If there are only about three companies making batteries now-a-days then who makes Delco batteries? Way back when we had WD (through our hardware and autoparts store) pricing for AC/Delco parts (15-20 years ago) we sold Delco batteries, and of the various types we had sold we had the fewest (almost none) problems with Delco batteries. We stocked them for everything.
Since I started buying new GM/Chevy trucks in 2001 I have had battery problems with every single one. Well, my brand new 2008 has not had any problems yet, but its only a couple months old. Anyway, I had several of them replaced under warranty, but I got tired of having to have the truck(s) towed over to them so they could remove the old and install the new batttery to qualify under warranty. Between time lost and effort it was cheaper to just go buy a battery and replace it myself.
2001 Sonoma 2002 S-10 2002 Avalanche (1/2 ton Z66) 2003 Silverado 2500HD 2004 Colorado2008 Silverado 1500 (still has stock battery for now)
I just started installing CarQuest labeled 84 month warranty batteries, and I have not had a problem since. Even on the 2002 S-10 that went through three Delco batteries in the first year and a half. The battery in that truck is well over 3 years old now.
Since some hear have claimed that there are only three companies making batteries anymore. With that being said is one of those plants better or worse than the others?
Is there any way to identify which is which?
If I had a short life battery in just one truck I'ld have thought it was normal. It happens, but in five different trucks? I suppose I should say that the S-10 had a unique failure on two of its three failures. The first two failed because one of the terminals fell off (out of?) the battery. The others just all failed in less than 18 months. Sometimes much less.
I don't leave the lights on. My trucks are each driven by different employees, and we don't use them idling to run equipment. Other than being used as work vehicles to carry tools and supplies they are driven normally and serviced more regularly than the average personal vehicle.
I'm sure my experience with Delco batteries has to be unique with so many failures, but still even if I happened to just get 8 bad batteries that would still indicate what I would think is a higher than average number of bad batteries in service. All were under warranty, but I quit putting Delco batteries back in, and just started spending cash for the long warranty CarQuest label batteries because I don't seem to have the short life with them. I have yet to have to replace even one of them. All have been in service longer than the longest service life I got out of the factory batteries. Why? We have not driven them differently. Except for the S-10 leaking acid out of the broken terminals there was no corrosion. I do coat all battery terminals with grease when replacing a battery, but I can't imagine that tiny bit of preventative maintenance can be making the difference.
P.S. The CarQuest batteries are not cheap. I don't mind paying a reasonable price for good equipment.