My car battery dead this morning. I got it jumpstarted though. So, I'm going to get another one today. Cheapest I've found is at Advance Auto for $65. It's for a 2000 Kia Sephia. Does anyone know any other places that might be cheaper. I've tried Autozone ($66), Pep Boys ($90), Car Quest ($85), and Sears ($100).

10/26/2005 10:40:05 AM

so does the Kia need a special type of battery?

or am I missing something?

10/26/2005 10:42:54 AM

isnt there a core charge for the battery?

10/26/2005 10:46:06 AM

walmart

and yes, you should be able to trade in the old one

10/26/2005 10:59:23 AM

when it comes to batteries, i know it sounds cliche but u do get what you pay for. I have 2 in my car, a stock 550 cold cranking amp under the hood, and i a 880 cold cranking amp (dry cell) in my trunk for my system. If you just want your car to run, i would just look around calls some places, and see who has one on sale. I wouldnt spend more than 60-70 if i were u.

10/26/2005 11:02:04 AM

if you plan on keeping the car for awhile, get one with a good warranty

10/26/2005 11:12:55 AM

The cheapest I've found for $65 has a 7 year warranty (3 years free replacement). I knew someone would say Wal-Mart. I was thinking about calling Wal-Mart but I would rather get it done at a auto place.
On the core charge, it's $10 but they said It would be erased if I turn my old battery in.

[Edited on October 26, 2005 at 11:29 AM. Reason : ..]

10/26/2005 11:18:19 AM

either advance or autozone, cant remember which, are made by johnson controls, who makes die hard.

very similar if not identical quality, same warranty.

without paying for the die hard name.

10/26/2005 11:25:55 AM

I called Wal-Mart. They are cheaper .. $40 with a 2 year free replacement.
I'm going with Advance though for $65. I just feel more comfortable with them.

10/26/2005 11:30:42 AM

why not just let the alternator recharge it for free

if youre strapped for cash

10/26/2005 12:25:10 PM

lol

directly connecting an alternator would ruin your battery

10/26/2005 12:28:14 PM

Quote :

"directly connecting an alternator would ruin your battery"

^You are a moron.

The battery is connected directly to the alternator. The alternator continuosly charges the battery in normal use. If this is the first time your battery has gone dead, you'll be fine. It can be drained completely and recharged (just jump start it and let it run for awhile) several times before the battery craps out. If it keeps draining the battery, look for other electrical problems. If you're running down the road and the car just dies, that's an alternator problem. But if the battery just ran down, you jumped it, let it run to charge it up, and now it seems to be OK, you're fine, don't bother with a new battery.

10/26/2005 12:45:02 PM

The alternator produces Alternating Current

10/26/2005 12:48:26 PM

Quote :

"Since the purpose of the alternator is specifically to charge batteries, the alternating current it produces is rectified through a diode bridge. The resulting current is direct current, which can be used to charge an attached battery. This dc current can also be used to supply the field coil with current during operation. As a result, the field coil draws current from the battery only until the alternator is capable of producing its own electricity. Once the alternator is producing electricity, it is self-sustaining. "

badabing

and yes alternators are directly connected to batteries

[Edited on October 26, 2005 at 12:51 PM. Reason : ]

10/26/2005 12:50:40 PM

exactly

bridge dude

Not directly.


not directly.

[Edited on October 26, 2005 at 12:53 PM. Reason : .]

10/26/2005 12:51:13 PM

whatever the electronics are ... i meant to idle the car to recharge the battery (i.e. using the alternator)

10/26/2005 12:57:56 PM

My bad

To me, as an engineer, an alternator is something that produces alternating current.

It would be fun to watch a battery being connected directly to it, though.

10/26/2005 12:58:46 PM

Ok, I'll withdraw my "moron" comment, because if they guy was taken literally as if you were to re-wire your battery to the output of the alternator, then you're right, the battery will not accept the AC. I just made the wild leap to assume he meant hook it back up to the battery cables which are connected directly to the alternator through diodes which convert the AC to DC. Thank you for clarifying, tchenku, you picked up my slack, since esgargs wants to split hairs.

10/26/2005 12:59:26 PM

Everything is directly connected to the alternator/charging "system" (if you neglect relays)...that is my knowledge.

10/26/2005 1:02:05 PM

So are we done arguing semantics?

10/26/2005 1:08:46 PM

10/26/2005 1:09:33 PM

^^ i sure fucking hope so.

10/26/2005 1:14:10 PM

I'm going to get them to test it before I get a new one. I hope its something else but I have a feeling I might have to replace the battery.

10/26/2005 3:00:01 PM

What's the latest? is your car running fine now, after you jumped it? is your battery dead again? What do you mean you hope it is something else? A bad battery is one of the easiest and cheapest problems to fix.

10/26/2005 5:02:03 PM

i went to advance auto parts. I got it tested. Dude said it was dead. So, I got a new battery. When he was installing it, he noticed of the top post terminals was warn out. Part of it had been eaten up by the acid. So, I have to get that replaced. Other one is fine. I got the part. I just need someone to help get it installed. If anyone can help me, pm me or get me on aim - dukeoverunc2000 .. Thanks!!!

[Edited on October 26, 2005 at 6:26 PM. Reason : ..]

10/26/2005 6:25:04 PM

They do it for free at Advance, dude just changed mine out(I feellike such a waste without me tools )

10/26/2005 6:52:36 PM

I asked him and he said he would require some special tools. I guess he didn't have them.

10/26/2005 7:02:04 PM

haha, all you need is a socket set and possibly some pliers to get the old cable off.

10/26/2005 7:08:12 PM

maybe.. i dont know much about installing car parts.
I may give it a shot and see if i can get it in.

[Edited on October 26, 2005 at 7:16 PM. Reason : ..]

10/26/2005 7:12:32 PM

mine was dead this morn to can some one fix it for me, i am not sure how to.

10/26/2005 8:13:54 PM

hook up the cables backwards to charge it, duh!

10/26/2005 8:23:58 PM

woooo

i've got a 5 year old advance silver.

it leaks acid through the terminals like a bitch, but i keep it filled with *distilled water* and it cranks like new.

*crunk juice*.

[Edited on October 27, 2005 at 11:59 AM. Reason : my wal-mart battery is still ok! ]

10/27/2005 11:58:39 AM

^ I wish I had noticed my acid was leaking before

10/27/2005 12:03:38 PM

Quote :

"I called Wal-Mart. They are cheaper .. $40 with a 2 year free replacement. I'm going with Advance though for $65. I just feel more comfortable with them. "

More comfortable with the same part that came from the same factory but costs $25 more...? Awesome.

10/27/2005 2:32:22 PM

Not all batteries are the same. I bought a walmart battery and it lasted maybe 4 years. Bought an Exide battery and it lasted at least 7 years. Plus it has much hight Cold Cranking Amps.

10/27/2005 2:47:42 PM

I assumed he was talking about the same model/brand...Of course a better/more expensive one is going to be, well..better.

10/27/2005 2:53:42 PM

Modern Maintenance Free batteries should last for like 10 years

atleast

But they are available only in Asia.

10/27/2005 3:03:20 PM

Um no

10/27/2005 3:11:39 PM

um yes

10/27/2005 3:12:18 PM

they are availble here dipshit

10/27/2005 3:14:20 PM

my bad


I don't see people using them here.

10/27/2005 3:14:47 PM

That's cause you are an idiot that never leaves the keyboard.

10/27/2005 3:17:35 PM

stfu

10/27/2005 3:22:34 PM

They run you out of shit shat again?

10/27/2005 3:27:29 PM

10/27/2005 3:28:23 PM

Go fuck a goat gargs. You won't need the rubbers...or will you?

10/27/2005 3:45:03 PM

interstate and ac delco batteries last forever, had an ac in my old truck, original battery, for 8 1/2 years, and an interstate in my mustang for 7 years before i sold it, personally i go for as high a cranking amp battery that i can get in the same group size, they tend to last longer

10/27/2005 8:58:41 PM

I am full of obscure automotive facts. Its not very widely known, and its not 100% relevant to the topic at hand, but its true that out of all auto batteries, even within the same brands, certian sizes will always last longer than others given the same operating environment. For example, group 35 sizes are more durable than group 24, etc. It has to do with the actual physical size and shape of the lead plates inside the battery if I remember correctly.

What battery you choose depends on a couple of important factors, first- what kind of demands you put on it. Ask yourself is it a modified vehicle sporting a fancy stereo, do you frequently use your electrical system without running the engine, or are you driving the basic stock shitbox Kia? Second, and ultimately, what is your budget?

I would just get the cheapest battery (probably the wal-mart everstart) in the correct size, for the Kia.


Someone mentioned Interstates are good, yes generally they are good batteries, but I have had some bad luck in the past with the cheaper ones, specifically the MEGATRON batteries.

I use either the top of the line Advance/AutoZone batteries in my long term vehicles that I depend on, or red top Optimas when I need big time starting juice. I always buy from the local auto stores like that because they generally know how to do pro-rata returns quickly in the event of a problem down the line.

Also note that NO line of batteries will be without problems of some sort. As long as people buy things there will be things out there with problems if you know what I mean, and with high dollar items that people depend heavily on, such as auto batteries, you are more likely to learn of failures by word-of-mouth.

10/27/2005 9:32:34 PM

also understand that warrenties are pro-rated after the replacement period, so if it has a 7 year warranty, and craps out in 5, you might get $10 back on a $70 battery

10/27/2005 9:37:38 PM

i cant speak on parts store company policy

I will add though that the hassle of returning a bad battery to Wal-Mart, Sam's, BJ's, etc etc etc will NOT be worth a few dollars savings vs. buying from a discount auto store. ADV/AZ sell more batteries than you might imagine and know how to handle returns/defects easily. Also just about all of them offer free electrical system testing, even on products that werent purchased from their store. Having an experienced counterperson bench test a starter, alternator or battery is ALWAYS preferred over using cart-based equipment curbside.

10/27/2005 9:44:55 PM