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Walmart battery, last one I had in my C3 was sold as a 2 year battery, fairly inexpensive. Only lasted 13 years. You be the judge.
Replaced with a AC Delco, no top posts, can't imagine why I would need them in a GM car. It's a bit over 7 years old at the moment. Car fires right up. No signs of giving up soon. But if it does I'm thinking I have already done fine at 7 years.
Can't get a Walmart battery anymore as I moved country's 16 years ago. No Walmart in the land of Oz.
Were you using the top studs for anything? The batteries I use now only have the side posts. I carry an 8mm ratcheting wrench in each car, and use a quick(er) disconnect for day to day.
People abuse batteries on these old cars all the time.
For example. Laying under the dash working on wiring, or carpet etc, door is open, dome light on, no trickle charger.
Another day, compression test, over & over, no charger. Again, left the door open / dome light on.
Another day perhaps check all the taillights headlights for several minutes.
Then, they drive around the block to test the work they just performed. They think they just charged the battery. Wrong.
So when someone says a certain brand is crap because THEY discharged it. Who or what is at fault here?
A battery, regardless of brand, is only going to perform as well as the owner took care of it.
Good grief.
Put a trickle charger on it if left unattended for a several weeks.
Costco sells the Interstate Batteries for half of what others sell them for. I was shocked at the awesome prices onInterstate batteries at Costco. Interstate batteries have always done well for me and Costco sells them for a great price.
The most recently purchased battery had both top and side posts on it.
I concur.
Costco or Walmart.
Check and see where you get the better price.
I usually default to Walmart (my battery is like 13 years old) but recently when I needed a battery for another vehicle one of my friends suggested checking costco also. That day Costco had the better deal.
Been using top posts for trickle charger. Not required but convenient.
You can plug a trickle charger into the cigarette lighter, or to the alternator output under the hood. No need to suddenly have a battery handle if you drop a wrench on the battery.
a battery in my 72 only last at most four years , i keep a tender on it all the time!
I'm a professional motorcycle mechanic Bill, I see this all the time. I almost never put a tender on my Corvette battery, and only if it's undergoing a major project that will keep it off the road for several months. And then maybe a couple months in I'll put a tender on it for about 24 hours. My Harley I absolutely never put a trickle or tender on. Never.
My customers that claim, my battery didn't last and I keep it on a trickle charger (tender) all the time. The guys that actually use the vehicle, and really never put a tender on, well, rarely have battery troubles.
My last C3 battery, a cheapie from Walmart, only 13 years. Died when doing my engine rebuilding project 7 or so years ago. AC Delco in there now, all I could get over here. Over 7 years. Still going, I just don't believe in over charging them.
I'm a professional motorcycle mechanic Bill, I see this all the time. I almost never put a tender on my Corvette battery, and only if it's undergoing a major project that will keep it off the road for several months. And then maybe a couple months in I'll put a tender on it for about 24 hours. My Harley I absolutely never put a trickle or tender on. Never.
My customers that claim, my battery didn't last and I keep it on a trickle charger (tender) all the time. The guys that actually use the vehicle, and really never put a tender on, well, rarely have battery troubles.
My last C3 battery, a cheapie from Walmart, only 13 years. Died when doing my engine rebuilding project 7 or so years ago. AC Delco in there now, all I could get over here. Over 7 years. Still going, I just don't believe in over charging them.
I use a disconnect, never a tender. If I need to charge a battery, I do it OUT of the car, on a battery charger, not a tender.
A few autumns ago, I disconnected the battery, let the car sit for 6 months, reconnected, pumped the gas twice, and she fired right up. No charging needed.
If you insist on a tender, make sure it is a modern, smart tender. An old one that puts out current 24-7 will kill your battery in 4 years or less.
I'm a professional motorcycle mechanic Bill, I see this all the time. I almost never put a tender on my Corvette battery, and only if it's undergoing a major project that will keep it off the road for several months. And then maybe a couple months in I'll put a tender on it for about 24 hours. My Harley I absolutely never put a trickle or tender on. Never.
My customers that claim, my battery didn't last and I keep it on a trickle charger (tender) all the time. The guys that actually use the vehicle, and really never put a tender on, well, rarely have battery troubles.
My last C3 battery, a cheapie from Walmart, only 13 years. Died when doing my engine rebuilding project 7 or so years ago. AC Delco in there now, all I could get over here. Over 7 years. Still going, I just don't believe in over charging them.
well said 4vettes . Most owners treat these cars like a new born infant. I have used a battery disconnect for over 30yrs , and when I have to work on it for an extended period of time three or four months. I just put a charger on it and the way I go . Have my battery almost 10 yrs now
You can plug a trickle charger into the cigarette lighter, or to the alternator output under the hood. No need to suddenly have a battery handle if you drop a wrench on the battery.
I meant to say tender. Plug into cigarette lighter? It has to go on battery (posts or no)
New Battery
