Optima warranty & storage questions

[woody]

Okay the background: In Aug. 2006 I bought an Optima red top dual-terminal 34/78. Used it in my XJ (for starting only) from then through April 2007. 4-07, I picked up a cheap-beater Mercedes Benz, and the XJ has more or less sat since. After a few months of very occasional use -just warming it up for 15 min or so- it went limp. It would take a trickle-charge, but that would only hold for a short time (hours, not days) Kaput, Muerto, Tango Uniform, etc.

This past weekend went through battery hell, replaced the giant one in the M-B, and also needed & bought one for our pickup.

Anyways I knew that the red-top had a 36mo free replacement, then some pro-rating crap... As it turns out I had my years wrong: I thought I got it 8-05, not 8-06. I dug deep into my XJ parts receipt box, and found the original. Turned it in yesterday at the AutoZone where I bought it... they didn't have a 34/78, so I 'settled' for a dual-terminal 75/25 red top (a little less CCA than 34/78)

The way it worked out was they took back my old one, and gave me a credit for $170-+. I used that on the new one, it was a few bucks difference, with me getting a bit of change back.

So after reading all that, and if you're still keeping up... heres my question: With this 'new' battery, does the 36mo free replacement window start over, or does the old warranty stay in force for it's remaining time (-+7 mo)???

I am not a greedy sort, but if I can score a new battery every 35.5 months or so, I won't be complaining...

Question 2: The new battery... how should I keep it? I'll probably toss it back in the XJ for it's monthly warm-up/drive arround the block, but if I could get better life out of it by storing it inside in the warm, & occasional 1 amp tickle??? What say you? I guess the answer to Q2 depends on the answer to Q1.

 

[5-90]

When I was holding down a counter, the warranty restarted when you had to replace the battery - and this seemed to be a standard. This makes sense - what happens is that you paid for the time you used the battery before it melted down, and then you got a NEW battery. So, you should have a new warranty now.

Granted, this was a few years ago, but I had to replace a battery a bit more recently (~2 years, standard Die Hard,) and the same thing applied. So, I think it still applies.

 

[wolfpackjeeper]

It should continue on the old warranty. That is teh way it was running when I just got out of parts less than a year ago. And that is the way that AutoZone treated my red top when I needed a new one later. Otherwise when you bought 1 3yr warranty batter as long as you could get it to go bad every three years you wold be set for life.

If the counter guy rang the sale up wrong you might have just bought a new batter with store credit, and have a full warranty. I know I rang a few up that way when I was trying to help someone out. It should list the amount of warranty below the battery on the receipt.

 

[woody]

Hmmm, it looks like I might have got the hookup???

"Item: 310356 75-25 Optima Auto Battery
7 year / 84 month warranty on above item
36 months free replacement period"

It's a drag I didn't find the receipt for the old one before we replaced the pickup truck battery.

 

[Steve_Moore]

It starts from the time you get the new battery.

 

[kujito]

I only know from blue tops, but storage should be @ or near room temperature. Don't store it on bare concrete. The blue tops are supposed to be able to take a full charge after being completely drained (electrically) and sitting idle, when stored @ room temp for 12 months. I used to leave mine in the boat over the winter (Oct. thru Apr for boating purposes), disconnected and charged. Every spring those batts. would kick the 350 cu. in. motor right over and she'd fire right up.

 

[wolfpackjeeper]

It starts from the time you get the new battery.

Like I said working parts for Advance for 4 years, and dealing with several other chains I have only seen this be the case when the cashier screws up the return.

Case:

I buy a 3 year full warranty 7 year pro rate battery.
After 3 years it craps out and I go for the return.
Since the new battery is replacing an old battery, it goes on that warranty because that was the purchased battery. You Have the 7 year pro-rate left. NOT the full 10 year warranty. This was the COMPANY policy at Advance, and a battery I had gotten at autozone was treated the same way. The warranty is continued from the old battery. Advance did this on all warranty items. Otherwise that 3 year warranty is good for life as long as you time it correctly.

How to get around this: Do not bring your receipt, or go to a parts store where you know the cashier. It is hard to do this at autozone since the stores are all linked. But if they let you, their only choice is to look at the date on the battery, they have no way of knowing if the battery was previously replaced. If the date is within the free warranty period they will have to replace it. But they are probably going to make a dedicated effort to find out where it was purchased (unless the clerk knows you), especially with lead costs the way they are.