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From: warren@ihnss.UUCP (Warren Montgomery)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Re: Sears batteries revisited, and m
Message-ID: <2243@ihnss.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 24-Sep-84 10:36:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihnss.2243
Posted: Mon Sep 24 10:36:22 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Sep-84 08:26:37 EDT
References: <57@umcp-cs.UUCP> <69600009@hp-pcd.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 60

Years ago I had a sears 48 month battery in my Toyota, with mixed
results.  Naturally I bought it on the first cold day of the year
and wound up putting it in myself rather than waiting 2 hours, after
discovering that they would not take a check or a major credit card,
only their own or cash (and they were none too keen on cash).  The
battery lasted it's rated 4 years and died a slow death, though it
may have been aided by a failing alternator.

Determined to try something new and looking for a bargain, I bought
K-mart 4 year battery the next time around.  They checked the car
out thoroughly and didn't try to stick me with anything.  I was
really that happy with the battery, which was a maintenance free
type.  (You can't tell if the thing is properly full, or what the
state of the charge is without special instruments.  I never did
mind filling one every once in a while, and it was reassuring to
know that it was full and the acid was the proper density.)  In 2
years it got hard to start the car in the cold, and I took it back. 
They checked the car and battery, finding nothing but tightening the
alternator belt as a precaution, but they took the battery and
recharged it, leaving me a loaner for a week while they did it, at
no charge (cost).  After some independent testing, I decided that my
voltage regulator was on it's last legs, and replaced it.  (The old
one was a mechanical type and somewhat eratic, but didn't put out
enough under heavy load).
After another 2 years, it was again getting hard to start, so I took
it back at the first sale of the fall, thinking I would buy a new
battery.  Before they would sell me one they tested the car and
reported the alternator was bad.  I didn't believe them, having
tested the voltage myself, but the mechanic was happy to show me
what the trouble was on his scope, It seems that I had a failing
diode or two, which meant that the peak voltage was just fine, but I was
only getting it on one phase, which showed quite clearly on the
scope.  The peak, however, was good enough to fool my voltmeter and
the regulator and guages into believing that everthing was fine. 
They indicated that they thought the battery would go another couple
of years.  They didn't have the proper alternator, and sent me home
with no charge for the diagnosis.  I bought my own rebuilt
alternator and put it in, and the car ran fine for another 2 years
until dying a rusty death.

Normally I wouldn't dream of recommending K-mart to anyone for auto
service, and I suspect that what you get depends more on the local
operator than on K-mart policty, but these folks were clearly out
to provide good service.  (I also once bought tires from them for
the same car, wanting only something that would hold air for another
year or two, and though I came in for their current bottom of the
line tire, they found a couple of tires left over from a previous
supplier which were better quality that he would sell to me for less
money.  A bargain for both of us, since they were only taking up
space in his shop).

The bottom line is that it pays to find someone you can trust and
stands behind the product.

-- 

	Warren Montgomery
	ihnss!warren
	IH (8-367) x2494