Korean made batteries - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 08-07-2003, 02:22 AM

Has anyone used a group 49 battery made in Korea? The only battery that I have been able to find that is NOT made by Excide is made by some Korean Company, but I can't remember the companies name. The guy at the battery store told me that it is a good battery, and is way better than an Excide...

84300DT · #2 08-07-2003, 06:38 AM

autozone has a duralast group 49 batt. for $60. made by johnson controls.

P.E.Haiges · #3 08-07-2003, 09:26 AM

123c,

The Korean is probably is better than an Excide battery, I had 3 Excides and none of them outlasted the warranty.

But why not get the AutoZone battery? It costs $60 and has a 7 year warranty.

P E H

#4 08-07-2003, 12:12 PM

I would get the Autozone battery, but the nearest one is 3 hours away

. Doesn't Wal-Mart sell Duralast batteries, or is it some brand that sounds like Duralast? Oh, and the Korean made battery is only like $82, which is the cheapest I can find in my area

84300DT · #5 08-07-2003, 12:20 PM

they call them Everstart at walmart also made by johnson controls. don't know the price.

#6 08-07-2003, 12:22 PM

Thanks, I will go check out the Everstarts first at Wal-Mart, but I doubt they will have a group 49

...

84300DT · #7 08-07-2003, 12:24 PM

the list on johnson controls web-site says they make one.
will be interested to hear your result.

#8 08-07-2003, 03:10 PM

Wal-Mart didn't have any in stock

.

I went ahead and bought the other battery. The place that I bought it from mainly sells comercial batteries, but they have a few automotive ones as well. This battery they like better than the Interstate batteries that they also sell because it is completly sealed. The guy there told me that Sears should have replaced the Die Hard for free, since it had a bad cell, but they wouldn't. I am not giving Sears my business anymore

.

84300DT · #9 08-07-2003, 03:24 PM

what kind of battery (brand name?) did you end up with and how much $ ? did it have any warranty?

would be curious as well for the specs on it.

i'm surprised sears would not replace your battery unless it was totally out of warranty and if not they should have prorated it for the remaining years of the warranty period.

#10 08-07-2003, 04:43 PM

It's a "Power Cycle" from Allied Batteries, which is sort of a regional brand (Seattle), and it was $82. It's a 60 month battery, with a 2 year free replacement. Then if it fails within that 2 year time, I get a new one, and then the 2 year replacement begins again for that new battery

. I am sure Sears would have prorated it, but I don't want anything to do with their batteries ever again

Right now I am cleaning up the battery tray before I put the new one in...

84300DT · #11 08-07-2003, 05:24 PM

well good luck to u and ur new batt.

live and learn. i for one have never had a problem with a sears
battery and i've had plenty of 'em over the years (too many years .. ) . The MB is the only car i ever had to replace a die-hard in, and that one just plain wore out. all the other cars either i sold or junked before the battery died after i replaced it so i can't tell how long those batteries lasted.

#12 08-07-2003, 06:16 PM

The guy at Allied Batteries told me that the main problem with the group 49's going bad is that the short stuby batteries are hard to build right, and not that many companies know how to build them right. Johnson Controls knows how to build them right, and that is who used to supply Sears with their batteries. It's only been in the past few years when they switched over to Excide, who doesn't know how to build them, or any batteries for that matter. We had a DieHard battery in the truck once that lasted about 7 years, but it was one of the Johnson Contols units

84300DT · #13 08-07-2003, 06:47 PM

sears now have gone back to johnson controls - prolly with good reason.

P.E.Haiges · #14 08-08-2003, 10:04 AM

123c,

Here's what I would have done at Sears if they wouldn't honor their warranty.

I would have worn very old clothes and shoes. I would have put the battery on the counter in the sales area. When they refused to honor the warranty, I would have grabbed the battery to leave and accidently dropped it and watch the acid run all over the place.

Then I would have picked up what was left of the battery, because I might need it for a core on another battery, said "opps, sorry about that" and walked out.

I am surprised though that Sears would not honor their warranty. I have found that they are usually good about that.

Now Sears telling me I needed new ball joints in my '64 190D (it had king pins) is another thing. After I had the salesman assure me that my ball joints absolutely need replacing, I really reamed his ass. This was before Sears got in trouble for replacing good parts.

P E H

84300DT · #15 08-08-2003, 10:57 AM

i would love to see a video of that