Auto Zone Batteries
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 435
Likes: 124
From: Lancaster S.C.
Auto Zone Batteries
Has anyone else had problems with Auto Zone batteries?
Put a brand new one in the car and dash battery gauge says 11.7 volts before staring car.
Is this normal?
Driving the car the volt gauge reads 14.2- 14.5 volts.
Drive the car 13 miles.
Check battery 8 hours later and dash gauge reads 11.7 volts.
Put a brand new one in the car and dash battery gauge says 11.7 volts before staring car.
Is this normal?
Driving the car the volt gauge reads 14.2- 14.5 volts.
Drive the car 13 miles.
Check battery 8 hours later and dash gauge reads 11.7 volts.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 128
Likes: 22
From: Detroit Michigan
I've had 3 of the Duralast Gold batteries over the years from them with no issues. Killed one in my Miata accidentally by leaving the trunk ajar for a couple weeks, but they replaced it under warranty no questions asked. Current one is going on 5 years old and still good, car gets driven maybe once a week in the summer, and sits disconnected all winter, still starts every time.
11.7 seems low though. I'd expect more like 12.5 or higher especially if it's new.
11.7 seems low though. I'd expect more like 12.5 or higher especially if it's new.
Last edited by Yinzcity; Apr 29, 2021 at 10:19 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 189
Likes: 73
From: Christiansburg Va
Ive had several Autozone batteries and only had a problem with one of them, developed a bad cell and it was replaced under warrantee. Verify the voltage at the battery terminals with a volt meter. You could have a bad cable connection causing the low voltage reading.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,157
Likes: 1,731
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
11.5 to start is normal, 13.7ish while its running and warm, but 14-14.5 after I crank it up.
I almost exclusively use Duralast now, Ive had more issues with Advance's batteries.
Verify with a DVM what the in-car gauge reads, but if you're at 8 after a few miles, are you sure the alternator is working right?
I almost exclusively use Duralast now, Ive had more issues with Advance's batteries.
Verify with a DVM what the in-car gauge reads, but if you're at 8 after a few miles, are you sure the alternator is working right?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
^^^ if in fact you have a battery problem is something else causing it to act up?
Gave up on expensive batteries.....bought 2 walmart batteries 3 yrs ago and not a single issue. Both under 80, go figure.
Gave up on expensive batteries.....bought 2 walmart batteries 3 yrs ago and not a single issue. Both under 80, go figure.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 6,941
Likes: 1,490
From: New Jersey
11.7 is fine. The dash readout isn't exactly accurate. Put a volt meter on the battery and confirm the voltage difference between the two. On mine 11.8 on the dash is roughly 12.4 at the battery.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,354
Likes: 2,279
From: Central Maryland
A fully-charged wet cell lead acid battery will measure 12.6 volts DC directly across its terminals. Voltage will read higher briefly after a charging episode, but will return to 12.6V as this excess surface charge dissipates. A battery that has been sitting unused on a store shelf for an extended period of time will self-discharge very gradually. It is not uncommon for a newly-purchased battery to need a charge in order to restore it to a fully-charged state. A battery that is connected to the vehicle's electrical system will lose charge faster than one that sits unconnected, as modern vehicles draw a small amount of current out of the battery to preserve memory settings in computers, etc.
With the engine running, the alternator should charge the battery by applying somewhere in the general range of 13.5 to 14.5 VDC, depending upon ambient temperature. Running the engine for only a brief interval will not fully recharge a discharged battery. A slow charge from an external charger is best.
Live well,
SJW
With the engine running, the alternator should charge the battery by applying somewhere in the general range of 13.5 to 14.5 VDC, depending upon ambient temperature. Running the engine for only a brief interval will not fully recharge a discharged battery. A slow charge from an external charger is best.
Live well,
SJW
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,354
Likes: 2,279
From: Central Maryland
I'll add this:
What is commonly called a "12 volt" wet cell lead acid battery consists of six cells. Each will measure1.2 VDC <edited for correction> 2.1 VDC when fully charged. 1.2 V <edited for correction> 2.1 V x 6 = 12.6 V. Therefore, there will be 12.6 VDC present across the battery terminals with a full charge. Measuring the voltage anywhere else in the electrical system will introduce external resistance in the measurement, with the resultant voltage drop. So measure it directly at the battery posts. Remember that corrosion at the battery connections can also add resistance into the picture.
Live well,
SJW
What is commonly called a "12 volt" wet cell lead acid battery consists of six cells. Each will measure
Live well,
SJW
Last edited by SJW; May 1, 2021 at 09:22 AM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 336
Likes: 93
From: San Antonio TX
I'll add this:
What is commonly called a "12 volt" wet cell lead acid battery consists of six cells. Each will measure 1.2 VDC when fully charged. 1.2 V x 6 = 12.6 V. Therefore, there will be 12.6 VDC present across the battery terminals with a full charge. Measuring the voltage anywhere else in the electrical system will introduce external resistance in the measurement, with the resultant voltage drop. So measure it directly at the battery posts. Remember that corrosion at the battery connections can also add resistance into the picture.
Live well,
SJW
What is commonly called a "12 volt" wet cell lead acid battery consists of six cells. Each will measure 1.2 VDC when fully charged. 1.2 V x 6 = 12.6 V. Therefore, there will be 12.6 VDC present across the battery terminals with a full charge. Measuring the voltage anywhere else in the electrical system will introduce external resistance in the measurement, with the resultant voltage drop. So measure it directly at the battery posts. Remember that corrosion at the battery connections can also add resistance into the picture.
Live well,
SJW
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,354
Likes: 2,279
From: Central Maryland
Live well,
SJW
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 113
From: Michigan
Check the battery itself with a multi-meter. I got one autozone batt with a cheap truck a few years ago and it was fine till I put it in another truck and forgot to disconnect it when it sat for a few months, dead and gone. The replacement cheap autozone batt that I bought myself is fine even after siting on my bench all winter with a few short charges BUT compared to the cheap walmart batt that I also bought just before this autozone one, it drops a bit lower when I charged both the other day. Basically if your vehicles doesn't draw them down sitting and you maintain them they are fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,354
Likes: 2,279
From: Central Maryland
Consider a maintenance charger to keep the battery fully charged if the car will sit for more than a few days. The parasitic current draw from system electronics will slowly bleed charge from the battery. Parasitic current should be less than 50 mA, but that takes its toll over a period of time. It's the nature of modern cars with multiple computers, security systems, etc.
Live well,
SJW
Live well,
SJW
