I am pretty disappointed in the Duralast battery sold by Autozone for Saab 9-3s. The "Duralast" sold to me was not durable nor did it last; it failed just short of two and half years in the car.

On 7/29/05, 2005 the OEM battery in my Base 9-3 five door was pre-emptively replaced, after very nearly five years of faithful service to me in my Saab. Battery choices were pretty limited here in the boonies south of the Finger Lakes, an Interstate at the dealer, 50 miles away, a pretty expensive Sears International, not in stock, and one Duralast model at the Autozone that would fit the 9-3. Consumer Reports seems to say that their new battery rated the Duralast decently, and so I bought a model 47 DL battery for $83.15 with tax.

On Friday, 1/18/08, on leaving work around six p.m. on a rather ordinary winter day, the Duralast would not turn the engine over. I carry cable and jumped it from a colleague's car. The battery had struggled the last few days before, but who would believe that a modern battery would not last even three years? I drove it all over creation to charge it up that night, and then backed it inton the attached garage, just in case.

Saturday a.m., the Duralast still could not turn the engine over. I had to make a 360 mile run to Plattsburgh, so I bought the Sears International Battery for nearly twice what was paid for the Autozone battery. It got down to -2 degrees last night on the shore of Lake Champlain, and the car started up like a champ this morning.

All cells had electrolyte up to the proper level, and the battery never had any deep discharges nor did it ever sit more than a few days without being charged.

Autozone indicated they would give me around $20 off the price of a replacement battery, since it was beyond the two year replacement period. Not worth it. Screw me once, shame on you. Screw me again, and shame on me.

Just my two cents.
DER

posted by 66.24.5...

• Autozone Duralast battery - Is not and did not - rant, DER, Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:46:01 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Did you confirm a few things first?, OhSaabIAOh, Wed, 23 Jan 2008 01:03:39
  • I usually look for Exide (+), vvk, Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:18:54
  • 2-1/2 to 3 years seems to be the norm......, MI-Roger , Tue, 22 Jan 2008 11:08:39
  • Saab OEM batters don't last any longer..., thegens, Tue, 22 Jan 2008 02:57:52
    • Re: Saab OEM batters don't last any longer..., DER, Tue, 22 Jan 2008 05:45:34
      • Re: Saab OEM batters don't last any longer..., thegens, Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:23:13
        • Re: Saab OEM batters don't last any longer..., DER, Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:48:39
    • I'm gonna jinx myself..., Boston Baab, Tue, 22 Jan 2008 05:45:13
      • Gotcha beat!, Steinway, Tue, 22 Jan 2008 11:37:45
        • Re: Gotcha beat!, GArry, Sat, 26 Jan 2008 15:49:00
  • You get what you pay for, turrbo , Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:50:30
    • Re: You get what you pay for, self, Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:03:54
    • Optima stinks - mine lasted two years...., Saabinhappy, Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:00:57
    • On the other hand, I had a Sears DieHard, Noel, Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:21:33
    • Re: You get what you pay for, Justin VanAbrahams , Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:50:55
      • Re: You get what you pay for, saabsince 93b , Sun, 27 Jan 2008 13:39:18

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