watching. I have around 10 different local retailers that I can buy a battery from. And even more online. Costco's customer service, and warranty is completely unique. I'll be buying more car batteries from them in the future. -Chuck
Interstate used to be great batteries, along with DieHard. These days, it seems they are all the same. My Durastart Gold battery from Auto Zone is the same as a Walmart Everstart.
Today I returned a Interstate AGM Size 47 battery to Costco . It was for my 2020 Toyota Camry LE . I had bought it online and when it arrived today , it said on the top it was made in CHINA ! While getting my refund , I say the same battery on the shelf and it was made in Germany ! No doubr about the quality , but as Scotty Kilmer RU-vid has said . By the time a battery made outside the USA gets to the store for sale . It has likely been several months on a ship , etc. The battery has degraded to a great degree . And that you should not buy a battery , no older than 2 months . I will just wait until Walmart has my size battery . As it has been said there's are still made in USA !
Costco has changed their warranty. Now is only 3 years prorated, period. So no free 2 year replacement. I recently tried to exchange bad (1yr old) group 59 battery and they apparently cant keep these in stock (my costco has had on backorder for months now with no delivery date). Back to using Walmart.
I am an old-school guy and I used to buy my batteries at Sears for a diehard, and when I would take them back, I would get nothing in return practically and then I go and get my battery at Costco and return it and get a brand new battery without any BS no pro rating as sears did probably one of the reason why they went out of business
My car takes an H7-AGM battery. Looking around, I find a COSTCO battery at $169+ with a 3 year warranty, and a Wal*Mart battery at $179+ with a 4 year warranty. COSTCO's installation is DIY, Wal*Mart does it for free. What would YOU do?
Update: Went to Wal*Mart this morning. Asked for installation of an H7-AGM battery (in stock at $179+), and asked them to use the memory saver device so my car's memory settings would be preserved. They agreed. Verified the 4-year warranty. Took my cell phone # and called me about an hour later as I was wandering around the store. "Your car's ready". Terrific. I approached the service counter, the clerk rang it up for $60-some dollars. "What did you do for $60-some dollars?" "We did the oil change". Terrific. I just HAD an oil change done with full synthetic a week or so earlier. Guess what list Wal*Mart is NOW on. It begins with "s". I should have remembered that once I took my car to a Wal*Mart service center for an oil change. It was freezing outside, as in 15-20 F. They "helpfully" refilled my windshield washer reservoir with water, which promptly froze. Had so move my wife's car out of the garage overnight so mine could stay inside the warmer interior, and melt the frozen fluld. She wasn't happy
