[motorhed]

Heres the story,had a battery that was getting weak on real cold mornings it strained to start,but always would.So, I decided to get a battery before I ended up stranded.My old parts guy recently passed away and left me looking at other stores for parts.Never had any troubles returning anything,I also knew that his company replaced his bad parts without question.

Now, I go to O'reillys and buy a supposed top line battery.3 days later its dead.I recharge, check for drains,drive it around, check the voltage,everything seems kosher.Battery dies again after a cold morning,2 days later.Recharge,and the same thing happens this morning,dead battery.Never had this trouble with the old battery,it was just a little weak

So,I goto O'reillys and tell them I have battery troubles with a 3 week old battery.They take a battery tester, and it pulls 700cca on a 750 or so battery,and they tell me the batterys ok and will not replace it company policy.I explained it starts after a fresh charge but dies after 24-30 hours.

I'm thinking bullcrap,this ain't the first trip to the garage for me,been doing this work for 20 years plus.Anyway I call the main company on the website and they give me this hassle that its company policy, and the only way they will replace a battery that passes the cold cranking amps test, is for me to bring it back every morning, and they will charge it there, and then determine if they will replace it.Get it?I am stranded,and I am supposed to shlep a battery to town to prove its dead.

In other words they are fighting me to replace a 100 dollar battery,and more or less tuff crap 3 weeks after buying .

This return policy of making me the bad guy, and putting me walking I think is bunk and I feel everyone should know.

Beware O'reillys,they sell defective parts and company policy is "we don't have to take it back", no refunds.I have little experience with this company but if they operate like this,I want everyone to know.

I will not buy from this low quality parts store again. Buyer beware.

edit:I got a interstate battery and it is doing just fine.

 

[Tom95YJ]

It is their policy if it test good they can not do ****, Sears, Autozone, Advance Auto, Tire Kingdom, NTB, Merchants, Big O are all the same way. Maybe if you didn't charge it and brought the battery to them it would have failed the test. I've ran into that issue before when the customer would charge the battery before bringing it in an it would pass the test. Have you had your XJ checked for a Draw on the eletrical system, Maybe the battery did have a weak cell. I've seen new batteries come from the factory with no charge and low charges before. I wouldn't bash a company for following their policy.

 

[oldmanscherokee]

Sounds like an intermitant draw issue, give the interstate a week or so and see what happens.

And yeah if it tests fine at the time you bring it to them why would they replace it........

 

[Millermagic]

When you get home at night, unplug the negative battery cable. If the battery has power in the morning - you know you're dealing with a draw.

 

[Barrishautomoti]

Very simple draw test: park the Jeep. Key off, lights off, all accessories off and doors closed. Disconnect your negative battery cable. Get a tail light bulb and socket and wire it in between the battery negative post and the negative battery cable. As in, one of the wires from the bulb socket gets attached to the negative post, the other to the negative cable. If your light bulb lights up, even if it's dim, you have a current draw. If not, then there is no draw on the system. If it lights up, pull fuses, one at a time, until the light goes out. When it goes out, you've found what's creating a draw on your battery.

I agree that its frustrating when it seems like a company doesn't want to work with you but remember that if they didn't have policies like this then people would abuse their generosity and they would be out of business in a hurry. Personally, I buy almost all of my parts from O'Reilly. In my experience, they have the best warranty policies in the business and they have good quality parts. I have an O'Reilly battery in my XJ, and I even have one in my twin turbo Audi. Double check for a draw in your electrical system. If there isn't a draw, then it probably is a bad battery and you just need to bring it to them when it's dead and they'll take care of you.

Hope this helps.
Good Luck!

 

[Reptile]

Although it's possible the battery has had a bad cell, I'm with you guys, it sounds like a draw...

You measure a battery's condition based on its ability to hold a charge. Autozone has a battery tester that tells you if it's good or bad (green light is good) so it's not subject to interpretation. But cramping power should be a fairly reliable way to measure it as well.

Very simple draw test: park the Jeep. Key off, lights off, all accessories off and doors closed. Disconnect your negative battery cable. Get a tail light bulb and socket and wire it in between the battery negative post and the negative battery cable. As in, one of the wires from the bulb socket gets attached to the negative post, the other to the negative cable. If your light bulb lights up, even if it's dim, you have a current draw. If not, then there is no draw on the system. If it lights up, pull fuses, one at a time, until the light goes out. When it goes out, you've found what's creating a draw on your battery.

I agree that its frustrating when it seems like a company doesn't want to work with you but remember that if they didn't have policies like this then people would abuse their generosity and they would be out of business in a hurry. Personally, I buy almost all of my parts from O'Reilly. In my experience, they have the best warranty policies in the business and they have good quality parts. I have an O'Reilly battery in my XJ, and I even have one in my twin turbo Audi. Double check for a draw in your electrical system. If there isn't a draw, then it probably is a bad battery and you just need to bring it to them when it's dead and they'll take care of you.

Hope this helps.
Good Luck!

That's actually pretty smart. You could use an Amp meter in place of the bulb as well.

 

[HillbillyXpress]

Very simple draw test: park the Jeep. Key off, lights off, all accessories off and doors closed. Disconnect your negative battery cable. Get a tail light bulb and socket and wire it in between the battery negative post and the negative battery cable. As in, one of the wires from the bulb socket gets attached to the negative post, the other to the negative cable. If your light bulb lights up, even if it's dim, you have a current draw. If not, then there is no draw on the system. If it lights up, pull fuses, one at a time, until the light goes out. When it goes out, you've found what's creating a draw on your battery.

I agree that its frustrating when it seems like a company doesn't want to work with you but remember that if they didn't have policies like this then people would abuse their generosity and they would be out of business in a hurry. Personally, I buy almost all of my parts from O'Reilly. In my experience, they have the best warranty policies in the business and they have good quality parts. I have an O'Reilly battery in my XJ, and I even have one in my twin turbo Audi. Double check for a draw in your electrical system. If there isn't a draw, then it probably is a bad battery and you just need to bring it to them when it's dead and they'll take care of you.

Hope this helps.
Good Luck!

EXCELLENT!!! Not everyone has the tools to check but wire and a 12v bulb are easy to come by.

 

[motorhed]

Well as a update the interstate battery is doing great.no more problems.

I did all these tests before I complained.I also know how to kill a battery beyond repair if i was dishonest but that was not the point.Also it was drained some,they didn't charge it or want to.

And yes I will bash a company that robs me and treats me bad.everytime.
Thought it was a local thing,but the corp was called and gave me the too bad-so sad, we're real sorry but our hands are tied and you can return several consecutive days with it dead and they MIGHT replace it,and if they do it gets pro-rated even if it was crap from day 1.I just wanted a exchange.

Btw, For the record,I did have multi-meters, ammeters,alternator tester, ammco charging testing station,a old weenie roaster battery checker and a acid tester,lights,bulbs,load testers among other things.I had the tools and tests covered.The Battery failed.The junk battery now powers a junk golf cart,in between charging.