Issues with Wal-Mart branded batteries? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Tomguy · #1 11-26-2006, 02:17 PM

I had a "Super Crank" battery in my Jeep for ~6 months. I just returned it today for spewing acid out of the vent holes. Hopefully, I washed all the acid off of the inside of the engine bay. Has anyone else experienced similar issues with these batteries? I even thought it was cheap when I first bought it (not even a carrying handle??) but whatever. They exchanged it with an Energizer for free (since they didn't carry the Super Crank ones anymore).

raymr · #2 11-26-2006, 02:39 PM

I had a cheap battery explode in our van one time. Luckily the hood was closed. I now spend a few bucks more for Interstate.

Larry Delor · #3 11-26-2006, 02:41 PM

A hyperactive voltage regulator can cause this sort of thing.
Just to be on the safe side, you might want to check the output voltage on the alternator.

Tomguy · #4 11-26-2006, 02:59 PM

Larry: My voltage meter in the Jeep never goes above 14. I suppose perhaps I should check any component that may be suspect with that many miles on it, but the battery was also hard to start on cold mornings (VERY low cranking) - led me to believe the battery itself was the cause.

carnut · #5 11-26-2006, 06:18 PM

A battery does not on its own, spill acid out the vent holes unless its been overfilled or the case is leaking (cracked) Acid loss is usually uncontrolled voltage or amperage caused by a faulty Alternator or voltage regulator. In rare cases a cell can be shorted within the battery and that could cause an extended high charging rate from the alternator to compensate for the cell. Now that you've replaced the battery, you will know soon enough if it was the prior battery or a charging issue.

Tomguy · #6 11-26-2006, 06:32 PM

The morning I noticed it, the battery barely had enough power to crank the Jeep over. Once I got to work, went to check the oil and that's when I noticed it spewing acid out. I am surely going to check my charging system, but I still suspect the battery more than anything.

Ken300D · #7 11-26-2006, 08:01 PM

For a short period of time, several years ago, Wal-Mart stocked quality Johnson Controls batteries. But more recently they went the low-ball route with Excide.

Excide is total crap.

Never buy a battery without knowing the source manufacturer. There is source information on-line but it can change quickly depending on how much profit a particular company wants to make short term. Long term, people find out about Excide and never buy one again.

Last battery I bought was a Johnson Controls battery from AutoZone. Sears is a JC battery also.

Excide is total crap. Sooner or later, but total crap.

Ken300D

Tomguy · #8 11-26-2006, 08:21 PM

I have an Exide in my 280SE.

The battery I took out of the Jeep was NOT built to the same specs, if it was an Exide...

My 4.5's Exide is sealed, maintenance-free, and has been one hell of a great battery for about 4 years now. The one that was in the Jeep was not sealed, didn't even have a carrying handle/strap, and had a much MUCH thinner case wall (to the point where you could feel it cave in when lifting - and it also was bulged out even when new).

If Exide batteries have gone downhill since my purchase, I'll never buy another one. I keep hearing everyone say that they're crap, even though the one in my 4.5 is a great battery. I'll get an Optima from now on, then.

POS · #9 11-26-2006, 09:09 PM

Are you saying that WalMart sells cheap crap? Who'd have thought.

WalMart batteries are cheap because they're cheap batteries. My local WalMart now carries Interstate, but even Interstate admits that it's not the same battery - it's the cheapest Interstate that Interstate makes.

There's an old business adage: you only get to sell two out of three items - service, quality, or price. You rarely get to sell all three.

Skip WalMart if you're looking for quality.

Will_w202 · #10 11-26-2006, 10:11 PM

I bought an Autozone battery last year - the top-line model (and I can't remember their brand or the top-line model right now) but the guy said it's the same internals as the Optima they sell, for half the price. I went there because someone here had recommended them.