Are Walmarts Everlast MAXX batteries any good?

[Tom Colitt]

I know that Interstate batteries have a good reputation and the Mercedes batteries are not worth their high price tag, but the Everlast batteries come with a low price tag and a good warranty so I was curious if anyone had any experience with them....

Thanks, Tom

[badali]

I had bad luck with the walmart battery.  I had to have it replaced several times usually in the spring.  Even after charging during the winter they naver seemed to hold a charge.  It was a free replacement each time but it was more trouble than I thought it should be.

[Raymond]

My experience with anything that Wal-mart sells is that everything is acquired by them purely on profit margin without regard for quality.  You may get lucky and find a good deal, or you may be stuck with some inferior goods.  (Did you know that Wal-mart is the largest purveyor of Chinese made products in the US?)  If you just want cheap, you'll get it.  What's the difference in cost between a known quality product like Interstate, vs, the Wal-mart brand that is made by who knows who?  If you're slapping a battery into a car for a quick sale, go cheap.  IMHO, if you're doing a collector vehicle go with Interstate or, for one that will only be driven occasionally, choose Optima. 

[Tom Colitt]

Thanks guys. I think that's already all I needed to know. I'm not really very used to shopping at Walmart and I guess for some silly reason I thought they also sell good brand name products cheaper and O thought I recognized the Everlast brand name. But the more I think about it, I think I also bought a few pairs of Everlast sneakers for $20 each so maybe the Everlast brand is just for sale to anyone who wants to sell something cheap and make it sound like a quality brand. Thanks for the input. I still would like to hear about good battery recommendations. Optima is out of the question for me. For a Pagoda any quality battery that is simply rectangular and Black :-)....

[hauser]

My Daily driver is at the shop.  One thing that needs replacement is the battery.  I told the guy not to put in an Iterstate battery and his reply was that Iterstate manufactures the MB battery.  Any truth to this?

[IXLR8]

There are only about three manufacturers of car batteries in the US.

Johnson Controls, Exide, and Interstate. Maybe, Delco is another.

When you buy a car battery, you get one of these three or four despite the brand name and retail seller.

All batteries fail as the acid solution leaves sulfate deposits in the bottom of the case, and these deposits short out the plates. Result--dead cell

I have a battery in my R107 that is 9 years old. I keep a pulse type Battery Minder on it whenever it is not being driven. The pulse is said to reverse the sulfation process, and, it seems to be working.


Joe

[66andBlue]

Delco batteries are now made in Ontario by Oshawa Car Assembly Plant.
Perhaps the Benz Dr knows more about this factory.

[hauser]

My SL came with an Astro Lite battery.  It actually looked good in the engine compartment as it was all black.  It has since been replaced by an Optima.  Every Interstate battery I have had (2) has not lasted more than four years.

[Tom Colitt]

Joe

Very interesting and I would like to know the brand of your battery minder.... What do they charge these days? $20/h?.....

Thanks, Tom

[badali]

My 1999 toyota corolla has the original AC Delco battery from the factory still going strong.

[thelews]

Joe

Very interesting and I would like to know the brand of your battery minder.... What do they charge these days? $20/h?.....

Thanks, Tom

I use Deltran Battery Tenders over the winter, 6 cars.  Works great and a great price at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger/dp/B000CITK8S/ref=lh_ni_t

[IXLR8]

Tom--

If had a "battery minder" at $20/hr, she would also change the oil, polish the chrome and serve me a hot toddy at regular intervals.

As it is, my Battery Minder (brand name) is the 12V, 1.2 amp model available many places on line--Amazon, eBay, etc., for $39, free shipping.

Joe

[Benz Dr.]

Delco batteries are now made in Ontario by Oshawa Car Assembly Plant.
Perhaps the Benz Dr knows more about this factory.

I know the plant is located north east of Toronto and it makes GM cars - that's about it. There are several plants across Ontario, Chrylser in Windsor, Ford in St. Thomas, Cami ( Toyota ) near Woodstock and Honda near Aliston which is north of Toronto. There was a truck plant near St Thomas and the International assembly plant in nerarby Chatham - both were closed recently.
The Ford plant in St Thomas was still making full frame Crown Victorias which is a favoured choice for police cars. Not sure what they will replace them with.

What a lot of people don't know is that Ontario is the largest vehical manufacturer in NA. I imagine the NAFTA agreements are part of this, the Asian cars plants are all non union ( but pay similar wages ), and the national health care plan factors into this. The real incentive is that corporate taxes are about 17%.
The newer plants ( Honda and Toyota ) only hired young people when they set up 15 - 20 years ago. They weren't saddled with pension plans by doing this and had many years to prepare as workers retired.

[Tom Colitt]

Thanks guys

I've used the Deltron chargers too, I just wasn't sure if they were the pulse type that Joe mentioned. The hot toddy sounds good even though I don't know what one is...

[jacovdw]

A toddy usually means a mixed drink (mixed with alcohol) that is served hot.

The one definition of toddy that I'm familiar with, is the alcoholic brew made from the fermented sap from palm trees in southern India (eg. Kerala).
A rather deceptive drink for the uninitiated...

[Jim Donati]

Tom:
Then you probably don't know what a highball is either!

Jim

[Tom Colitt]

Thing is, I probably do. I just can't remember the name :-)....