Top 4 Car Battery Brands To Avoid (Worst Car Batteries)
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You know, there are so many car battery brands out there, and all of them would claim to be the best brand. However, some of these brands produce the worst batteries you can ever buy. Yeah, the batteries are “the worst” because they cannot hold a charge, and according to some complaints, they can’t even power some vehicles.
But what are the car battery brands to avoid? Well, not really like the brands are bad, but they’ve got some car battery models that performed below par. That said, this article will FOCUS on the particular battery models from these brands that are rated as the worst to avoid for your vehicle.
Note: If you want to get the best out of your car’s battery, you should stick to the brand and battery type that comes standard with your car. However, if you must switch, ensure the new brand or battery type can actually work for your car.
Top Car Battery Brands To Avoid
LifePo4 Lithium Iron Phosphate
This battery is not recommended for motor vehicles; however, it can be used in electric vehicles or boats.
The lithium iron phosphate material is what makes this battery un-recommendable for use in vehicles – it won’t supply your vehicle with sufficient power to crank the internal combustion engine, especially in cold temperatures.
Rather than being a battery for motor cars, this battery is meant for use in trolling motors or boats that do not need to crank for too long before starting up.
It is important you take note of the “lithium iron phosphate” label before this exactly looks like normal regular batteries – so you don’t make the mistake of buying one of these for your car.
Optima Batteries
Surprised? Well, you should. Optima used to be among the top three best car battery brands worldwide, but their battery quality has reduced over time – since the company moved its production plant to Mexico.
When the company was making its battery in the United States, everything was good, and the quality was top-notch.
Scotty Kilmer made a detailed YouTube video explaining how Optima batteries went from being among the best to being among the worst – especially the Red Top and Yellow Top models.
The worst part of the whole thing is that the brand kept increasing the price of its batteries, while the quality was going down the drain.
Watch the short video below:
Exide (Some Models)
Brands would tell you their products are the best you buy and also go ahead to pay influencers to recommend their products.
For Exide, we’re not going say that it is a “Bad” battery brand, but if you’re looking for a car battery that would last you for a long time and crank your car at any temperature, Exide is not the best brand to go with.
Not disregarding the fact that Exide has been in existence for over a century, their car batteries are not recommendable; you can trust them on storage and inverter batteries – not automotive. Exide is an Indian battery manufacturer founded in 1888, producing quite a variety of battery types.
DieHard Advanced Gold 50748
Now, we’re not talking of the brand entirely – but a particular model. DieHard, on its own, is a notable car battery, and yes, they have some of the best-recommended car batteries out there.
However, the DieHard Advanced Gold 50748 particularly isn’t as reliable as it appears. A Consumer Reports test showed the DieHard Advanced Gold 50748 dies faster than most other batteries of its caliber. Maybe you shouldn’t buy your car’s batteries based on brand!
Conclusion: Worst Car Batteries To Buy
There is actually no car battery brand that can be ranked as the “Worst” to avoid – it’s just that some car battery models from these brands are not what they used to be – high quality.
It is important to shop your car batteries based on brand loyalty; instead, you should use a car battery testing device to check the battery options available to you and pick the one that is best for you.
so, it is important to check the current battery in your car often to know when the lifespan is getting to zero so you can start planning on what battery to buy next.
Waiting until the battery dies (finishes its lifespan) completely may make you desperate; thus, you’d have no option but to settle for a probably costly but “wacky” battery.
s:
The Best Place To Buy a Car Battery
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Finding yourself in need of a new car battery can be frustrating, so knowing ahead of time where to shop for the best price can be a big help.
In this article, I’ll take a close look at a few of the best places to buy car batteries. You’ll find and information for Advance Auto Parts, Costco and NAPA among others. I visited each of the stores’ websites to see current on car batteries, the length of warranties and whether the installation is included in the purchase price.
This article was updated in July 2023 and I review it every six months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.
Where To Buy a Car Battery
When it comes to deciding where to buy a car battery, there are a few things to keep in mind: Make sure that you’re shopping for the right size battery, be sure to compare prices, familiarize yourself with the warranty and see if the installation is included. You should also take the time to check the ratings and reliability (Consumer Reports subscription required) of a certain brand or battery model before buying.
If you do all those things, you’ll likely find the best deals on car batteries at a store near you instead of at online retailers. On top of great prices, you’ll also typically find longer warranties (compared to online stores) and free installation.
I’ve found that Costco, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Advance Auto Parts are great places to buy car battery. AutoZone and NAPA are also worth checking out!
Below, you’ll find more detailed information on these retailers including where to find the best price.
The Top 6 Places To Buy a Car Battery
To see where I could get the best overall deal, I compared the prices, warranties and installation fees for similar lead-acid 24/24F car batteries. This size battery fits several Acura, Honda, Infiniti, Lexus, Nissan and Toyota models including the car I drive.
Here’s what I found in July 202 3.
Warranties may vary based on the original date of purchase.
As you can see, you’ll have access to low prices, reliable warranties and free installation at stores you can visit in person.
Overall, I found the lowest overall price at Costco. However, Costco doesn’t offer installation, which means I’d either have to install it myself or pay to have it installed somewhere else. But Walmart will install car battery, no matter where you buy it for only 15.
Walmart offered the second-lowest price including free installation and a great warranty. Plus, you can use your Walmart rewards card to get 5% cash back by ordering the car battery online.
Sam’s Club offered the next-best deal. followed by NAPA, Advance Auto Parts and AutoZone.
You can also find a wide variety of car batteries at Amazon for reasonable prices, but you won’t get the best deal. The warranties vary by battery, and in many cases, they aren’t valid because you’re buying through Amazon instead of a dealer certified by the manufacturer. And of course, installation is not included.
For the best overall deal, be sure to check out these top six places to buy a car battery.
Costco
If you’re a Costco member, you won’t be surprised to hear that this is where you’ll find some of the lowest on quality car batteries. Costco carries only Interstate Batteries. which are highly rated in several sizes and models by Consumer Reports (subscription required).
While you can’t order a car battery online from Costco, you can use the store’s online battery finder to see which batteries will fit your car and how much they cost. From there, you can visit your nearest Costco to make your purchase.
Costco offers a 36-month limited warranty on most batteries. but unfortunately, you won’t be able to get your battery installed here. Again, keep in mind that Walmart offers installation for batteries bought elsewhere for only 15. That still means you’ll most likely be saving big with this purchase compared to the at stores with free installation.
Walmart
Based on my research, Walmart offered some of the lowest in addition to great warranties and free installation if you buy your battery from the same location. Be sure to make your purchase online and use your Walmart rewards card for an additional 5% cash back.
You’ll mostly see EverStart car batteries at Walmart. That brand has several models that get high ratings from Consumer Reports. EverStart Value automotive batteries are available from 69.74 and up.
To get started, visit the website and enter your car make, model and year. This will filter your results by batteries that will fit. From there, you can browse the selection and order the battery online to be picked up in-store nearby.
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club is great place to find car batteries at a good price, but of course, you have to be a member. The warehouse carries Duracell brand batteries, which Consumer Reports labeled “CR Recommended” options in several categories.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a Costco or Sam’s Club member, you’ll likely find the best deals on car batteries at your favorite warehouse store. If not, Walmart is a great place to shop for car batteries. All three retailers offer three-year warranties, and the latter two offer free installation.
Additionally, you can find some of the lowest total on car batteries at Advance Auto Parts if you use promo codes. Also, remember to collect your 22 refundable core charge.
Finally, be sure to check AutoZone, NAPA for other competitive and free installation. If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for, feel free to check out the wide variety available on Amazon. Just be mindful of warranty information and have a plan for installation.
No matter where you decide to make your final purchase, be sure to comparison shop so that you know you’re getting the best, most current deal.
Have you shopped for a battery at any of the places listed? Did we miss a deal? Let us know in our Clark.com Community!
- July 9, 2023: Updated battery pricing across all retailers
- July 9, 2023: Updated Consumer Reports rankings and recommendations
Top 10 Car Battery Manufacturers in India
TradeIndia Team. 30 Dec 2022
The battery in your automobile is what gives all the electronics in your car their electric charge. This is an absolutely enormous burden to bear.
A car battery typically has a life expectancy of three to five years, however, this can be shortened by improper maintenance and exposure to severe weather. This is a simple self-diagnosis that might give you an idea of the maximum temperature at which your battery could fail. There’s also an estimate of how much battery life you have left. If your battery is fine to go, you can find out with a simple test.
A car’s starting system includes a car battery that may be recharged via the vehicle’s alternator. It supplies power to the electric starter motor, which in turn fires up the internal combustion engine. When the engine is turned off, it supplies power for things like windshield wipers, music, and lighting.
Top 10 car battery manufacturers in India
SF Sonic
It’s possible that many people have never heard of this name, but they can be using it without even realizing it. It is common knowledge that SF Sonic batteries are the best available in terms of design, quality, and most importantly, longevity.
This battery delivers, and it continues to deliver for an extended period of time. It has frequently been judged against many of its rivals, and it has emerged victorious in many of those situations. This company sells batteries that are compatible with the vast majority of automobiles.
They have many batteries available for each car, and these batteries vary in quality, size, efficiency, cost, and other characteristics.
ACDELCO
ACDelco is a well-known brand of auto parts that was founded in the United States and is currently owned by the giant General Motors.
We are all now aware of the leadership behind one of the most successful automobile manufacturers in the world. It should not come as a surprise that ACDelco supplies electricity to the vehicles produced by General Motors because GM is its parent firm. ACDelco’s expansion beyond GM does not come as a surprise; yet, the American company is still relatively new to the car battery manufacturers market in India. If they are able to penetrate deeper, they will have an easier time putting GM’s goodwill to work.
They may give certain Indian battery manufacturers a run for their money thanks to the quality of their products. The market is still holding its breath in anticipation of the global weapons being fired here!
Exide
The name Exide Industries Ltd. is well-known in the field of battery manufacturing in India. Exide is fueling up the roads and houses with a wide range of battery products, from inverter batteries to two wheeler batteries. In addition to this, they now provide long-lasting batteries that not only charge up your life but also give you life insurance.
Exide is the most prominent producer of lead-acid batteries in India and the third most prominent worldwide.
The company was founded in 1947, the year that India gained its freedom. Now that we have more information, we are aware that as they get closer to their 75th anniversary, their quality is improving, which provides them the ability to serve both the country and the rest of the world.
AMARON
Amaron was first introduced to the rest of the world by the Indian multinational corporation Amara Raja Group in the year 2000. Since that time, Amaron has taken it upon themselves to be responsible for charging the vehicles so that neither the vehicles nor the roads ever come to a halt.
In recent years, Amaron has established itself as the leading brand of automobile batteries in India. Not only does Amaron provide items of excellent quality, but these products also have a greater capacity for longevity and are environmentally responsible.
Amaron has provided affordable car battery to its customers with high-capacity batteries at that are reasonable, keeping in mind the needs and preferences of Indian consumers. When you open the hood of your automobile the next time, give it a careful look since Amaron can be hiding in there.
Tata
Tata is a ubiquitous name. Whether it be food, a phone, a car, or batteries, it doesn’t matter. The Tata Green battery series is among the top series now available on the market for batteries.
This selection includes things like bicycles, automobiles, business vehicles, inverters, and more. And for a single make and model of the automobile, you may choose from a number of different variations, which differ in terms of price, capacity, amp-hours, and so on.
Tata is a name that is well recognized as one of the greatest vehicle battery brands in India; as a result, the company is consistently ranked among the industry’s front-runners. The after-sale services that Tata provides are regarded as a significant client magnet.
And for each model, you can see comparable services given at pricing that is appropriate for consumers from a variety of demographic subgroups. Undoubtedly, one of the very best in this line of work.
Liveguard
The tremendous history that Livguard has built up over the past 30 years in the field of renewable energy solutions is something the company is very proud of. Inverters and inverter batteries, car batteries, stabilizers, and home solar solutions are some of the products from this one of the best car battery manufacturers in India offer. Its long-term objective is to become the preeminent player in the market for energy-solution products and services in India.
Southern Batteries
Late Sri S R Pillai established Southern Batteries Pvt. Ltd in 1980, and the company is a manufacturer of Traction Batteries, Flat Plate Batteries, Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) Batteries, Lead Acid Tubular Batteries, and Automotive Batteries. These products are all sold under the brand name Southern Batteries.
FAQs: Car Battery
Q. Can I change my own car battery?
Ans. Yes, you can replace the battery yourself but it is better to call for assistance or a mechanic to change your battery if it gone dead. Sometimes changing batteries can be harmful if you don’t have knowledge about it.
Q. How long do automobile batteries last?
Ans. The average lifespan of automobile batteries is 36 months or more. Despite the fact that many batteries last much longer, a noticeable drop in performance becomes evident at that time.
Q. How do I know when my car’s battery needs to be replaced?
- Difficulty starting the ignition or turning over the engine
- Dashboard lights or lighting issues
- Electrical Malfunctions
- Poor Performance in Cold Weather
- Strange Odor
Q. In India, how much does a car battery cost?
Ans. The average cost of car batteries is between Rs 4,000- 16,700 in India.
Related Blog Topic:
Types of Battery
You will have to run around finding a replacement. You will always hope to find a battery that will have a better life than the dead one.
So, its always better to think about it way before they’re dead. There are a lot of different brands of batteries available in the USA market. But before we go through them, we would like to look into some types of batteries.
Lead Acid Batteries
These are the most affordable batteries you can find but they don’t hold the charge for a long time when you compare them to Absorbed Glass Mat Batteries. They can be recharged and reused until its suddenly dead.
They have very lower energy density and high power output. The basic idea behind this battery is to convert chemical energy to electrical energy.
Absorbed Glass Mat
These types of batteries came into existence way after the lead-acid type. Some of the key features are, they’re resistant from vibration, completely sealed, maintenance-free, and non-spillable. They are more expensive than traditional batteries. Modern vehicles are using these batteries as they provide high-performance.
Lithium-Ion
These types of batteries can hold more charge than any other batteries. The lithium battery is usually used for electric and hybrid vehicles. Though they can hold more charge, they can be much lighter than traditional batteries.
Best Car Battery Brand Online
Now let’s look at the top brands of the batteries that are used in the USA.
#1 Diehard
This brand was established in 1967 and they are the most premium brand in batteries. They’re owned by Advance Auto Parts and marketed by Sear Holdings.
They have been manufacturing all different types of batteries. It is compatible with SUVs, cars, trucks, golf carts, garden tractors, and snowmobiles.
They also design and develop booster cables, battery chargers, and power tools.
They are supposed to last forever, but no battery does. It does last longer than the other brands of batteries. It is a brand you can trust and rely on as they have good warranty support.
They also manufacture premium tires for different vehicles. They also manufacture, battery backups, flashlights, workboots, wiper blades, along with various vehicular batteries.
#2 Mighty Max
It is an American brand that is located in Brooklyn, Newyork. They’re into lead-acid, AGM, and lithium-ion batteries.
They are one of the most famous battery manufacturers in the USA. They provide a warranty of at least 1 year and also free shipping all around America. Many customers appreciate
Their user support as they make sure you are not displeased at any time. They have an easy return policy, where if you are not satisfied with the product, they will refund or replace it, in a quick time.
They have batteries for different usages, such as motorcycles, solar panels, computers, wheelchair, 12V and 6V SLA batteries, alarm panel, recreational usage, vacuum, power tools, and 2way radio batteries.
All details regarding batteries and their accessories have been provided in their official website. If you have any queries or questions regarding the sales and service of these batteries you can contact [email protected].
#3 Optima
We can list three reasons why Optima batteries are better than the others. They conduct electricity faster, recharge faster, and holds voltage for a longer time than other brands. It is mainly built for marine and RV applications.
They have something called as REDTOP, BLUETOP and YELLOWTOP varieties. For any application, they survive for around 4-5 years. It is 15 times more vibration and shock resistance than traditional batteries.
When you compare Optima with other batteries, these are much easier to jump start, when it’s dead.
These batteries are known to work in different climatic and varying temperatures much efficiently. They meet all the standards for health and safety.
The technology used in these batteries is AGM, pure flow, spiral cell, and deep cycle. You can get all information regarding batteries and their accessories on their website.
They provide a range of warranties depending on the type of batteries you buy, from 1 year to 3 years.
#4 ACDelco
They’re one of the world’s best brand for batteries. It is designed and developed after performing various tests so that the consumers won’t have issues while using them.
It can be used for different applications, such as marine, industrial, automotive, or recreational. This brand was established by General Motors, as soon as they started GM in around the 1900s.
Their best battery is ACDelco Professional AGM high-density performance battery.
They’re built specifically to start the vehicles in cold temperatures making it the most reliable of the lot. Unlike other batteries, its easy to install and hassle-free.
Apart from batteries, AC Delco also offers different types of equipment such as engines, filters, radiators, water pumps, spark plugs, lighting, ignition switches, chassis, bumpers, and other engine and automobile components.
They have a website where you can get all information required for the batteries.
#5 Odyssey
These batteries have a life of around 3-10 years, depending on the battery you have. It is built to protect against shock and vibration.
They work well with everyday vehicles, high-performance cars, modified vehicles, and classic cars. They have developed 3 different series of batteries, extreme series, performance series, and marine series. It can also be used for trucks, Powersports, marine, RVs, SUVs, and fleet vehicles.
They’re designed and manufactured by EnerSys Energy Products Inc. They have a series of batteries built around AGM technology. Odyssey also sells battery chargers, hold down kits, terminal adapter kits, and spacers.
Conclusion
The above brands are top-ranked in the USA. Apart from the above other good brands are Kirkland Signature, EverStart, Duralast, SoundQuest, Kinetik, and NAPA Car battery.
Batteries are of many types, but you have to first know for which purpose you need and then choose the best to do that particular job.
We hope that the information provided above was helpful for you to know about the different brands available in the market. Batteries are the unsung heroes that serve you for all different purposes.
When you replace your dead battery, make sure you give replace it with the best.
Before you go, check out some other brands here: