Battery
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 10,398
Likes: 1,700
From: North Texas
Everyone seems to have a favorite. I replaced mine not long ago and went back with the flooded plate, top of the line AC Delco. Essentially what had been in it before. The dealership was price matching so I had them install it. My first one went almost 6 years before I started to see some signs that it was started downhill, so no complaints here. North Texas is hard on batteries.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 568
From: Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
Our 2 long term (30+ years) indie mechanic shops who service all of our vehicles once they're out of warranty, have always sworn by Delco batteries for any make or model. We've put them as replacements in both GM and non-GM vehicles, gas & Diesel ... and always found them to provide a solid 5-6 years of dependable service. And that's with 3-4 cold winter months here which are demanding on batteries.
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When I replaced the battery in my car, I went with an AC Delco one from the dealer - 42 month warranty. Been happy with it for nearly 3 years.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,732
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From: Shelton, Connecticut
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Two weeks ago I had the dealer in Hampton replace it with the AC Delco 42 month
battery. It was on sale from chevy. $202 installed.
They charged extra because it was a C7.
Happy with the oem parts and the dealer.
2016 Z51. Original battery mfg date Feb 23 2016.
battery. It was on sale from chevy. $202 installed.
They charged extra because it was a C7.
Happy with the oem parts and the dealer.
2016 Z51. Original battery mfg date Feb 23 2016.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 153
Likes: 53
I had the battery die in my Trailblazer in a Costco parking lot at 7:30 one night. Having placed a cheap tool kit that I received for free, I thought that no problem. Sadly, the freebie kit did not have an extention that would reach to the base hold down. I live two miles from the Costco and called the wife and got my tools and came back. I purchased an Interstate and installed. Less than one year later it failed. Costco is usually good about returns, but they were giving me a hassle even though I had the receipt. They were trying to tell me that I had to go through Interstate for warranty, I told them that was BS as I have been in the parts business for 40 years and every manufacturer gives a free exchange within the first year. I think he charged me $5.00 for some BS fee. I will never buy an Interstate again.
Years earlier, I had a customer that was a commercial battery distributor, I asked him who made the best batteries, and he said ACDelco. I believe this was when ACDelco actually made their own parts. They now source them from Johnson Controls.
Years earlier, I had a customer that was a commercial battery distributor, I asked him who made the best batteries, and he said ACDelco. I believe this was when ACDelco actually made their own parts. They now source them from Johnson Controls.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,600
Likes: 12,860
From: Virginia
I had the battery die in my Trailblazer in a Costco parking lot at 7:30 one night. Having placed a cheap tool kit that I received for free, I thought that no problem. Sadly, the freebie kit did not have an extention that would reach to the base hold down. I live two miles from the Costco and called the wife and got my tools and came back. I purchased an Interstate and installed. Less than one year later it failed. Costco is usually good about returns, but they were giving me a hassle even though I had the receipt. They were trying to tell me that I had to go through Interstate for warranty, I told them that was BS as I have been in the parts business for 40 years and every manufacturer gives a free exchange within the first year. I think he charged me $5.00 for some BS fee. I will never buy an Interstate again.
Years earlier, I had a customer that was a commercial battery distributor, I asked him who made the best batteries, and he said ACDelco. I believe this was when ACDelco actually made their own parts. They now source them from Johnson Controls.
Years earlier, I had a customer that was a commercial battery distributor, I asked him who made the best batteries, and he said ACDelco. I believe this was when ACDelco actually made their own parts. They now source them from Johnson Controls.
However a Delco battery is still a Delco battery as the battery manufacturers make batteries to the independent brand/seller's/retailers specification. So even though Johnson Controls may manufacture batteries for Delco, DieHard and AutoZone etc, they are not the same batteries.
I know this because I toured 3-4 of these battery manufacturers when I owned my chain of auto parts stores. I sold Exide, Delco and Deka batteries in my stores over the years which are ALL fine batteries, however have always used Delco even dating back to the old Tar-top for C2s (remember those) in my Corvettes.
Last edited by Kevin A Jones; May 21, 2022 at 12:14 PM.
Roadster Madness. 😠
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Ventura Co Ca
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There are only a half dozen or so battery manufacturers that make all brands. More well known are Exide, East Penn Manufacturing (which are Deka batteries, the largest battery manufacturing facility under one roof in the world) and as you say Johnson Controls (I believe they have been purchased and are now under a different name).
However a Delco battery is still a Delco battery as the battery manufacturers make batteries to the independent brand/seller's/retailers specification. So even though Johnson Controls may manufacture batteries for Delco, DieHard and AutoZone etc, they are not the same batteries.
I know this because I toured 3-4 of these battery manufacturers when I owned my chain of auto parts stores. I sold Exide, Delco and Deka batteries in my stores over the years which are ALL fine batteries, however have always used Delco even dating back to the old Tar-top for C2s (remember those) in my Corvettes.
However a Delco battery is still a Delco battery as the battery manufacturers make batteries to the independent brand/seller's/retailers specification. So even though Johnson Controls may manufacture batteries for Delco, DieHard and AutoZone etc, they are not the same batteries.
I know this because I toured 3-4 of these battery manufacturers when I owned my chain of auto parts stores. I sold Exide, Delco and Deka batteries in my stores over the years which are ALL fine batteries, however have always used Delco even dating back to the old Tar-top for C2s (remember those) in my Corvettes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,348
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 146
Likes: 117
Only a handful of battery mfgr's in the US, most white label for other companies.
I've had really good luck with Walmart's Everstart, I think made my Johnson Controls. With their three year no questions asked policy for replacement batteries, it works out well for all of my vehicles.
I've had really good luck with Walmart's Everstart, I think made my Johnson Controls. With their three year no questions asked policy for replacement batteries, it works out well for all of my vehicles.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 3,680
Likes: 1,040
OK.... Pass on this "inside information" you know about.... So all of us will know how batteries are not the same on the inside... News to me.