Use caution when purchasing car batteries from Amazon.
Use caution when purchasing car batteries from Amazon. So, I like to add as much info to Tech as I can. With that being said, I'm just doing my part to keep fellow consumers informed.
I bought a red top Optima battery from Amazon about 5 months ago. The battery took a dump yesterday showing a 0 percent charge for whatever reason. I took the battery over to Autozone, and they charged it overnight. Got the battery back today, and the guy at Autozone told me it wouldn't charge over 30 percent. Installed it in the car, and it lasted about 5 minutes before causing the car to miss fire and eventually die.
Now, for those of you who have dealt with Amazon, they are usually fairly good about replacing things. Not so much with the battery. It took over an hour and 3 escalations to finally receive a refund for it. I think it may have to do with the fact that they can't legally have me ship the old one back for some reason. Meanwhile, I can't drive the car for several days, and it's just been a real pain in the ***.
I think I'll just stick to buying car batteries from local stores from now on.
I bought a red top Optima battery from Amazon about 5 months ago. The battery took a dump yesterday showing a 0 percent charge for whatever reason. I took the battery over to Autozone, and they charged it overnight. Got the battery back today, and the guy at Autozone told me it wouldn't charge over 30 percent. Installed it in the car, and it lasted about 5 minutes before causing the car to miss fire and eventually die.
Now, for those of you who have dealt with Amazon, they are usually fairly good about replacing things. Not so much with the battery. It took over an hour and 3 escalations to finally receive a refund for it. I think it may have to do with the fact that they can't legally have me ship the old one back for some reason. Meanwhile, I can't drive the car for several days, and it's just been a real pain in the ***.
I think I'll just stick to buying car batteries from local stores from now on.
I think it may have to do with the fact that they can't legally have me ship the old one back for some reason.
I think I'll just stick to buying car batteries from local stores from now on.
I have had no problems returning batteries to Autozone, they have 2-3 year warranties on the batteries they sell. I had a Duracrap Gold fail in my C5Z, I know shame on me...They took it back and I was able to upgrade to red top with only having to cover the difference in cost.
Pretty sure no store like Autozone will take back a battery that was bought 5 months ago. So it's not the fact that you can't ship it...it's more the fact you can't return an item that you bought so long ago. At this point, you should be going to Optima about your issues not the vendor.
I actually called Optima first - they told me to take the warranty up with Amazon.
Glad you got this resolved.
There is a unique method of charging these AGM batteries. You can do a Google search or read up on their website and these links I gathered for you/others.
http://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/support/faqs/
Basically, if the AGM battery is deeply discharged, you must wire in a second (charged) battery in parallel, for the charger to "see" the battery. Most of your common battery chargers see the deeply discharged battery as having lost a cell, and will not charge as a safety.
http://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/support/faqs/
Basically, if the AGM battery is deeply discharged, you must wire in a second (charged) battery in parallel, for the charger to "see" the battery. Most of your common battery chargers see the deeply discharged battery as having lost a cell, and will not charge as a safety.
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If you plan to keep your vehicle for several years, it makes sense to buy a quality battery. The one in my truck was a no-name cheapo from the auto parts store, just put in by the previous owner, lasted right under 2 years. Of course with that piece of junk I always back into the spaces and face it downhill, just in case I need to pop the clutch to get it to start.
The one in my car was installed by the previous owner, from the Lexus dealer, even has a sticker that says "Lexus battery" on it. 6 years later, still fires up with one quick turn of the key on cold days.
The one in my car was installed by the previous owner, from the Lexus dealer, even has a sticker that says "Lexus battery" on it. 6 years later, still fires up with one quick turn of the key on cold days.
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Teching In
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 11
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From: Northeast Ohio, USA
Whenever I replace a battery, I make it a point to get the largest cold cranking amp capacity model that will physically fit on the battery shelf. If a stock spec battery is 700 CCA, and a 900 CCA battery is available that will fit, I'll spring the extra cash for the higher capacity. It gets cold around the Great Lakes, and there's comfort knowing I should be able to crank the engine "just one more time", if it's being temperamental.