Frustrating Sears battery story/rant

[88911coupe]

Bought Sears Die Hard Gold 3 years ago (48 month warranty)....cold snap(s) hit and noticed it started to struggle to start. I tested it in the car and got about 12.2 is so knew it was low. When running I'd see 13.9 or so at idle so it's charging. I decided to try and do a parasitic drain test and I was seeing 6 mv, if I read it correctly. It seems to hop back and forth between 6 and 11...which confused me. No alarm, just a stereo. Anyway, I took it out, showed 12'ish and then over 12 hours went to upper 11's. Put in on a charger, got which leveled off at 12.7 then let it sit. The battery would drop by the hour down to 12.2 in 12 hours and just keeps dropping. Took it to sears this a.m. and they put it on machine...said they have a "new testing policy/procedure" and it shows good. I told the guy what I'd done and he said I totally believe you that the battery is bad, but new policy says no replacement credit if the new test procedure shows it to be "good". Anyone heard of this?

[ossiblue]

Never heard of this, but I'm not surprised. The obvious question is, what constitutes the new testing procedure? That is the most important question. Did you ask it and did they give an answer?

[emac]

The same think happen with me. One year old but wouldn't hold a charge. The store tested it and told me it was good albeit it was dead the next day. I Charged it and took it back and again they tested it and said it was good. I refused to leave and the mgr came. I told him the story and informed him I wouldn't leave without a new battery. Anyway my persistence paid off as I left with a new one
Ernie

[88911coupe]

The store manager is the guy I was dealing with and he really struggled to explain what the new procedure actually did. I don't think at first he realized I'd already done a lot of testing and have some knowledge of cars and batteries. I went through all of what I'd done to test it and he could only say that they could charge the battery up...which I told them I'd already done as well. I never disputed that the battery could be charged up...my issue what that it would not HOLD a charge. He said I could call sears and see if they can make some sort of exception and then go back, IF that works. I think I'll just make sure this BS is put on as many auto threads as possible, and buy some other brand. As I said before, he freely admitted he believed me the battery was bad but if it "TESTS" good he gets some sort of hit from sears...I realize he does not want that.

[DRACO A5OG]

Take it to couple of FLAPS and ask them to test it or better yet, if you have AAA road side service they will give you a print out of the results to show the manager.

Sears self diagnoses and will default to a "good" battery if it is test at 12+ volts. Take it when it drains, then see what they say, bring your own volt meter to show them too.

[ossiblue]

I did a little Googling of this issue after reading your post. Very interesting. Your experience with Die Hard appears to be common and widespread--SOP for Sears. One post made a good point: both Sears and K Mart are on the financial ropes and (maybe) the corporate decision is to sell as much product as possible and forget about return customers/customer service as that is now irrelevant.

Something to ponder.

[wwest]

Originally Posted by 88911coupe

Bought Sears Die Hard Gold 3 years ago (48 month warranty)....cold snap(s) hit and noticed it started to struggle to start. I tested it in the car and got about 12.2 is so knew it was low. When running I'd see 13.9 or so at idle so it's charging.

13.9 volts is an indication that the alternator/VR is functionally properly, NOT that the battery is actually "accepting" a charge.

I decided to try and do a parasitic drain test and I was seeing 6 mv, if I read it correctly.

I like to think this is a simple typo, 6 ma (Milliamps), not 6 mv (millivolts).

It seems to hop back and forth between 6 and 11...which confused me. No alarm, just a stereo. Anyway, I took it out, showed 12'ish and then over 12 hours went to upper 11's. Put in on a charger, got which leveled off at 12.7 then let it sit. The battery would drop by the hour down to 12.2 in 12 hours and just keeps dropping. Took it to sears this a.m. and they put it on machine...said they have a "new testing policy/procedure" and it shows good. I told the guy what I'd done and he said I totally believe you that the battery is bad, but new policy says no replacement credit if the new test procedure shows it to be "good". Anyone heard of this?

Shall we assume you first checked the battery's electrolyte level and cleaned/burnished the battery posts/connections?

Common failure mode is that the metallic "fines" sloughing off the plates over time pile up in the bottom of the battery case and form a (slight?) short for one or more of the cells. Drop the battery about 3-6 inches above a concrete floor to "settle"/spread the pile of metallic fines and the problem is solved for a time.

Your moving/handling of the battery probably, maybe, served the same purpose.

[bushle]

So sad about Sears. I'm sorta amazed that my local one is still open. If you have any Craftsman tools that are broken, better get them replaced before they go tango uniform. It's only a matter if time, IMHO.

[widgeon13]

Sears used to be what Walmart is today. Yes, the circle of life continues.

[wwest]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Sears started up as mail order....IMHO they will or should go back to their roots. Delay just wastes money.....the local retail stores are filled with shop lifters and gang bangers.....and that is just the employees.

They would have to either purchase EBAY or go into competition with them.

That latter is likely a damn good idea given the wide door Ebay has left ajar.

[sugarwood]

If a battery is over 2 years old, and is acting flaky, I gladly spend the $100 to replace it.
It's just simpler to buy a new one, when it's such a mission critical part.

[yelcab1]

Interstate, stop doing business with Sears.

[widgeon13]

Originally Posted by yelcab1

interstate, stop doing business with sears.

+1

[88911coupe]

Yeah, looking at Interstate which is what was in there before and lasted 5 years. Pep Boys has a highly rated Bosch battery that looks good as well.

[wrxnofx]

Originally Posted by yelcab1

interstate, stop doing business with sears.

+2

[LakeCleElum]

Costco batteries for me..........They rarely go bad and when they do, Costco does not even test, they take your word for it.

Sears/Craftsman used to last forever. I have 2 compressors that will never quit........New stuff....It's all junk........I don't waste my time with them anymore.....

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

Sears used to be what Walmart is today. ........

Is there a typo in your statement?

Not sure if your objective was to criticize Sears and praise Walmart or vice versa.

Sherwood

[T77911S]

die hards are not what they use to be. i have dealt with several die hards that only lasted a year or two.

you need to check current for drain, not voltage.

[kcheves]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Costco batteries for me..........They rarely go bad and when they do, Costco does even test, they take your word for it.

I just had a Costco battery (Kirkland branded, probably made by Interstate) replaced under warranty. My replacement was an Interstate - it's all they sell now - and Costco has shortened the warranty on all their batteries to 3 years.

[Porchdog]

My second Optima was a Red Top bought at Pep Boys. After about a year it started doing something similar - it would discharge on it's own, with no cables connected.

I took it back to Pep Boys. They claimed it was good per their procedure - no replacement.

I sent an angry email to Optima. They shipped me a Yelow Top as a replacement. After a year or so that started doing the same thing.

I have a small Odyssey now. No problems after a couple of years.