Junkyard batteries... dependable?

[4DoorBlackTop]

I need another battery for my car. Mine is 3.5 years old and I will call the company tomorrow to see if it's still under warranty, most likely it won't be. Last year I got a junkyard battery for my dads car before we sold it and it worked out fine and was only $22. I am thinking about getting one for my car, but I have a 2,000+ road trip coming up and am a little uncertain about buying one from a junkyard and putting my trust into it.

The reasoning for my post is to find out experience from this community. Are junkyard batteries in any of your daily drivers? Are they only worth putting in when selling a car?

I am really on the fence about this. I want to go to U-Pull-It and I know they have a 45 exchange policy, but it wouldn't do me much good if it craps out 900 miles from home. The more I think about it, the more I think it's a bad idea. I would look for the manufacturing date and get the newest one possible, no older than 1.5 years. Plus go right to Autozone to have it tested right after purchase.

Sorry to ramble on.

Thoughts please!

Click to read more...

 

[Burtonrider10022]

So... uh... what kind of car and what kind of battery? Someone might know of a better plan...

 

[Stink Star]

Dude, just buy a cheap autozone battery.... They can't be more than like $60

 

[Fish]

I usually end up getting the $100 battery from autozone. Gold w/warranty. I think they do have cheaper batteries like Stink said.

 

[WOLVERINE]

Go for it! Junk yards are known for selling only the most reliable highest quality batteries. I use nothing else.

Don't be one of those fools that buy a battery from a store that will offer a warranty and replacement nationwide. Pity dem fools.

 

[1quick]

menards has batteries for pretty cheap also

 

[Burtonrider10022]

K-Mart or Wal-Mart also for cheap batteries. Sometimes Sears has ridiculous sales as well.

And go into the auto parts section, there are several members here that can and are willing to get you a discount at PepBoys, Autozone, Advance, etc.

 

[dmint]

This cant be a serious post. Just because a battery is 3.5 yrs old doesnt mean its about to die! Batteries usually last 5-6 yrs. When I traded in my 03 Mach 1 back in January, it was still the original one that came with the car from the factory! 9 years old and the car fired up the first time, everytime! All I did was pop the covers off, checked the water level and used a battery tester to make sure it was ok. Also the car was a stick, so I wasnt that worried if I came out and it didnt start.

 

[Burtonrider10022]

This cant be a serious post. Just because a battery is 3.5 yrs old doesnt mean its about to die! Batteries usually last 5-6 yrs. When I traded in my 03 Mach 1 back in January, it was still the original one that came with the car from the factory! 9 years old and the car fired up the first time, everytime! All I did was pop the covers off, checked the water level and used a battery tester to make sure it was ok. Also the car was a stick, so I wasnt that worried if I came out and it didnt start.

Actually... my early model-year '05 Audi was still on the factory battery when I sold it in March of '11. So yeah, dmint makes a fair point that your battery may still have some life left in it.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

if you have the time to keep looking id say junkyard. i look at the takeout batterys everytime i go there, found an az redtop with a year old sticker for 30$ once and a minty megatron.

a majority of the time its 3yo or older or its beatup/etc.

but if ya got the time to "shop" for the perfect one, go for it....otherwise get something cheap with a warranty

 

[G_T_O]

Just go to advance and get the gold with the 3year free replacement and 7 year pro rated plan. I've bought numerous battery's from them under the Tcg account for under 100 bucks and have had no issues yet

 

[EmersonHart13]

The GTO has one, and works great for almost a year now. Came with the car, previous owner told me about it so I wouldn't be caught off guard.

 

[DynaSlim]

I will always swear by my junk yard batteries. They even have new ones that have off-prints or w/e.

 

[EmersonHart13]

Mine looked new when I got the car.

 

[Flyn]

Get the junkyard battery. Then get a used cell phone battery to match. That way, when you can't start your car in the middle of the desert, you won't be able to call for help either.

 

[Yaj Yak]

i have had one in my black car currently for a while...

when you purchase a used car do you swap out the battery immediately upon purchase? no. then why not use a junkyard battery... fuckit.

 

[Flyn]

Yeah but the difference is the used battery in the car you buy has been charging/using charge on a regular basis. It hasn't been charged once, tossed on a shelf or the ground and sat for months or years.

Junkyard batteries are a crapshoot. They're like those carnival ducks. Pick one and hope to win a prize.

 

[Yaj Yak]

they are typically guaranteed..

 

[Flyn]

A warranty is only as good as what it gets you. A Sears warranty gets you nationwide replacement. A junkyard warranty gets you that junkyard giving you another junkyard battery when you get the original back to that junkyard.

 

[Yaj Yak]

you troll harder and are more belligerent than ilikemtb ever could be. it's impressive.

i could walk outside up here in cold freezing illinois, report the weather, and you would dispute it

 

[Zack]

What a stupid fucking thread.

Remember when I gave Dominicks car back after undoing the abortion it was?
Remember him swearing he would maintain the car appropriately?

First, diagnose why its dead in the morning like I told you on the phone. \....and you told me the brake lights stay on sometimes.

Put 2 and 2 together you fucking retard.

Sorry for the language but you come on here and sound like a pre-schooler.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

lol ford brake light switches.

 

[slowchevy]

If money is that tight you can't buy a brand new cheap battery... should you really be making a long trip?

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

half the fun of towing my wagn up rt 66 with my 68 f250 was having all my tools and fixing the truck several times along the route with excellent scenery

 

[Stink Star]

If money is that tight you can't buy a brand new cheap battery... should you really be making a long trip?

LOL I WAS THINKING THIS MYSELF, BUT I GAVE HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT THINKING MAYBE IT WASNT A VACATION, MAYBE HE IS DOING SOMETING FOR WORK OR VISITING SOMEBODY