AA Car battery

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ren1316

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#272520 29-Jun-2020 11:48

All,

I bought an AA car battery on 29/10/2016 for $295 with 36months warranty.

Replaced under warranty on 22/7/2017.

It failed again in the weekend 28/6/2020. (less than 3 years from 2 battery) Maybe faulty batch? I put the battery on maintenance charge when not using the car for long period (COVID lock down).

AA Battery wont replace it saying it is past 3 years from original purchased date.

Is AA Battery right? What about Consumer product guarantee ? How do I claim against that? Is it Dispute Tribunal?

Please share your thoughts/comments. Should I just go away disgruntled consumer?

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#2514353 29-Jun-2020 11:52

As far as the warranty goes: the 3 year warranty runs from the date of the FIRST purchase, the replacement doesn't reset the warranty period.

The CGA is another matter, you would need to argue that 3 years it not a sufficiently long enough period for a battery to be expected to last. Personally I thought 3 years sounds about right for the life of a battery, but others may have different opinions.

rugrat

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#2514358 29-Jun-2020 12:02

I get about 5 years plus, and only do short trips.

In another car I had batteries failing every year, after second replacement (Third battery) they said wouldn’t replace it again.

I took the car to an auto electrician, they did something and I got many years out of last battery, so looks like a fault with car can kill the battery.

So maybe get car looked at by auto electrician, and if they can’t see anything wrong then see what else can do?

eracode

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#2514359 29-Jun-2020 12:10

Not sure that this helps the OP but we bought two new cars at the same time in 2014 - six years ago next month - and neither has required a new battery. Based on fifty years of car ownership, I believe the useful life of a car battery is way longer than three years. Maybe brand and price have something to do with it - get what you pay for?

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Bung

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#2514363 29-Jun-2020 12:22

eracode:
Not sure that this helps the OP but we bought two new cars at the same time in 2014 - six years ago next month - and neither has required a new battery. Based on fifty years of car ownership, I believe the useful life of a car battery is way longer than three years.

After 6 years all I can say is winter hasn't ended yet. What you may not know is how much reserve each battery has. You shouldn't leave park lights on and count on restarting.

I've often thought that the original batteries are better than most replacements.

muppet

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#2514367 29-Jun-2020 12:27

I would suggest not using an AA battery, they're very small and probably will go flat after 1/4 of a car start.

You're much better off getting a proper big car battery. AA batteries are also only 1.5v while a proper car battery is 12v.

timmmay

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#2514371 29-Jun-2020 12:32

Their warranty will be from original purchase date, any claim you have will be consumer guarantees. Tricky one really, three years isn't really unreasonable, but you'd need an authoritative source to justify to disputes why it should last longer. My batteries tend to last 5-6 years.

tehgerbil

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#2514372 29-Jun-2020 12:34

Hey, check the CCA on the battery, it's also possible it's not adequate for your engine.

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Linux

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#2514374 29-Jun-2020 12:35

The warranty is from this date ' 29/10/2016 ' so coming up 4 years old

tripper1000

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#2514469 29-Jun-2020 14:22

If it is the correct battery for the car, then it is almost certain that there is something unusual about the way the car is being used, or something not quite right with the cars electrical system. The battery manufactures get to know exactly how long each of their models last and set the wty accordingly.

Is the maintenance charger a smart charger or an old school analogue one?

AA resell/relabel one of the big brands, so their quality is on par with other domestically sold batteries.

linw

2849 posts

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#2514487 29-Jun-2020 14:50

I agree about factory batteries lasting longer than replacements. My Lancer Japanese battery lasted 9 years!!

ren1316

136 posts

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#2514520 29-Jun-2020 15:29

Yes, battery is correct model/specification.

Battery charger is a 7 stage 'smart' charger. Don't have model handy but a $200 job.

Battery is taken out of the car for maintenance charge.

Car electrics is confirmed "normal".

Thanks for all the replies.

mrdrifter

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#2514527 29-Jun-2020 15:37

My last car battery was an 'AA' branded one, I'm not sure who the OEM is underneath, but I wouldn't put one back in. It only lasted just a fraction over 3 years and would have been purchased slightly earlier than yours 2015/16. I wasn't super impressed when the battery prior to that had lasted 8 1/2 years.

ren1316

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#2514529 29-Jun-2020 15:39

I am definitely avoiding AA Battery.

empacher48

368 posts

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#2514626 29-Jun-2020 16:29

I find it interesting you are having issues with AA branded batteries. It’s what has been installed in my car for the last 7 years and have no problems. It may need to be replaced soon as it is taking a little longer than usual to start the car. But this could also be because it has only done short trips since I was put on LWOP from the start of lockdown.

Groucho

524 posts

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#2514938 30-Jun-2020 10:29

From experience the short battery life might come down to a security system your car might have installed. I have a 1996 Corolla which I can't leave sitting around for more than a week otherwise I get the whrrr whrrr whrrr's on startup. I was told this was due to the after market immobiliser drawing a small but over time decent phantom load when it sits around. Mindful of this and not used daily my last battery lasted 9 years. I use Century branded batteries as that's the brand of choice my guy uses.

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