Scam At Walmart--Battery replacement

[DJS]

Originally Posted by 92Roadster

...is that true for dashboard gauges that indicate higher
than 16, I have seen on my gauge from time to time but
have not had a problem with it.....

Vette gauges tend to read high & are not an indicator of actual readings. Like your car my volt meter reads high, I use it to insure the system is functioning not how well it is functioning.

Key on read the volts, start engine. If the volt reading is higher than the key on reading the system is charging.

You cannot test for a sulphated battery using the vehicle electrical system.

Test volts across the battery using an analog or digital volt meter. Engine off 12.4 - 12.6V = ok. Engine running @ 2000 rpm accessories off mid 14V range ok. If 15+ volts replace the regulator in the alternator. Continous overcharging (15V +) will kill a battery. Not instantly but gradually.

[87vette81big]

Originally Posted by 92Roadster

....be careful, don't get bit in the butt...

...."Knowledgeable & informed individual's"....don't get caught up in rumor...

We can play & have cage matches in DC Newsroom Roy.
A daily thing for us that hang out there after hours.

[iburke]

Originally Posted by 87vette81big

I like to use the phrase " Knowledgeable & informed individual".

Professional has been so over used & misrepresented the last 20 years.

Anyhow, there is a Rumor going around that Most Auto & Light Truck batteries are now manufactured in china.
A few like Optima are now made in Mexico.
A large majority of batteries used to be made in Rockford, IL for companies like Interstate Batteries. With the recession, I am pretty sure they are now gone.
Can not confirm, but I have heard GM Delco batteries are shipped from overseas.
Has quality gone down ?
Up to all us to keep tabs & use correct battery testing procedures.

The Red top Opitma in my 87 is going on 3 years old. Made in Mexico. So far so good. I put a battery maintenance charger on it every 2 weeks when not driven.

I hate to tell you but the above about interstate is all false, I live close to a large Interstate battery plant that makes both lead acid and AGM batteries. My neighbor works for them. They run 3 shifts a day and are alive and well in the good old USA.

[87vette81big]

Originally Posted by iburke

I hate to tell you but the above about interstate is all false, I live close to a large Interstate battery plant that makes both lead acid and AGM batteries. My neighbor works for them. They run 3 shifts a day and are alive and well in the good old USA.

Are they making the Optima Red Top & Yellow Top AGM batteries there also to your knowledge ?

The original Optima Red Tops made in the USA lasted up to 15 years from some old Auto Forum Posts I have read. By the time I decided to buy a Red Top, made in Mexico.
So far so good.

[iburke]

Originally Posted by DJS

Vette gauges tend to read high & are not an indicator of actual readings. Like your car my volt meter reads high, I use it to insure the system is functioning not how well it is functioning.

Key on read the volts, start engine. If the volt reading is higher than the key on reading the system is charging.

You cannot test for a sulphated battery using the vehicle electrical system.

Test volts across the battery using an analog or digital volt meter. Engine off 12.4 - 12.6V = ok. Engine running @ 2000 rpm accessories off mid 14V range ok. If 15+ volts replace the regulator in the alternator. Continous overcharging (15V +) will kill a battery. Not instantly but gradually.

Where do you get these facts??? I have owned 5 vettes and have not hat one that read high when tested? As a mater of fact I have driven Chevrolet's for the last 50 years and have never see a Chevy Volt or Amp gauge read high when tested with a Fluke volt or Amp meter

[92Roadster]

Originally Posted by 87vette81big

Are they making the Optima Red Top & Yellow Top AGM batteries there also to your knowledge ?

The original Optima Red Tops made in the USA lasted up to 15 years from some old Auto Forum Posts I have read. By the time I decided to buy a Red Top, made in Mexico.
So far so good.

.....

[87vette81big]

Originally Posted by 92Roadster

.....

[DJS]

Originally Posted by iburke

Where do you get these facts??? I have owned 5 vettes and have not hat one that read high when tested? As a mater of fact I have driven Chevrolet's for the last 50 years and have never see a Chevy Volt or Amp gauge read high when tested with a Fluke volt or Amp meter

Empirical evidence.

If you have had factory analog gauges that are spot on you are indeed a lucky man.

Manufacturing design specifications limit products to a certain
+ (plus) - (minus) specification. 2 gauge senders from an identical batch that test & pass design spec limits with one passing on the +(plus) side of specs & the other passing on the
-(minus) side of spec will cause a different reading on the same analog gauge.

I consider all factory analog gauge operation to be similar to a fuel gauge. They let you know you have something but not exactly how much.