And these people are still in business because...?
AC Delco Batteries....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 12
From: New York
AC Delco Batteries....
Here's another story to go along with the ones most everyone has heard about these batteries. I have always known that anything past 36 months, and your living on borrowed time..
My 2004 Chevy Colorado which has been in service for exactly 30 months to the day, wouldn't start yesterday. Went to get something to eat with the kids, 45 minutes later, doors unlock with the remote, and everything else was dead. Then nothing would work, not even the dome light. Had someone bring my meter to me, and the battery was reading 4 volts. Had to go back home, get tools, as this battery is in a ventilated box, and then down to Advance Auto. Put a new battery in, and it started right up.
Moral to this story, if it is a daily driver you depend on, DON'T depend on AC Delco batteries
My 2004 Chevy Colorado which has been in service for exactly 30 months to the day, wouldn't start yesterday. Went to get something to eat with the kids, 45 minutes later, doors unlock with the remote, and everything else was dead. Then nothing would work, not even the dome light. Had someone bring my meter to me, and the battery was reading 4 volts. Had to go back home, get tools, as this battery is in a ventilated box, and then down to Advance Auto. Put a new battery in, and it started right up.
Moral to this story, if it is a daily driver you depend on, DON'T depend on AC Delco batteries
Last edited by LS6 Motor; Sep 14, 2006 at 08:12 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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Hear, hear. A woman I work with had three go bad on her in as many months (under warranty) in her 2005 Malibu.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,037
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From: Sarasota FL
At least yours only died. Mine leaked acid all over - through the side post of a 'sealed' battery. It rusted the frame (through POR15 which is supposed to resist battery acid), and destroyed some wires. Thanks ACDelco.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
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From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
3 1/2 yrs ago I bought a 6 yr Delco battery ($90)for my DD, an 87 vette. It died, 10 volts. I went to Wallfart and bought a batt for $48 that gets full replacement in 3 yrs. I called a batt place and asked what the pro rata value was on my Delco.........I gave it to AutoZone to recycle. The side terminal leak problem is so bad that Corvette started using top terminal batteries.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,196
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From: Orlando FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
AC Delco... the AC stands for Absolute Crap.
Friend's 3ish year old Avalanch's AC Delco just died right at 3 years. I had to rescue them with a replacement Interstate.
I have an Optima redtop in the vette. That is the baddest battery ever. Its never failed me. It sat for a full year, drained completely, charged over night and has not had a problem since then. I let it sit for long periods of time (month at a time without even so much as opening the car doors) and yet it cranks right up a month later
what's even cooler is I've had this battery for about 3 years now and it originally came out of my buddy's offroad truck, which he had for 2 years prior to that. he killed it a few times, recharged it, and it never let him down.
Optimas just never die and are worth every single penny!!!
Friend's 3ish year old Avalanch's AC Delco just died right at 3 years. I had to rescue them with a replacement Interstate.
I have an Optima redtop in the vette. That is the baddest battery ever. Its never failed me. It sat for a full year, drained completely, charged over night and has not had a problem since then. I let it sit for long periods of time (month at a time without even so much as opening the car doors) and yet it cranks right up a month later
what's even cooler is I've had this battery for about 3 years now and it originally came out of my buddy's offroad truck, which he had for 2 years prior to that. he killed it a few times, recharged it, and it never let him down.
Optimas just never die and are worth every single penny!!!
Last edited by GIJoe; Sep 14, 2006 at 09:24 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 8,183
Likes: 3
From: Santa Maria, CA
heh, when it rains, it pours. Here's mine:
2001 silverado, AC Delco batt, side posts, no start condition last Saturday.
The WHOLE positive terminal fell out of the battery itself.
Completely separated and departed from the battery
2001 silverado, AC Delco batt, side posts, no start condition last Saturday.
The WHOLE positive terminal fell out of the battery itself.
Completely separated and departed from the battery
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
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From: San Diego, Ca
Bumper to bumper warranty was gone??? Did lose mine on my '97 S10 within the 36 months/36K. Other than the fact that the Dealer wanted me to "leave it" and then gave me some speil that it needed to show a "bad battery code", they finally replaced it for free while I waited.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,110
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From: Red Sox Nation! RI
The Everstart Duramaxx battery that Walmart sells got some top ratings in a few sizes, as well as a best buy in Consumer reports a few months ago. AC Delco also scored in the top five in a couple category/sizes.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 83
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From: Ashburn VA
That's really interesting, I had the complete opposite experience. I had to finally replace the original AC Delco battery in my 1991 Firebird in 1998... Replaced it with a Die Hard Gold. I guess Delco's quality has gone down recently.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Ashburn VA
Originally Posted by onedef92
What's the Sears Die Hard Battery like these days? Lacking or hittin?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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The battery my C4 came with was a Wally-World special with a two-year warranty. I replaced it last week after nearly six years of service.
I bought an AutoZone Duralast battery with a six-year warranty. We'll see how it pans out...
AC/Delco used to be a good battery back in the day, but they are *ahem* shockingly lacking now.....
I bought an AutoZone Duralast battery with a six-year warranty. We'll see how it pans out...
AC/Delco used to be a good battery back in the day, but they are *ahem* shockingly lacking now.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,110
Likes: 6
From: Red Sox Nation! RI
I just pulled the Oct '07 issue of CR. In the Group 75 series, this is how they scored:
1. Nascar - Select 75-84N. score: 74 (excellent reserve capacity)
2. AC Delco - Professional 75-7Yr. score: 72. (only Good in reserve cap.)
3. Everstart - Maxx 75N (Wally World). score=71. (excellent reserve capacity). *Designated a CR Best Buy*
4. Napa - 84 Select 8475. (which I believe is Exide). score: 66. (very good reserve capacity)
- "Life Test" on above 4 all ranked as Very Good
5. Nascar - XLT N75-S. score=65. (excellent reserve capacity). *Designated a CR Best Buy*. Only got a "Good" on Life Test.
Duralast from Autozone came in 8th with a score of 54. It scored 2 "Best Buys" in other size categories. Everstart scored a total of 3 "Best Buys" in different sizes.
Diehard Weather Handler & Gold models ranked 9, 11, 12, 16 in a group 75 series.
It's a shame that everyone slaps their name on batteries now days making it difficult to buy one under a manufacturer's brand name. Not to mention, they've all changed their pro-rating & replacement policies.
1. Nascar - Select 75-84N. score: 74 (excellent reserve capacity)
2. AC Delco - Professional 75-7Yr. score: 72. (only Good in reserve cap.)
3. Everstart - Maxx 75N (Wally World). score=71. (excellent reserve capacity). *Designated a CR Best Buy*
4. Napa - 84 Select 8475. (which I believe is Exide). score: 66. (very good reserve capacity)
- "Life Test" on above 4 all ranked as Very Good
5. Nascar - XLT N75-S. score=65. (excellent reserve capacity). *Designated a CR Best Buy*. Only got a "Good" on Life Test.
Duralast from Autozone came in 8th with a score of 54. It scored 2 "Best Buys" in other size categories. Everstart scored a total of 3 "Best Buys" in different sizes.
Diehard Weather Handler & Gold models ranked 9, 11, 12, 16 in a group 75 series.
It's a shame that everyone slaps their name on batteries now days making it difficult to buy one under a manufacturer's brand name. Not to mention, they've all changed their pro-rating & replacement policies.
Last edited by C4boy; Sep 15, 2006 at 03:48 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 2
From: Obama=death for America
Years ago, AC Delco made a good battery. They didn't leak and lasted for years. In 1990, I drove an 85 Impala and at that time, lived in the AZ desert with all of its incredibly high temperatures. Even with the hot sun pounding on the battery day after day, it lasted for four years. In AZ, that's a long time for a battery. Nowadays, one of these batteries would never last that long. I'm afraid to say that I agree with everyone here and think that the AC Delco battery is a piece of crap.