Best Place to Buy a Car Battery: Save 42%!
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- čas přidán 24. 07. 2024
- Where is the best place to buy a car battery? Is an auto parts stores like Autozone or Advanced Auto Parts better than Walmart, Sams Club, or Costco? Where can you get your car battery installed for free? Are expensive car batteries worth the money? I answer all your car battery buying questions and help you save a bunch of money along the way!
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DISCLAIMER:
The information and opinions within this content are for information purposes only. Guidance is based on personal interpretations and in no way, represents legal or financial advice.
Walmart car battery finder to check prices and order online: bit.ly/3m0B0fP
Index:
0:00 - Intro
0:47 - Types of Car Batteries
1:31 - Core Charges
2:23 - Warranty Types
3:52 - Battery Prices
4:49 - Does It Matter Where You Buy?
5:37 - Installation
6:21 - Summary
Check out the Walmart car battery finder to check prices and order online: bit.ly/3m0B0fP
Walmart+ get free delivery but you still get charged the $12 dollar core charge, so make sure you take it back.
a good video but i would mention the biggest thing to look for in a car battery is the sticker with the manufacturing date the minute they put the acid in the battery it begins to slowly discharge sitting on the shelf and I have actually seen a big difference in how long battery lasts when a battery is a few months old when you buy it . If you can find one with the current month and year it will last longer then an older one
That's a great tip! Thanks, Greg.
*Lesson learned today:* If you are desirous of saving *dinero,* get your car battery from *Costco, Sam's Club or Walmart.*
Tip from an Old Salt. Jump start and drive your car to WallMart. Get a shopping cart and unhook your battery. Bring into the Auto section and match up your battery size. Put it in the cart, then go up to customer service desk. They will give you a core allowance and then charge you for the new battery . Go back and install it in your car. If you have never done this, go to you tube and learn. My last Walmart battery was installed in 2017. It's almost done and I would have had to replace it but the winter here in Delaware has been very warm.
I would not do that until you have checked and are sure your type battery is in stock and on the shelf. Sometimes its not.
@@nickv4073 Yes and I guess since I am like most people in WalMart once or twice a week I would check it out. I have one of the most popular size for my Subaru Forrester and if it is really cold out I would agree. Since I am over that 5 year expected expiration date and my wife actually lets me roam around the store I keep an eye out. I also have one of those battery backup jumper kit (BOLT) Also never trust those on line "in stock" list
@@Squarekn0t be sure to tie your shoes before you leave , young man -
Sq 2 I've never went to wallywood and not get the one I needed -,
My dealer wanted to sell me an Optima Yellow Top Battery, which was going for 400 dollars. I walked out, and went to Sam's Club and bought a 99 dollar group 51 Battery. That was 2 years ago still going strong.
Optima most over-hyped, over priced battery.
Average battery life is 2.2-3 years, if it lasts somewhere along 5 years it’ll be impressive. The optima battery is a scam tho
You didn't mention cold cranking amps (CCA). That can vary widely between batteries and can affect battery life. Just make sure you're comparing similar CCA or you may not be getting such a good deal. Also AGM batteries are substantially better than lead acid and will last a lot longer - worth the extra cost if you're keeping your car for a while. My last AGM battery lasted 17 years - yes you read that right! To be fair it was in my garage queen which stays connected to a battery tender but a lead acid battery would never last that long
I had a standard Interstate battery I bought in 2003 for an old Plymouth I use to have that lasted 12 years without the tender and was still going when I got rid of the car. New owner said he would replace it regardless. Car went to Australia.
Higher CCA have a larger number of plates which are thinner and less free space and electrolyte capacity. This results in quicker shorting from active material shedding, more plate bucking, more plate breakage and increased acid stratification. All else being equal the higher the CCA the shorter the battery life.
AGM batteries last longer than traditional construction. To optimize their life you need a charging system optimized for them as they prefer a slightly different charged state.
My recommendation is to match the standard OEM battery specs as close as possible in type and rating. It's usually optimized for a -20C to +40C and the charging system to it (modern computer controlled voltage regulator algorithms are pretty sophisticated). If you live in climate that's significantly colder you can bump the CCA a little, but I wouldn't get extreme unless going to a physically larger battery.
Something to consider if you travel, Walmarts are everywhere, not so with Costco, Sam’s,and some auto parts stores. Having a problem with a battery when away from home makes Walmart a good choice.
That's a good point!
Same advice for tire purchases!
Walmart batteries were the shortest life of all batteries I have bought
Some Home Depot stores are completive with Walmart. I had a battery from Walmart. At 29 months the battery failed. Walmart honored the warranty and charged me just 9 dollars for the core charge.
@@olwe1000 Why would they charge you a core charge if they honored the warranty and gave you a new battery? How did they honor the warranty if you did not give them the old battery?
Thank you for a no nonsense evaluation of the batteries themselves, and of the price discrepancy among all of them, and the companies that sell them all. Great video and important information that everyone needs to know. Thank you !!!
Thanks for the nice comment! I am glad the video was helpful. 😁
Home Depot also has a great price on car batteries, if you don't mind self installation. Plus they're located almost everywhere.
Excellent video. Comprehensive and to the point. Thanks!
You forgot to add about checking the "Date of Manufacture". That way you get the freshest battery and the most from the warranty.
Oh yeah, good point!
The warranty starts from the date of sale, not the date of manufacture.
@@chipdayton1625 no shit...but there are definitely old batteries in the rack. Get the freshest one. No?
@@mikejohnson9118 Sure, you want the freshest battery, but you said you get the most from the warranty by getting the newest one. You don't. BTW, batteries older than a year get sent back.
@@mikejohnson9118 I've literally tested hundreds of batteries from new to 12 months old. I have found one or two that weren't fully charged with voltage and CCAs.
Thank you for the information you provided it was very helpful. Again, thank you please do a video on alternators. Also, it does not really matter about if a store installs the battery it is very simple to do usually it takes only two nuts and maybe a holding bracket to loosen and replace. Keep in mind, if it fails during warranty, you will have to either tow it to the store or replace the battery your self, and then take it to the store to be exchanged.
Another suggestion is to check if in your city a battery conditioner exists. For example I have a 2006 Toyota Sequia Autozone quoted me $170 plus tax for their battery. The local battery conditioner charged me $35.00 for the reconditioned battery and no sales tax. Yes either one needs to be installed but the work is the same. I have several cars and have been able to save a lot of money buying there.
100% correct on everything you said. A couple of things, the parts stores won't install in some vehicles due to the location of the battery or difficulty in installing because of interference by brackets etc. Installing a battery is generally easy, but it's important to follow safety guidelines, knowing which cable to remove and install first, etc.
Yes that's a good point! I also had one that a parts store wouldn't install because my terminal clamps were all rusted and they couldn't get them off.
@@SmartFamilyMoney I've seen that before, and the customer was mad because we wouldn't do the repair of the clamps! There were several good repair shops we would refer them to.
One thing you didn't mention is the intended use of the battery which can affect its life and price.
I needed a new battery for my Ford Explorer. Checked to see the size battery case it used and looked for a replacement. I needed one quick, so I bought one from NAPA.
They had two batteries available, one more expensive than the other. The costlier one had a significant higher cranking power which explained the price.
But the expensive battery only had a one-year warranty whereas the cheaper one was like 3 years.
That is because the expensive battery with higher cranking power had more plates inside (closer together) and the plates were longer and were closer to the bottom of the case.
A battery like this can more easily have a cell go bad or short out since the natural sulfation that occurs inside can short some plates together and cause a weak battery.
The cheaper battery doesn't have to larger plates, so it is less likely to fail and therefore has a lomger warranty.
The expensive battery is fine if you have very cold winter conditions, and you need the extra cranking power to start your car under very cold conditions. But if your winters are not so severe, you can easily get by with the lower cranking cheaper battery with the longer warranty.
Thank you,that was very informative
Glad it was helpful!
Great information. New cars now a days are harder on batteries than the older one. Some much electronics running in the background and although most of that goes to sleep when not in use, a small amount of energy is being used. Especially for people who don't drive every day, issues can happen. I buy my the best deal with the best warranty. Check around! Thanks for this video. You are going to be saving some people a good chuck of money!
Thanks for providing this valuable and accurate information.
Thanks for the kind comment!
Excellent video! Thank you!
You are welcome!
Had the same idea when I bought a new battery for my daughters car. Autozone was around $160 and Walmart was around $75. Bought battery online for her and she swung by to get it installed.
Good advice. I would like to add something. All car batteries are coming from same factory. The price is different because depending where you buying from and what’s the CCA ( cold cranking amps) make sure you put right battery on your car,sometimes people to be less expensive they buy wrong group battery and less CCA. Yes if you buy from Walmart it will be less expensive from small parts stores because Walmart receives 4 pallets a week and small parts stores 1 pallet every 3 months.what you expecting who is buying chipper from factory? Just remember very important what size battery and CCA
You may wish to revisit this topic as since 2021, Johnson Controls who distributed the majority of the Batteries in the USA sold their Automotive Battery Business to a company named Calisco and since then, the quality of car batteries has gone down and the prices have jumped considerably. There is also a new factor to consider which is, Batteries at one time were manufactured in the USA and then for the most part it was moved to Mexico due in that country they have much more lax environmental laws and the Labor was considerably cheaper. Costco who's Batteries are distributed by Interstate are still made in Mexico but the quality (down) and price (up) have changed dramatically. WalMart's Batteries distributed by Calisco are have creeped up in price and they are now made in South Korea and lately they've had a lot of quality control problems where there is a percentage that are DOA so it's wise to see if the store will load check the Battery and check it's voltage prior to purchase. Nothing against South Korea but there is a noticeable difference in quality of the majority of items they export when compared to American or Japanese made products.
Wow those are some big changes. So what would you say is the best option now (quality for price)?
Actually the company is named Clarios.
We shop at Costco all the time except for batteries. There is another youtuber who claimed he was rip off at costco concerning a defective battery that was within the free replacement window and still had to pay the difference. Aside from that good info from the video.
Excellent video!
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
What a good video. thanks sweetheart !!!!
I bought a battery from Sam’s because Costco didn’t have it, but it did not last long, replaced with a dealer battery. Bought another battery for other car from Costco, it failed within 3 years, took it back to Costco and got a replacement for like $1.50 or $2.50, I forget.
Rural King stores are your best bet. They have a couple of universal 12 volt batteries that are $49.95 and $59.95. Just measure your battery box, note whether you need a top post or side post battery, and which side the positive and negative terminals are on. Easy.
Good tip! Thanks!
the size that fit my car costs more at Rural King than Walmart or Sam's!
@@bobbear4437 Hi Bob! The trick is try to use the $49.95 battery (Now $53.99 here) if it will fit into your battery box. I use one in a 98 Mustang and it fits fine, the "correct" battery would be around $100 but the cheaper battery fits and works fine.
Don't leave out checking at your dealerships! I did price checking and the last two times, the dealership was the cheapest in my case and had the longest battery warranty. Now even between dealerships of same makers were price different so call around! The Honda dealer at one was cheaper then the other! Worth that extra call.
The company is called Johnson Control. I have picked up several semi truck loads from the Tampa Fl. location. One day I asked what company battery was the best. Employee told me that Walmart had the highest quality control out of all the others. So that’s why I buy mine from Walmart.
Several years ago (and it still may be the case) the main manufacturer of ALL batteries in the U.S. was 'Exide'. If you pass a railroad crossing, there's usually a big silver box next to it. That's where they hide the batteries for the crossing arms that go up and down to block traffic (and run the blinking red lights).
just bought two batteries from Advance. They price matched Walmart's on-line price just by asking. Installed them myself, saved $150 on the two batteries.
not at our local advance store
i get mine from battery remanufacturing places, they sell new and refurbished/remanufactured.
i also buy walmart as second choice.
One of the best places to get a cheap battery is at a junk yard like LKQ. This would be mainly for people who know their battery is weak and have time to visit the junk yard. I have seen plenty of less than a year old batteries for sale for $35 - $50.
Thanks. Keep up your good work.!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aw, thank you! 😍 Thanks so much for watching!
@@SmartFamilyMoney you're welcome!
I'd recommend checking your local dealer prices as well. I got a 5/7 yr warranty battery for my Camry from the dealer and it was $20 cheaper than Auto Zone. I did the installation myself. Not rocket science. And check the Date of Manufacture sticker for the freshest.
Be sure to ask if the retailer will install the battery before you purchase it. Some batteries in these newer cars are a real pain to install, so they may install in one car but not another. They are located in weird places with all kinds of brackets and stuff in the way. I don't care where you buy your battery, I don't buy anything from wal mart for my cars personally. I have never seen anyone at wal mart who knows anything about a car, your experiences may be different.
A old timer told me years ago to put a couple layers of cardboard in the batterbox before Installing the battery ,made sense to me,I've been doing it for years,probably due to the metal used in the compartment,not sure if it still pertains today.
What batterys do you recommend for a vibrator? My grandmother keeps burning them up! Thank you 😊
This video was 2 years ago.
5:25 more like $250 Autozone battery now, lol.
Great video! Thank you!
Ha, yeah... prices for everything have changed A LOT.
As a Auto Tech Fanatic, Best Price for AGM Batteries is Costco and Sams. For Lead Acid Batteries is Walmart(Maxx).
Good info!
Thanks!
I recently bought a never start battery from Walmart and I failed within 90 days. I live over a hundred miles from the nearest Walmart so its not like I walk across the road and return it. Plus these is the cost of installing the battery which is not covered by Walmart. I replaced my Never Start from Walmart with an Interstate battery. The interstate battery has been installed for six months during cold winter temperatures and has not let me down.
Great video. Thanks. It's not exactly shocking that the car battery industry is a bit of a scam just like many other industries.
It really is crazy. Glad you enjoyed the video.
I was in the car service business for 25 years. Spot on analysis.
A good place to get quality batteries is farm implement stores.
My local one has batteries with a seven year warranty. The first three years are 100% and prorated after that.
I have had two of the seven year batteries last 8 years. One is in my garden tractor at 9 years.
Before they had the seven year battery, their five year batteries lasted 6-7.
The only thing that matters to me is customer service when I need to return the battery! The quality of car batteries and the warranties are complete crap now, so I am most interested in how easy it is to return the battery.
Well done review and it was so refreshing to see and hear an actual person! So many channels now are all AI generated with robot voices, I just click of as soon as I here the bot!
What do all the numbers mean? Ive got a 2004 Ford Taurus SES
The Auto Club (Triple A) now can sell you and install a battery when you call for a jump start. They test your battery first. It is a little expensive, $155.00 for my Corolla. But the battery failed in a hospital parking lot on a Saturday night when it was 4 years and 8 months old (on a 5 year warranty) and a AAA battery service truck came out and replaced it under warranty, no charge. You need to consider the convenience and service factor. (This was just last month, March 2023). I don't know if their current battery sales have the same 5 year warranty. And of course you need to be a AAA member.
That seems like a pretty reasonable price for such a convenient service!
You get what you pay for. Own a repair shop for 40 years the best battery for long haul thus cheaper for long haul were ac deacons ,motercraft, interstate and one time die hards. The discount retail battery’s average life was around two year while the top shelf was over 7 years. So what’s cheaper ?
Good video! My prius AGM battery just died and been having a hard time finding a cheap battery. I went to like a dozen stores. Costco, sams club and Walmart didn't have it.
I'm thinking of buying it on ebay and then having Walmart install it. But I'm afraid they won't install it for free since I bought it somewhere else!
Thank You Everybody for All that you are doing for our Planet Earth.. Peace Shalom Salam Namaste 🙏🏻😊🌈✌☮❤🕊
I'm a retired Automotive Engineer from a major OEM with 42 years of experience (BSME and MSME). This is an excellent video and you are to be commended for your research and key points! Johnson Controls and Exide were both bought out by new corporate entities but these firms still make most of the batteries using the same process, materials and quality control systems as before. And you're right if one doesn't have the stop/start feature, AGM technology isn't needed. I may have to replace my battery soon on my 5 year old vehicle. But for now it's fine and I'm going to stay with it until it starts to die. Then I'll go to Walmart to buy an Everstart battery. I will install it and be on my way with some extra $$ in my pocket. Lastly, for maintenance, it's important to keep the posts and battery clamps clean and tight for good connection. Also the top of the battery needs to stay clean to avoid discharge between the posts. Thanks for a great video and kind regards.
Thanks for the helpful comment!
And remember on newer vehicles, maintaining various computer memories is imperative when changing out batteries..
I just started watching the video so I don’t know if she gets to this later on. But there are separate battery stores. Interstate Batteries has their own chain of stores. Last time I needed a battery I went in and asked if they had a used or reconditioned battery. I got what would ordinarily be a $200 battery for $45. My thought was, all cars run on used parts……
Great job.
Thanks!
But is it true that a Walmart 5 year warranty battery only gets fully replaced for free within the first 3 years, then after that it's pro rated? They also dont have very good reviews on their site.
Tractor Supply also offers batteries for less than the auto parts stores. They don't install though. They stock Exide batteries.
Like to add one thing. My sons new Honda POS battery only later two years and both of new Honda SUV batteries only lasted two years. You would think after spending $25 to 30 grand on a new vehicle that you could get three years out of the battery. Each of the three were cared for by cleaning with Baking soda and given two coats of battery protection. First 25 degree day they failed.
Good start, but it's incomplete:
1) Assuming that you are going on price and price alone, the best battery to buy is the one that is cheapest per month in cost. To get that, you divide the total cost by the number of months of warranty coverage. The one that comes out the cheapest is the best...assuming it has the same specs.
2) As others have noted, you need to compare specs. The battery you buy should have the same BCI (Battery Council International) group size, voltage, CCA (Cold Cranking Amps), Cranking Amps (CA) and Reserve Capacity (RC) and be the same type or an upgrade to the one being replaced. So, if your vehicle has an AGM battery (which is stated on the old battery's label), then it should be replaced with another AGM. If you have a lead acid battery, an AGM would be an upgrade. Buying a cheaper battery that doesn't have the same specs is like comparing a steak sandwich at a fast food restaurant to a steak house.
3) Ease of warranty, which you touched on can be a factor. Also, not everyone belongs to Costco or knows someone that does. That is an option that isn't available to everyone.
4) You alluded to batteries being made by a few manufacturers and that is correct. The main supplier to most companies that most people know is Johnson Controls which is now renamed Clarios. They supply (as of this writing in May 2023) Interstate batteries for Costco, Champion batteries for Pep Boys, some Walmart batteries, among many other brands out there. Exide and East Penn are two other well-known manufacturers.
It was a good start, but it needed to go a bit further.
What about AAA? They will drive to you and install? How do there prices compare? Also, worth mentioning, car batteries degrade quickly over time just sitting on the shelf. You want a new, new car battery?
I've been using the ~$50 Value batteries from Wal*Mart. They offer a shorter warranty, only a year, but I've consistently seen similar life out of them compared to the $100 top of the line battery.
If I get 3 years from the $50 battery and 4 from the $100, I'm money ahead.
I think I got over 4 years from the last one I purchased. I pro-actively replaced it before this winter as it was testing just on the edge of good/marginal.
Of course, both of our cars are Asian brands. I drive an 11 year old Mazda and my wife a 6 year old Toyota. No AGM or battery encoding needed.
I install AGM batteries in both my wife and daughter Toyotas. I buy them from Costco. I have never gotten a call that the car won’t start.
I was informed that Tesla engineered the AGM. I think they know something about batteries and electric.
@@prosay the AGM battery existed long before Tesla was making cars.
It wasn't Nikola Tesla either as the AGM battery was invented in the 1980s for aviation use.
I had Triple A come out and change a battery in my drive way and it was $170. Though I did save the cost of a tow, it still seemed high.
When you consider they came to you, it's really not that bad a price. They are paying the tech to drive there, have the battery in stock AND change it on your driveway.
If you got that for $170, you got a decent deal. You paid for the convenience of having it done at your home.
Both types are lead-acid. They are either flooded or AGM.
It’s funny. These batteries from Autozone, Napa, Walmart, Costco. All made by 2 supplies.
I choose Costco due to their warranty and return policy! They don’t test car batteries or give you issues when you need a new one.
Agreed that Costco has the easiest return policy! Isn't it crazy how different the prices are for such similar batteries?
@@SmartFamilyMoney or the same battery 🤣
She is absolutely correct. Walmart has the best selection and close to the cheapest price. Can't beat the 2 year free replacement warranty.
Definitely a good deal! And I love that they'll install them too! (at the auto centers)
It is a 3 year not a 2! At least my battery from Walmart has a 3yr replacement warranty and i just bought it last week and they installed it.
From years of personal experiences, I have correctly determined that WalMart's (N)everstart are THE worst quality....Never had one last the full 3 years free replacement. 'FREE" or not, who wants to consistently jump start then replace a battery every couple of years between even more jump starts in between in the freezing cold weather ? Best experience ? Auto Zone's 'Duralast' for sure....
Get an electronic battery tester, use it in spring and fall to check the condition of battery. You will have an educated idea on how long it will last, and when to replace before it dies.
Good advice!
Excellent news. I've been wasting money. Thanks
The bad about AGM & Gel batteries is they cannot tolerate heat like here in Florida. They also maybe permanently damaged if they have lower than a 50% charge. A flooded battery can easily tolerate up to a 80% discharge.
BTW: Just because an equivalent size and capacity battery is made by Johnson Controls for example, does not mean those batteries are equal in capability and longevity. Check Farm Project to see how batteries actually compare.
BTW2: Yes, America has only three battery manufacturers, but there are many more around the world...Not just the three in the US.
I figured this all out last nite before I saw this video. I need a 24 F. 120.00 at Walmart but they r out of my way. 130.00 at Sams where I was going to go for meat anyway. And 209.00 at advance which I would pass on my way to Sams. So Sams is my choice of course.
That's a lot of money you saved! Good job!
I am going to give Walmart a try on my next battery purchase, you need to factor in the cost of membership at Costco and Sams, I am not a member. I have been a lawn maintenance contractor for 35 plus years and have found the auto zone lawn mower batteries to be superior and the cost to be about equal to other brands and all the mower batteries to have very short warranty periods.
EverStart Plus that was in my Mustang was 6 years old. It was still working when I took it out, it just had me worried it was going to die soon and it's usually at the most inconvenient time when they do decide to die.. Bought Duracell battery at Sam's to replace it. You can't go wrong with the EverStart Plus.
some batteries simple to install, but my 2018 silverado is a struggle
You say there are 3 manufactures but each one may make 3-4 different versions. A summer type for hot areas a cold one for winter, a cheap version with only 1 year warranty and gold type with the 5 year warranty. Also there are multiple factory locations some in foreign countries. So watch out what apple you compare to what orange. Auto shops will also test your items so that battery you are thinking to replace may be an alternator problem. Now who will reset your computer/ alternator battery recharge settings? This is new to get a longer battery life by changing the charge profile.
I found out the dealership isnt so great on batteries either, battery in my car was 3 years and 2 months old , and was warrantied for 42 month , turns out battery was found to be weak , dealership put new one in , but never gave me a new warranty, what a rip off
Costco and Sams do not carry many sizes for even the most popular models. The last three times I tried to buy a battery at Costco or Sams they did not carry my size. The cars were Chevy Equinox, Acura TL and Buick Verano. I believe the battery size was the same for all three H6(48). They would have had a much better price if they carried it.
Oh wow that's surprising! Where did you end up buying one?
@@SmartFamilyMoney Bought Diehard at Advanced Auto Parts. Diehard cost over $200 now.
Walmart is my favorite battery, I have heard Costco is good. Walmart has decent prices and are long lasting, I install my own, so the job is done correctly.
Returning a core might require that you contact the manager of the auto department to get your core charge returned.
I’ve owned about 45 cars and have bought a number of wal mart batteries over the years and have had more trouble with wal mart batteries than all the other brands I have bought combined.
not me, my go to is walmart, best warranty for the money, and you save over the other stores
Thought I knew about cars and accessories. Was I wrong. Thanks
About warrantees: just because there is a warranty does not mean it will be honored. You also may end up having to go through a lot of hassle to get the warranty honored. I have heard quite a few people having a tough time with WalMart when it came to car batteries. Costco's no questions asked return policy is just that: you return it, they don't ask why. As for Costco not installing batteries, just buy it and take it to a mechanic you trust next time you service your car if you don't want to or don't know how to install it.
Yes, you're right that the Costco warranty is definitely the easiest to deal with!
problem with taking it to your mechanic, is he's gonna charge you
Costco did test the battery
@@checkyoursix5623 oh that's interesting! I didn't know the home improvement stores have them.
The auto-parts stores don't "install it for tree"....they GOUGE you to the tune of 40%.
But if you take your old junk battery to Advance Auto Trinkets....they'll give you a battery-core "store credit"
You can use it to buy some air fresheners or steering wheel covers (they don't stock the parts you need)
If you really, really want a good deal, go to a salvage yard. They pull good batteries out of wrecked cars, test them, and give you a full 30 day return. You know it has been used, but just learning to read the date code on top, will give you a clue on how long it will last. For $5, most will install it. For $30, I have gotten replacements for 35 years, and never got a bad one. Almost every other battery purchased at Sears and Montgomery Ward, needed replaced within 6 months.
All auto parts and fluids are usually less expensive at Walmart. This includes oil, tires, wipers, etc
Great point!
There are actually 3 types of Batteries; Lead acid, AGM and Lithium. Also AGM batteries tend to last longer than lead acid.
Great explanation. Battery is near dead and am going out this afternoon to buy a new one for my 2012 Jeep Compass. Going to stop at AutoZone first since only 1 mile away to see if they have any on sale. You didn't say whether those type of auto parts store run sales. If not, I will run down the highway another mile to the Walmart store.
I haven't seen any sales at AutoZone. Advance Auto parts does have some online coupons that can reduce the price. Walmart is always better though since their prices are so absurdly high.
@@SmartFamilyMoney Thanks. Went to Walnart store nearby and it wasn't a Superstore, so had no automotive department. Drove to one 12 miles away to find out they did not have my battery in stock and I would have to order online, have it sent to the store and return later to have it installed. Price was good, but wasn't satisfied with waiting plus drive time. (I needed a new battery) and returning later. Coincidenty, AutoZone store across the street. Negotiated with sales person who said he couldn't do price match with battery from Walmart, but offered me a discount and could install (free) right away, no wait. Ended up paying $15.00 more than at Walmart, but was worth the extra $15. Firestone store, also accross the street, price was ridiculous. Also, watch at AutoZone. Had a different battery for $20 more, but 1 more year warranty. Took the cheaper one. Sales person confided with me while installing mine that other battery was exact same battery, only paying an extra $20 fir additional year warranty.
@@robward155 wow that sounds like quite an ordeal. Yeah, I would have paid an extra $15 in that case too. I'm glad you got it all worked out!
@@SmartFamilyMoney your video got me off the couch to take care of this bad battery scenerio. Have a great day.
Most Junk Yards / U Pull It. They sell Refurbished Batteries for around 50 Bucks 1 year warranty. That's the only place to go unless you like to be took to the cleaners, AZ ,O'reilly Advanced.
Just like everything its about brands and pricing. I bought one at costco for 79 and sam thing at same club 104. One installs the other doesn't while big o tires wanted to charge 189 smh unreal
It's crazy, isn't it? And those batteries are probably made by the same manufacturer.
I buy my AGM battery from Costco and install it myself (
Costco does not install). During my youth, I work at a gas station.
I own a Lexus, Benz and RAV4 (v6).
Charlie Berens approves this channel! Oh ya fer shure.
LOL proud Midwesterner here!
Best place i found to buy automotive batteries is Rural King Great Prices
Rural King, if you have one in your area, are cheap and last FOREVER!!
Thanks for the tip! I hadn't thought to look there!
Awesome tips, thank you. I'm on my way to Walmart 👍🏼👍🏼👌🏽
Good luck!!
@@SmartFamilyMoney thank you!
I bought tires from Wal-Mart years ago. I rotated the tires one time and noticed radial steer. Just shows how bad there tires are.
I had my battery changed at Auto Zone. Prior to disconnecting my bad battery, they hooked up an auxiliary battery device and removed my old battery then installed the new one. They told me they did this to preserve various electronic settings in my truck, probably like clock and radio, but possibly other settings on a fairly new truck. Anyone know about this?
Yes it is called a back up memory battery. Small but able to provide 12 V to save settings clock radio CPU seats etc..
@@danc2014 So if you change a battery without the back up there isn't any chance of losing any programing on the operational actions of the onboard computer.
@@donaldwalstead1709 The Engine Control Module (ECM) has adaptive values it learns as the car is operated. If you just pull the battery, those values MAY be lost. Not really a big deal as the ECM will re-learn them. The ECM needs to learn because while mass produced, there is always variation from the factory, not to mention things change as you drive your vehicle. Things wear, get dirty, leak, etc. An over-simplification, but hopefully, you get the idea.
Things like fuel trim values, shifting strategies for the automatic transmission.
If you just disconnect the battery, the car may not idle as smoothly at prior to the replacement. The emissions monitors will need to run again, so don't go for an emissions test immediately after replacing the battery as the car will not be "ready" for testing. (It has to complete the monitors to be deemed in compliance. Testing things like catalytic converter efficiency and evaporative emissions usually takes a few trips to complete those monitors.)
Other things like radio pre-sets, window auto-close functions may be disrupted if the battery is replaced.
Most are just annoyances, as they can be re-learned.
But if you have the means to keep power with one of those battery devices, it avoids losing any learned data.
I just use a jump pack I have to keep power on my cars while I swap the battery.
Rural king....good prices....but who makes the rural king batteries...?
Buy from Costco or Sam’s. No hassle returns if it goes bad.
AAA is reasonable and they come to your location.
Some car batteries are impossible to remove due to their location in the engine compartment. If the car battery is close to the front a car owner can change themselves without difficulty. I got my battery at Costco and returned my original battery to Costco for a $15 refund. Costco and Sams Club prices are similar.
There ARE several car designs where you have to practically disassemble the entire front end to get at the battery. Lift up the hood and do a visual check as to where YOUR main (and auxiliary, if it has a 'stop-start' feature) battery is located. The purpose of the 'auxiliary' battery is to keep your radio, wipers, headlights, etc. working when you're stopped in traffic and the engine 'stops'.
@@checkyoursix5623 yeah my jeep has the battery under passengers side front seat....other vehicles have em in the trunk as well
I believe what they do with core batteries is they clean the cell's put more acid recharge it and place a new label and whala!!! they got a another battery to sell
Wally World, are you kidding? I can't even get an "associate" to help as they now lock up all the car batteries.
The "stop / start" feature on many modern cars is nothing new. Back in the mid-1970's my first car ALWAYS died at stoplights, required me to restart it when the light turned green.
Yuo Tube channel Project Farm tested different types of batteries 3 years ago. The battery that came out on top was Ever Start sold at Walmart. It beat out Napa, Interstate, Diehard, Autozone and O'Reilly batteries.
Interesting! We've had zero problems with the Walmart batteries we've bought. Last one we bought is around 4 years old and still going strong.
How about AAA? They come to you as part of the membership and will install the battery.
I have heard their prices on batteries are decent. Probably not as cheap as Walmart but not bad.