Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
My car battery was bought in 6/05. Its over 5 yrs old & needs replaced. I had a load test done today & the alternator & starter are good but the battery is not.
A new battery will cost me about $80.00 (1 yr free replacement) & a reconditioned battery will be about 1/2 of that.
Are reconditioned auto batterys any good & worth the $40.00 ?
I would go with a battery with a warranty. Most even come with service that will pay for a jump if needed.
I buy mine at Costco. If I need to replace it during the warranty period I can always find a Costco. It seems like they have a 2 year replacement period. Most batteries are designed to fail toward the end of the prorated warranty period. Basically a $5 to $10 coupon.
I would go with a battery with a warranty. Most even come with service that will pay for a jump if needed.
I buy mine at Costco. If I need to replace it during the warranty period I can always find a Costco. It seems like they have a 2 year replacement period. Most batteries are designed to fail toward the end of the prorated warranty period. Basically a $5 to $10 coupon.
My battery is worth $4.00 credit at auto zone parts store. That includes the core. Without the return of the bad battery a charge of $7.00 will be applied.
A new battery is about $80.00 + high ca ripoff tax (8.75%/7.00 ).
So it would cost me $83.00.
In my climate (upper midwest), the answer would be absolutely not.
In more temperate California, I might consider it if I was not planning on owning the car much longer. But if I planned on owning the car for any length of time, I would definitely just buy new, because I enjoy reliable transportation, not being stranded because I cheaped out.
What the heck is a "Reconditioned" car battery anyway? A battery that a salvage yard put on a charger for awhile, and tested "good" on their little analyzer? In Minnesota, we call that a "junkyard" battery, and their use is pretty much limited to when you're about to sell a car, and just need something to make it start for as long as the car is for sale before it becomes someone else's problem. (Other reasons might be inexperience, or desperation, ie, no money 'til pay day.) Junk is about what they're worth, IMO.
I was just looking at battery pricing today and it seems there is little rhyme or reason to it. Some specific model batteries for specific cars are more expensive even though their capacit is similar and they have the same terminal connections. I think that if you measure the battery's dimensions and terminal location you may find a $49 battery instead of an $80 (or in my case a $110) battery.
My battery is worth $4.00 credit at auto zone parts store. That includes the core.,,,,.
The core charge is just like a soda pop deposit. Anywhere you buy a battery will take your old one as a core.
Years ago Interstate batteries were the highest rated batteries. No idea how they rate now.
When buying auto batteries the warranty will be dated from the date on the battery unless you keep the receipt availble. I usually sort thru the batteries and get one more recently made, they are in the back like buying milk.
Almost 3 yrs ago i bought ($50.00) a junk 95 dodge neon from a not so bright neighbor & sold the car 2 days later to the salvage yard for $300.00. The car had been sitting for some time (rust on the rotors & dead battery). I jump started the car to get to my home & kept the small old battery (675 amps cold). It sat on a piece of wood in my carport for a few yrs.
I installed it in my big 85 olds delta 88 (9/09) & it lasted until mid nov 2010 (over 13 months).
I was surprised it lasted so long.
My neighbor did some salvage yard checking & realized he messed up. He had the nerve to ask to split the $300.00 - the 50.00 i paid him.
I told him no. He originally was going to give me the car for free until i stupidly told him he can get $50.00 from the salvage yard. I orig didnt want to bother with the car until my ex relative told me i could get a few hundred from the wrecking yard.
I also kept the toshiba stereo cassette/6 cd changer. The wrecking yards make a nice chunk of change from a car so screw them. I strip a car (nothing big) as much as i can before i sell to the wrecking yard. I have done it 3xs.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
