I bought an H7 AGM Interstate at Costco that failed at about 18 months. When I took it back and swapped it, I asked the question of whether or not the 36 months restarted. They confirmed the warranty is from the original date of purchase and does not restart.

That said, I’m unimpressed with the battery. If it fails again, I’ll put something else in.

 

Well, you paid for a battery to serve 36 months. When the first failed they gave you another to finish their obligation. Sounds fair to me, else you would have motivation to kill your battery every 24 months to get new batteries in perpetuity.

 

I’m on a nearly 6 year old factory battery and it’s time. Was going to just do Costco, but still not sure. That said, if it is half the price of dealer battery - Costco is 180, haven’t priced at dealer yet (my dealer is a little proud of their stuff), then I guess it the risk vs the reward it last longer than 3 years is worth it.

 

I changed my original stock battery on Friday with a Wal-Mart Everstart Platinum AGM H6. We will see how it goes. Would preferred the motorcraft, but that was 60.00 more.

 

My dealer's Quicklane says they'll give 1000 Fordpass points if allowed to test your battery.

And then says 36 month Motorcraft Max batteries start at $170.

 

$170, my local dealer wanted $240.

i had 5k points expire in the 28th. Not sure how much that converts in $$.

 

Not 100% sure if this is still true but there are only 3 or 4 companies that actually make auto batteries for sale in the US - and that doesn't mean they are made/rebuilt here by the way.

Of that all the other names are rebranding of the same. I forget today who did who's but it really doesn't matter much. rated CA and rated CCA and then reserve capacity ratings are important - check those. Then look at the warranty and the price.

I get batteries from Sam's - but also Autozone and also a tire store in town and I have gotten the AAA battery from their service. If you have AAA already - their battery replacement service is pretty good and a decent battery for the money FYI.

If you don't have AAA already - don't bother just for the battery that's too expensive.

Expensive name batteries with longer warranties aren't necessarily better. Outside of that good luck and I would say stick with an AGM of some time.

 

Seems like they're basically all the same cheap bull**** these days, outside of say odyssey. Ive sat through a few presentations for their class 8 truck batteries and that **** is impressive. I just can't justify the price vs buying something with a 3 year full replacement, living in FL they pretty much always die during the warranty so one battery gets you two really.

 

Those 3-4 manufacturers will sell anything to any brand depending on what the brand is willing to pay. You can not assume good experience with an Interstate battery means you will have similar service with a battery from another vendor manufactured by same company who made the Interstate.

When shopping you have little reliable to go on other than the warranty terms and the vendor’s reputation for honoring the warranty.

 

VERY good point.

I see a lot of people, in all manner of subject areas, incorrectly assume something like "brand A is manufactured by company 1 and company 1 is top shelf, therefore, brand B also manufactured by company 1 is top shelf". Nope. The same manufacturer, even the same plant, even the very same production line, can make very similar products of very different qualities at different price points.