Crap Batteries

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Midwest Trucker, Jan 8, 2021.

  1. bzinger

    bzinger Road Train Member

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    I know of what you speak , I'm on my 3rd set of 4 batteries in 3 years in my cascadia with a diesel apu and I take care of my batteries.....1st set was from freightliner, 2 nd from kenworth the set im on now are interstates so time will tell .
     
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  3. jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

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    Last year I changed out Interstates a few months away from 7 years. Only because I had the day off and age was concerning me. Keep them clean and lubed goes along way. I'll spend the money on them for that type of service.
     
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  4. GreenPete359

    GreenPete359 Road Train Member

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    You don’t get it. Sure they’ll honor the warranty, they have to. But nobody can stop them from telling you they are 3 weeks out on service every time you call. Kenworth can’t force then to keep your truck in the shop either, they’ll pull it in tear it down & pull it out then order parts. Now you have to wait for a bay to open again after the parts arrive.

    welcome to small town USA man. It happens everyday.
     
  5. God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

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    You said those Interstate batteries were seven years old. I know Interstate batteries of the past were top notch, but I swear I heard they got bought out and were now just "run of the mill". Any truth to that? I used to run nothing but Interstate's in anything I could fit them in.
     
  6. jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

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    OH
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    I've heard that too. All I run. Used to sell them at a shop. Never replaced one under warranty that I knew of. Tried a Napa in my spare pickup. Allways thought they were decent. Wish I hadn't tried. Replaced in the first 5 months. Tried being cheap because its hardly gets 3k miles a year.

    They seem to work for me, keep dirt washed off top. Cables clean and lubed. But knowing your alt, starter and cables are in good repair help.
     
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  7. DUNE-T

    DUNE-T Road Train Member

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    This is hilarious. I remember Farmerbob and TallJoe posting how they paid over $500 for batteries installation. I thought that was pretty excessive for a half hour labor
     
  8. God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

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    Jesus, was that just labor??
     
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  9. DUNE-T

    DUNE-T Road Train Member

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  10. SmallPackage

    SmallPackage Road Train Member

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    Marion Texas
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    From what I understand is Johnson Controls sold off its automotve battery operations which includes Interstate and Optima to Brookfield Business Partners around May 2019. The Optimas look like they are made and marketed by Continental out of Dallas now. Interstate I’m not sure about.
     
  11. TallJoe

    TallJoe Road Train Member

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    @DUNE-T, @God prefers Diesels, @Farmerbob1

    Mine included both - the batteries and the labor (zusammen). He charged two and half hours for labor $175 but indeed that was the time he spent on it to clean up the cables and rotten mounts. Total bill was $567 where the labor was $175 and the four Volvo batteries $392.
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2021
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