Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire NAPA Legend Batteries

Just replaced the one in the wife’s van. It went in November 19, 2011.

8 years, 2 months ain’t too bad.

I to, have had good luck with NAPA batteries! And, I get a pretty good price....quite a bit cheaper than Interstate. memtb

Got any idea who their supplier is?

And did you pull caps and keep the electrolytes topped up? I'm usually good for about 6-7 years on a good battery.

Geno

That’s real good.


I had a Sears 60 in my Dodge powerwagon I drove to high school, lasted almost 10 years.


Nothing since has been that good.

Most batts last about 3 to 4 years for me. I don’t drive the 10 vehicles we have enough to be beneficial to battery life.

I’ve brought 3 batteries into my laundry room just for the winter to keep a trickle rotation on them and keep in an 80 f environment.

I think that somebody has a video where they tear a bunch of batteries apart and the rods in the NAPA ones are disintegrating or something.

Well, I didn’t use electrolyte. Just DI. Losts of starts under relatively challenging conditions.

It wasn’t dead, but starts were getting sluggish @ -20. Even plugged in. Had it load tested and capacity was half. Not unexpectedly.

I have a Diehard Gold that's been in my truck for 20 years. Once a year I top off the cells and it's been drop-dead reliable.


I couldn't get more than a couple years out of an Interstate no matter what I do to it.

I believe I have read there are only a few battery manufacturers in the US, is that true?

DI is all I use also. Was told that works fine.

Understand the sluggish starts when the temps drop. I use an oversize battery when I can fit one in the tray. Old trick from my first Subaru wagon. Came with a huge battery for an 85 horse, 4 cyl motor. Bigger than was in my 64 Fairlane.

Good luck with the new one.

Geno

Seems like i read East penn / deka is all that’s left.

What ever USA brand you get is made there.

I use the Duracell from Sams club. USA made.

Thanks, G. Put the same back in, but it maintenance-free. 😢

My first car was the ‘67 Fairlane I bought from my grandfather. 👍

My batteries are listed as "maintenance free" too. I still pop the caps off with a screwdriver.

One day I might run into a fully sealed, spill proof battery at a reasonable price, but for now I'll stick with my Les Schwab's which are handy as there are stores everywhere around here if I need a warranty replacement.

Geno

There's Johnson Controls and Exide too.

I have a guy that used work on my construction crew, he worked for Batteries Plus for a few years. He let all his co workers and even his manager know that I was his uncle. lol

I can get their blemish batteries and remains, all common sizes for $35 (good ole boy employee/family discount)

Batteries that some dumb bitch left her headlights on all day at the mall, they’d get those on a warranty claim, slow charge them for a few days, check specific gravity and resell it. I get those for $35

Hope I never have pay those $100+ prices again. But I’m sure in another couple years they’ll be who are you again?? 😒

I have always had good luck with Napa batteries until this year. Feb 2019, I changed the 2 in one of my excavators. September after the machine sat for about 2 weeks, they were dead. Wouldn't accept a charge after approx 12 hrs of charging. Took them out and back to Napa. They were covered under warranty, 2 new batteries and back in the machine. I had an exact repeat in Nov/Dec. Weather was cold but not extreme cold, maybe mid 20's at night for a few days. Batteries were dead, wouldn't charge. Took them out and back to Napa. I was told Deka was bought out by East Penn. Batteries had to be tested before warranty would kick in now. East Penn rules. 2 days later I go back and pick up one old battery and one new battery. I was told the bad battery pulled the good battery down. All is good for now. 2018 had similar trouble with a battery in a skid loader. It was a Napa also. We'll see, but for some reason, the Napa's don't seem as good as they used to be. I hope I am wrong. Napa and batteries plus both sell Deka batteries under their own name.... hopefully being bought out by East Penn isn't a bad thing.

For NAPA, it depends on the region. JCI or Exide.

If people knew how to read date code stickers as well as they noted brand labels, they'd probably find most are long lasting and dependable with normal use. And that most of them are made by one of three manufacturers and many times are the same product....

Most battery issues arent the battery.

JCI in Holland, OH makes at least 25 different brands. Only difference is the sticker. I've visited every battery manufacture in NA and MEX

There's more than just three, but East Penn, Johnson and Exide are the major ones for automotive.

U.S. and Trojan are the major electric vehicle (golf car type) market manufacturers.
U.S produces older automotive designs, like the military U6TL and the like.

Info on how to read date/mfg codes?

Seems like lots of truth there. Lots of starts on this battery, but no abuse/ discharges.

Good chance Walmart sells the same battery as NAPA and dozens of other retailers