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Had my battery replaced yesterday


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So, my Crossroad is about four and a half years old and, reading about electrical issues that seem to be triggered by dying batteries and given the extreme cold we suffer through each winter here I decided to be somewhat pro-active about the matter and have my battery replaced before anything really expensive happened.

I did a bit of digging.

The DJ uses a group 86 battery and the dealer wanted a lot of money to replace it - lots for the part they sell and a significant amount to install it.  (Yes, I could have installed it myself, but . . .)

In doing a bit of research I discovered that not everyone sells the battery for the DJ (Costco, for example doesn't have it nor do a few of the auto specialists I checked)  . . . . but, not only does Sam's Club stock the part, they install it for free - AND, until June 2, there is a $20 discount for the battery.

So, yesterday I paid US$103 and some change, tax included for a Duracell automotive battery rated at a full 690CCA that has a 3 year replacement warranty installed in my car.

At that price, and with the free installation, periodic battery replacement is almost completely painless (OK, I spent a lot of money in the store while they did the work) and, with a battery in good condition, the alternator and its related components aren't going to be stressed trying to charge a half-dead battery. 

If your vehicle has an older battery in it you might want to consider taking advantage of the sale.

https://www.samsclub.com/sams/duracell-automotive-battery-group-size-86/prod3590273.ip

 

 

 

Edited by bramfrank
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That's an excellent price for just the battery given how the prices have gone up the last few years. The installation is just the icing on the cake, though I wonder if they knew before hand what a pain the DJ battery is. Not to worry for them as I assume they made it back while you were waiting in the checkout line.

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2 hours ago, probak118 said:

Install included, good deal. Dealing with the rusted on nut for the hold down bolt is worth the money alone ! LOL 

 

My DJ is rustproofed every year - no rust on that bolt, for certain, but the entire battery, the cable and such were probably pretty gunked up by the mineral spirits they use for the treatments.

 

52 minutes ago, Summer Solstice said:

That's an excellent price for just the battery given how the prices have gone up the last few years. The installation is just the icing on the cake, though I wonder if they knew before hand what a pain the DJ battery is. Not to worry for them as I assume they made it back while you were waiting in the checkout line.

 

 

They knew - the clerk told me where it was and then rattled off a list of other Chrysler models done the same way.

Edited by bramfrank
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7 hours ago, 2late4u said:

i have  that same battery( duracell) got mine about a yr or two ago, bought mine from battery plus about the same price and also got a rebate on it. havent had no problems with it yet..

 

Note that Duracell markets 2 versions of the group 86 battery.  One is 690CCA which comes with a 3 year warranty and which they charge $140 for at Batteriesplus.  The other is 540CCA and comes with a 2 year warranty.  Batteriesplus sells the smaller one for $120.

If you don't live in the land of -30 degrees you can certainly get by the with smaller capacity battery.  But up here you need all of the capacity you can get to start the beast when it gets really cod.

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48 minutes ago, bramfrank said:

 

Note that Duracell markets 2 versions of the group 86 battery.  One is 690CCA which comes with a 3 year warranty and which they charge $140 for at Batteriesplus.  The other is 540CCA and comes with a 2 year warranty.  Batteriesplus sells the smaller one for $120.

If you don't live in the land of -30 degrees you can certainly get by the with smaller capacity battery.  But up here you need all of the capacity you can get to start the beast when it gets really cod.

well mine was on sale for $110 ( including the 10 percent off when ordering on line)with a $20 rebate and came with a full 3 yr replacement this was in august of 2017

Edited by 2late4u
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4 hours ago, 2late4u said:

well mine was on sale for $110 ( including the 10 percent off when ordering on line)with a $20 rebate and came with a full 3 yr replacement this was in august of 2017


Interesting that the detail for the larger battery specifies that it is for colder climates.  The higher CCA spec is the OEM one.

So, based on the warranty detail it looks like you probably got the larger one.  Then again if you hadn't it would not likely have made any significant difference - after all, do you guys get Arctic cold, as in 20 and 30 below where you live?

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5 hours ago, 2late4u said:

lol in Alabama we hardly get any snow, might get down in the low teens for a short while but not long, but the heat on batteries can be about just as bad for the life of a battery

 

 

Heat is bad, but it doesn't increase the starting load - with very cold temps friction (and oil viscosity) is negatively impacted, requiring more current to turn the engine over, all the while with reduced current available (CCA - Cold Crank Amps) - the larger Mallory battery can deliver 850 amps to turn over the engine when the battery is warm, but only 690 CCA when 'cold' (which is when it needs to be able to push out those electrons most).  In fact since CCA ratings are defined as the number of amps a 12-volt battery can deliver at 0°F for 30 seconds while maintaining a voltage of at least 7.2 volts.   -30 is a LOT colder than 0 and 7.2 volts isn't going to start any DJ.

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