Leprosy -

[JK McDonald]

Naturally, Just about out the door for a summer road trip when my battery suddenly bit the dust. After a search on the Pelican site I wasn't sure if there has been any particular brand/type everyone was happy with. I normally deal with a local Autozone or O'Rileys but I had a friend at Walmart who helped out a little with his discount. He still owes me for getting his diesel tractor running after about a 4 year hibernation. Old diesel fuel turns into a jello in the tank, injector pump and injectors. I also had to replace the cylinder head gasket (4 banger). He'd evidently tried one too many times to force it to run on a generous dose of ether. It's been a while since I've shopped for a 928 battery and was surprised at how most all of them are now priced up near the $185 - $200+ mark. This one from Walmart was about all that would fit down in the battery hole and the lid still safely close. What do you think ?

Any way got the new battery home and checked the water level before placing it on a slow charge for a couple of hours. The water level was found to be shipped low in every cell and in a couple, you could just make out the upper edge of the plates. After topping it off with distilled water, charging it and letting it sit idle to cool off, the specific gravity checked out at about 1.25 or so. It is supposed to have a 5 year warranty pro rated with a 3 year free replacement.

I'd previously checked the static current draw (key off, doors closed, etc..) and it was about 20 ma but checked it again just to verify that nothing had changed. Hopefully no other issues. There's usually one glitch per trip so I hope this was it. My wife just said "Yea Right - Famous Last Words".....I guess the battery discount will be worth taking the chance of not getting leprosy from all that rotten diesel fuel.

Take care and off to the Gulf Coast, Michael

[harborman]

I put in a Walmart battery in my car, now about 3 years ago. No problem so far! But I only drive the 928 in summer. All seems to be fine. I only use Walmart as a last resort. I always feel when I go there, like going to a flee market in Afghanistan! One of my friends got me a 10% discount their.

[Pete R]

There are only like 3 battery manufactures on the entire planet. They just sticker them with different names and charge different prices. Walmart batteries are made by Johnson Controls which also make the Optima batteries, so they have they at a minimum have a pedigree of quality. While I hate Walmart some things I just can't buy elsewhere like oil, I can't pay $10 more at autozone for the same 5 quart jug

[Opelotus]

Originally Posted by Pete R

There are only like 3 battery manufactures on the entire planet. They just sticker them with different names and charge different prices. Walmart batteries are made by Johnson Controls which also make the Optima batteries, so they have they at a minimum have a pedigree of quality.

Yeah, from what I've heard at work (Honda), the Interstate battery guy who delivers batteries to the parts department just slaps the appropriate Honda sticker on them. Then goes to Toyota and Nissan next door and does the same, as far as I know. What a bunch of BS.

EDIT:

Just looked it up, guess who manufactures batteries for Interstate? JOHNSON CONTROLS, ha! You learn something new every day.

[Danglerb]

Last I looked at Walmart "some" of the batteries had date stickers several months old, so be sure to check them.

[Fixer]

great looking red rear end on your shark Micheal.

good luck on the road trip.