There are certain guidelines that the battery manufacturers follow when accepting warranties for batteries. The consumers often don’t understand the items that are not covered under the batteries warranty. Hundreds and thousands of batteries everyday are denied warranty coverage due to these guidelines. We are going to review these guidelines in today’s post.

• A battery that is damaged from overcharging or improper attempt of jump starting
• Excessive Corrosion
• A melted battery case due to a vehicle engine fire
• Loose, broke, or melted battery post
• Over-torqued or melted side terminals
• Hole in the battery case
• Evidence of freezing
• Battery is discharged from defective charging system, lights being left on and etc.
• Use of a lower capacity battery than specified as original equipment manufacturer(OEM)
• The use of a Automotive starting battery in a marine/Deep cycle application
• Installation of a battery in reverse polarity or recharging a battery in reverse

Generally speaking, a battery is not covered under the manufacturers warranty due to neglect or abuse. However, you would be surprised how many consumers attempt to turn in batteries in the above mentioned conditions.

Excessive Corrosion

Hole in Battery

Melted Battery Post

Battery Warranty

Battery warranties is a confusing subject amongst a lot of people. We here at bestbatterytip.com  are going to clear the fog on the subject.

When buying a battery and considering the warranty, the number one consideration is FREE REPLACEMENT. Lets face it, the consumer wants to know how long the battery will be replaced free of charge. Now, the manufactures have played this games for many many years, and understand the game very well. Its like going to Vegas, the odds favor the house. In this case, the odds favor the manufactures. I mean lets face it, the manufactures can’t be giving out free batteries all the time and still make money. The average lifespan of a automobile battery is 38 to 40 months. You’ll see batteries that offer a 1 year free replacement, 2 year free replacement, and 30 months free replacement. Using the 1 year free replacement is rare but does happen. The 2 year free replacement is rarely used as well. Now the Thirty month free replacement is hit the most among the three. Which makes sense because the odds are in the favor of the consumer with the longer period of time for something to go wrong. However with that being said, the manufactures have proven that the odds are in their favor based on return rates. So the longer the free replacement time frame is, the better chance of the consumer being able to cash in on it is. As long as you are not paying more than the batteries worth though of course. Farm batteries, golf cart batteries, lawn & Garden batteries, Marine batteries, and ATV batteries do not offer those same kind of free replacement time frames. Once again, the manufactures know that these batteries are seasonal and not used and maintained day in and day out. Most of these batteries will die early due to sulfation, because of not being kept charged up in the non peak seasons. Only 15 percent of the consumers of these batteries maintain them as they should for longevity. Most of these batteries will only carry 3 month, 6 month, and 12 month free replacement. Any time you see a longer free replacement time than 12 months on these types of batteries you are ahead of the game. I’ve seen some with as much as 18 months free replacement on these seasonal batteries.

Battery Pro Rate

Batteries almost always have a pro rate warranty with them. A battery that has a 30 month free replacement and a 60 month pro rate warranty works like this. The manufacture is going to charge the consumer for the time they have used the battery. Lets say you pay 100 dollars for this battery. Take 100 divided by 60 and you come up with $1.67. So lets say you have problems with this battery at 50 months and need to get a new one. You would take 50 months multiply it by the monthly pro rate amount of 1.67 and you come up with $83.50. This is what you will pay to replace that battery. Now remember, you paid 100 dollars for it and after 50 months of use you will pay $83.50 versus $100. You save $16.50, or should we say it cost the manufacture $16.50. Of course that’s a drop in the bucket to the battery manufactures, and besides that not many consumers even go back to buy the same brand they had to begin with. Like I said, the odds favor the manufactures.