My Delco battery let me down today

TexasCadillac · #1 (**permalink**) 03-11-08, 11:22 PM

I went to leave my daughters house and my starter went click click click and it would not turn the engine over. I jumped it off and it cranked right up. So I'm off to get a new battery tomorrow. My car came with a Delco 800 cold cranking amp battery, too small for a car with daytime driving lights and all the electrical accessories. I want to get a Optima battery but they are kind of pricey. Does anyone have any battery brand preferences? Are Delco batteries kind of low quality? What battery brands do most people use?

**Ranger** · #2 (**permalink**) 03-11-08, 11:28 PM

If that is the OEM battery, it is 10 years old. I think it did pretty well.

TexasCadillac · #3 (**permalink**) 03-11-08, 11:57 PM

I don't know if t is original or not. It has a 7 year warranty sticker on it but someone has removed a square part of the warranty sticker, I thought the dealer took it off as not to have to warranty iit. Yea if it is original it sure was good. I hope to get a optima battery the gel filled battery.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger

If that is the OEM battery, it is 10 years old. I think it did pretty well.

codewize · #4 (**permalink**) 03-12-08, 09:28 PM

The Optima is a great unit but you're right, they're pricey. Honestly I've never had luck with anything but AC Delco.

They're the only batteries I can get to last more than a couple of years. All my cars have AC Delco batteries in them and always will.

You may also be interested to know that bigger is not always better. If a battery is to large for the system and you're not putting enough drain on it OR if keeping the battery fully charged is a task for the system, both can have negative effects on the charging system. Use a battery with the same specs as OEM.

chubbyranger · #5 (**permalink**) 03-13-08, 07:01 AM

The amount of stock electronics and electrical accessories on the car has effectively zero impact on the required battery size, but does impact required alternator capacity. In Devilles with the heated windshield option the battery is the same but the alternator is bigger capacity. When I replaced the original 9-year old battery in my STS recently I found two choices, an AC Delco or Diehard. They are the only two that have the correct vent ports to mate up to the car's battery vent system. If your battery is under the back seat you must vent it properly or you will cause big $$$ damage over time.

96Fleetwood · #6 (**permalink**) 03-13-08, 09:13 AM

I have been buying the Duralast Gold from Autozone. 8 year warranty and hasn't let me down in sub zero temps.

TexasCadillac · #7 (**permalink**) 03-13-08, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codewize

The Optima is a great unit but you're right, they're pricey. Honestly I've never had luck with anything but AC Delco.

They're the only batteries I can get to last more than a couple of years. All my cars have AC Delco batteries in them and always will.

You may also be interested to know that bigger is not always better. If a battery is to large for the system and you're not putting enough drain on it OR if keeping the battery fully charged is a task for the system, both can have negative effects on the charging system. Use a battery with the same specs as OEM.

.......I believe you made my decision for the Delco battery. I am getting another Delco 78-7YR 770 CCA for $142.80 total price from the Cadillac dealer. $131.00 plus taxes and BS fees. My battery is not the original one, I gave the Cadillac parts man the number on my battery 3MG18 and he said it is a 2004 year battery under warranty but the warranty tag was removed so no warranty. They wanted 80.00 plus taxes for a Interstate battery. Walmarts N-everstarts were 85.00 plus taxes. And I don't want any parts from Autozone on my car and if you shop around you will find out Autozone is not that cheap on their prices. The Optima was 190.00. I think I made the right decision with the Delco.

96Fleetwood · #8 (**permalink**) 03-13-08, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasCadillac

And I don't want any parts from Autozone on my car and if you shop around you will find out Autozone is not that cheap on their prices.

Too bad, for $89.00 with the core you could have had a Duralast Gold. What is so bad about Autozone..

TexasCadillac · #9 (**permalink**) 03-13-08, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96Fleetwood

Too bad, for $89.00 with the core you could have had a Duralast Gold. What is so bad about Autozone..

........
I had Autozone brake pads that come unglued and fell off of the metal plate on a 1976 Corvette I had and the other brake pads I bought there last about half life, I got to change them out free and boy was that fun again and again. I had to buy a headlight for my 98 Deville and Autozone wanted 199.00 plus tax. I bought one at the Cadillac dealer for 165.00 tax included. I prefer car parts from the peole who made it. I used to buy oil at Autozone until I found it cheaper elsewhere.

codewize · #10 (**permalink**) 03-13-08, 04:14 PM

Yeah I have to agree. Every time I've gotten parts from AutoZone or the like they suck. Alternators, brakes, rotors, different pumps, never had any luck. Even Napa.

I'm a genuine AC Delco guy whenever I can be.

**Ranger** · #11 (**permalink**) 03-13-08, 04:34 PM

AZ's parts are cheap for a reason. That is how they can guarantee them for life (if you don't mind changing them 2 or 3 times).

96Fleetwood · #12 (**permalink**) 03-13-08, 09:48 PM

I have purchased many items from them, they are 1/2 a mile from my house. Brands such as Bilstein and MSD are found there and they give me good prices. I have never bought the cheap brand items, so I do not have experience with those parts.. but everything else I am pleased with.

TexasCadillac · #13 (**permalink**) 03-13-08, 11:34 PM

I got er done today, I got the Delco battery. Man it had 5- 9/16 bolts holding a brace over the battery and another bolt holding the battery down and the positive and negative cable bolts. A person could not steal it with the hood up unless they had a few tools. Delco is one brand you won't see at Auto Zone.

96Fleetwood · #14 (**permalink**) 03-13-08, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasCadillac

Delco is one brand you won't see at Auto Zone.

You are right, I get AC delco from Rock Auto or Advance Auto Parts.

LCLCLC · #15 (**permalink**) 03-15-08, 04:04 AM

One small point about the battery warranty on your old battery.

They BS'ed you about there not being any warranty. A battery warranty starts when you buy it - if you have a receipt to verify this. Otherwise, there is a manufactor date on the battery - when the thing was built. Which, of course, will be before the battery was sold. This date can always be used to warranty a battery. Your Delco dealer just did not what to give you what was due you.

I think you said it was a 2004 battery, with 7 year warranty. There should still have been 3 years, or so, remaining on the warranty. There should have been some warranty credit toward purchase of a new Delco battery.