Interstate battery warranty

fixerupper · Oct 30, 2013

I didn't want to hijack 37Chief's battery post so I'll start my own. I'm in the same boat as Chief, 3500 Dodge Cummins batteries are tired. After a charging the hydrometer readings aren't good. They're Interstates and five years old. They're supposedly an 85 month battery, or so it states on the battery, so that makes it 7 years. How is Interstate to work with on warranties? The guy at the parts store told me Interstate isn't backing it's long term warranties very well any more and has a lawsuit against them because of it. I'm not expecting much since they are five years old, but if I can save a few cents I certainly will give it a shot. Jim

wvfarmboy54 · Oct 30, 2013

i figered out thre stamping old dates on new batterys so thay wont have to adjust them i had a 3 year old 84 mounth warenty in a old chev left it and he told my shop tech it was over 7 years old i know for a fact it was 3 years old go figger but i will say there the best batterys out there i have used most over the years napa batterys being the worst my thought anyway

Super-H-Mike · Oct 30, 2013

I am an Interstate dealer, and have never had trouble with the company not backing the warranty. Remember , it is a pro-rating , as are most battery warranties. I just had to warranty two 85 months units for a guy with a diesel also, they were a bit over 3 years old and he was given $135.00 off the new ones. The only time I have ever had to even warranty any Interstates is in the case of diesel plow trucks, otherwise zero in over 20 years. In my expierence, Napa batteries are poor as far as lasting here , in Minnesota.

fixerupper · Oct 30, 2013

Mike, that's good to hear. Tomorrow I'm headed for town with them to see what the dealer will do. I've had pretty good luck with Interstates in the past. I have ten of them scattered around the farm in various vehicles and all of them have lasted out the warranty except for these two. Jim

caterpillar guy · Oct 30, 2013

Well I can't say I would care to ever have an Interstate battery. I worked for a guy that used them seemed like I was always fiddling with a battery. Just didn't stand up for any time. And was always taking one in for warranty.

David from Kansas · Oct 30, 2013

Was disappointed a couple of years ago when I took a battery in that had 11 months left on warranty (Interstate Battery). When the dealer did the calulation, it cost less to just buy a new battery than have mine adjusted for warranty, and the explanation was that it was due to the pricing structure that Interstate has on batteries.
Otherwise, I've had pretty good luck with their batteries.

Bob · Oct 30, 2013

EXACTLY. Two dealers I am familiar with in our area discount from the Intercourse price list when SELLING a new battery, when figuring warranty, they subtract whatever warranty $$$ you have coming from FULL LIST PRICE.

A couple of times I took half-used up batteries in, and it was was cheap or cheaper to buy a new one straight out as to play the warranty game.

Bob · Oct 30, 2013

BTW, there's no "Interstate Battery factory". They are may FOR Interstate by Johnson Controls, maker of the Diehard, and today's "Delco" batteries and a slew of others.
Where they come from...

willie in mn · Oct 31, 2013

I agree with your pricing experience. Don't have a big operation here, just enough equipment to maintain my 1/2 acre lakeside home & repair stuff for a few neighbors, but the local NAPA store gives me 30%-35% price break. Their retail price is close to what the competing store down the street charges.
As to Johnson Controls being the supplier for many brands, more than likely have different specs for some private labels.
Willie

36 Coupe · Oct 31, 2013

Good to see that information.Hope it will slow down the claims that one brand is better than another.Batteries are a crap shoot, some last a long time,others dont.I opened an old 12v battery to get the hard rubber case to do some electroplating.One cell was bad the rest were in good condition.Sunlight will destroy the new plastic cases.

Traditional Farmer · Oct 31, 2013

Just because they are made in the same factory doesn't mean that different brands are built to the same specs and all are the same quality.

Super-H-Mike · Oct 31, 2013

Delcos have proven themselves to me to be very long lasting, sometimes over ten years. But, when they are that old, they tend to fail by shorting inside, which can cause the vehicle to stall even while driving normally down the road, and cannot even be jump started after that. Seen it many times, and only with Delcos for some reason.

rlpintx · Oct 31, 2013

It sounds like dealer pulling something. Never had a problem
but crooks in small towns like to pull that garbage to get a few
extra bucks.

caseyc · Oct 31, 2013

I sell Interstate in my shop. If those were in my
shop, assuming they are group 65, There would be
a $31.41 credit each. Basically, Interstate
takes my cost, divides it by the total months of
warranty (in your case 84) and them multiplies
that by the months remaining. My cost on a group
65 is $109.95, divided by 84 is 1.308 per month.
If they are 60 old, that leaves 24 months left.
Take $1.308 times 24 and you get $31.41. That's
what I the dealer would receive in credit from
Interstate and I pass that along straight to the
customer.

There is no money in batteries as a dealer. It is
strictly a service I provide since it brings in
lots of other actual money making work.

Casey in SD

36 Coupe · Oct 31, 2013

Thats an old story but it dosent make sense.Why would a mfg risk their reputation by cutting corners.If a battery weighs the same its got the same amount of lead in it.

Hobo,NC · Oct 31, 2013

(quoted from post at 21:01:05 10/31/13) I sell Interstate in my shop. If those were in my
shop, assuming they are group 65, There would be
a $31.41 credit each. Basically, Interstate
takes my cost, divides it by the total months of
warranty (in your case 84) and them multiplies
that by the months remaining. My cost on a group
65 is $109.95, divided by 84 is 1.308 per month.
If they are 60 old, that leaves 24 months left.
Take $1.308 times 24 and you get $31.41. That's
what I the dealer would receive in credit from
Interstate and I pass that along straight to the
customer.

There is no money in batteries as a dealer. It is
strictly a service I provide since it brings in
lots of other actual money making work.

Casey in SD

MTP-65 by my sales sheet 60 mo.warranty adjustment would be 113.21.

Interstate adjust by suggested retail price $172.95... Not that I like it but the way they do it... Its rare to see a interstate fail sooner than the stated mo. period but chit happens... Interstates name sales the bat if someone wants a cheaper bat I don't need their business are the issues that come with the other cheap chit they want that cost me in the long run....

Traditional Farmer · Nov 1, 2013

By your theory all batteries would be the same which they aren't.Batteries of the same brand come in all shapes and sizes,different cranking amps with different guarantees as to how long they will last so the quality is obviously different within each brand's line so other brands of batteries would surely be different. So saying all battereies built at one place are all the same is dead wrong.Plus there is a whole lot more that goes into battery construction than just the weight of the lead.

36 Coupe · Nov 2, 2013

I understand battery construction.I have taken bad cells out of 6v batteries and replaced the cell from another battery.A new battery cost a days pay in the 50s.The plates are made up of a grid that has a lead oxide paste pressed into it.The Lejay manual had instructions on repairing lead acid batteries.I find it interesting that a new battery will take a days pay to buy now.Batteries are a crap shoot.Some last a long time, some fail early.

Interstate battery warranty

fixerupper

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wvfarmboy54

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Super-H-Mike

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fixerupper

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caterpillar guy

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David from Kansas

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Bob

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Bob

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willie in mn

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36 Coupe

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Traditional Farmer

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Super-H-Mike

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rlpintx

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caseyc

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36 Coupe

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Hobo,NC

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Traditional Farmer

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36 Coupe

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