Auto parts stores excluding batteries from discount codes

Title says it all. I buy most of my stuff from Advance, because they almost always have at least 20% off.


Looks like batteries are no longer included. And good lord they’ve gotten expensive.


Where is the best place to buy these days?

 

Stick with a chain store, so should you have a future issue, you can just pull in and get it squared away. I buy my tires from Discount Tire, for that same reason.

 

I believe lead prices have gone through the roof. Along with copper, and really any metal

 

Costco

 

Also if you have a newer vehicle with lots of electronics and potentially with Auto Stop/Start the battery requirements are a lot more demanding so the batteries have to be a lot more robust and therefor expensive. I just replaced the one in my wife's TLX V6 AWD. Ouch.
I usually buy from Advanced and their cheaper batteries were on sale, but not this one so I got it for a bit less at AutoZone. Shop around.

 

I have always had good luck at Walmart for car batteries. They do such volume that batteries are the newest manufacture dates out of anywhere I’ve seen especially auto parts stores. Plus they are low in price.

 

Advance, just give them my phone number...

 

Costco.

 

Went through the same thing a couple months ago. Ended up buying the battery at batteries plus & bulbs . If you buy it on line and pick up in store you get 10% off. I also needed a battery memory saver.The cheapest I found the ez-red was at
National tool warehouse about $58.00 shipped.

 

Interstate Battery carries used batteries. Comes with a 6 month warranty for $45 with core, $60 without.

 

If there's a Rural King in your area, their Exide/Rural King batteries are normally around $80 - $90, many times on sale for $60 - $70. I and my kids have been using them for years with good luck, replace them at 5 years just in case.

 

Batteries & bulbs is another suggestion.

 

They are cheap because they are garbage. My experience.

 

Not gonna say they are quality..but if you can get 5 years out of one...so be it. Just set a reminder in your smatphone for 5 years from now to replace like an oil change on
a regular interval. MAYBE six years if you wanna gamble a little.

 

Yep, welcome to the world of AGM batteries. Just put an Interstate in the wife’s Sorento, $230.

 

Agm batteries in a lot stuff now. if you have menards they normally have competitive prices on Ac delco batteries.

 

I used to recommend Advance Auto batteries to family and friends when I'd help them out with their car issues. That was before the switch from their Autocraft label to the overpriced Die Hard label. The old Autocraft silver and gold were good options for specs, warranty and price with the promo code discount.

Walmart EverStart Maxx is comparable and like half the price of the Advance Die Hard, same 3 year free replacement warranty and a lot of Walmarts around open late if you have an issue. Both the EverStart Maxx and old Autocraft were made by Johnson Controls and the Die Hard cases look the same so wouldn't be surprised in they are also made by JC. Advance Auto paid 200 million for the Die Hard name so probably a factor in the Die Hard pricing.

I use AGM in all four wheeled vehicles now and Bosch Platinum AGM (made by Exide, same as Exide Edge AGM) from Pep Boys with promo code was a good deal a few years ago though not sure they even still sell them there.

I run all my batteries though a smart charger rotation and voltage check. I remove the surface charge by turning the headlights on for a few minutes until the voltage stabilizes which gives a good idea of where the battery is at and occasional check while starting to see how much voltage drops.

 

On a similar note: My wife's Acura TL would sometimes have a weird deal where the battery would be fine most days, then just completely dead at random intervals.
The first battery, Acura replaced for free. After the second battery and them quoting new alternator, battery, blah, blah, blah....I found a vid on Youtube that showed how they have a faulty Navi/Voice circuit board that will drain the battery very quickly. In other words, you could run a drain test and 99% of the time and things would look fine because the relay wasn't stuck.
Luckily, we don't use voice navi and I just removed the circuit board. It's been like 4+ years of terrific battery and no more surprise trips to the auto store.

 

That only applies to batteries needing that. The battery for my 78 C10? Also absurdly expensive and I'm not talking AGM or weird or giant sized battery here.

 

I worked in the battery industry for a couple of years as a supplier. There are only 3 major suppliers in the US and they are really all made the same way with a few internal differences. And FYI, Excide declared bankruptcy again last year.