Car Battery Timer

NonBusto27 · Post by **NonBusto27** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:06 am

My wife sisters car doesn't start and I'm sure the battery is no good, but not totally positive. She called O'Reily's Auto parts which is also Kragen out here. They told her that if she bought a battery from them she could not return it cause once u attempt to start the car there is a timer in the battery that starts and doesn't stop. I think that is total B/S. If I am wrong please let me know but i'm pretty sure that i'm not.

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:20 am

And just how would they know?

Unless there is some kind of transmitter inside, that the clock could be read externally.

Anything is possible, but it sounds like a load of crap to me.

I would tell them to scan it first, to verify it hasn't already been used. And you want to see the result for yourself. I would call their bluff on that shit. Then if it is BS, tell them to shove their store where the sun don't shine, and that you are going to call the BBB on their asses.

gtxtreme19 · Post by **gtxtreme19** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:03 am

Call the bbb, Im the assistant manager/ installer sales specialist at the o'reilly here so I know for sure whoever you talked to is full of shit and just don't want a $100 battery coming off his commission/incentive.
Take your battery back and make them test it on the bench tester(not the handheld pos) and stay right with them when they're doing It. Make sure the door of the tester stays cracked so you can smell it too, because a battery with a bad cell will usually test good but smell horrible.
When you leave ask for the tips hotline number from them or I can get it for you, that kind of behavior will get someone one hell of an ass chewing.

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:59 am

Yeah, I didn't think they would put the extra expense into a battery, just to prevent a possible return for every 100~ batteries sold. It's not like they are $700+ items.

Besides, if one test start kills a new battery, it ain't worth shit.

I can also see the point of not wanting to pay 100% for something that someone used and returned, but I'm sure it happens more often than most of us know.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:55 am

It still amazes me that they will take back anything electrical. No dealer will do that.

Basically you are renting parts when you allow an electrical return. "I'm taking a wild shot in the dark because I don't know what is wrong and I want to return this part I used to troubleshoot my car. Oh, and I may have damaged it by plugging it in and whatever is actually bad may have fried a otherwise good part."

I don't think so.

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:29 am

I totally see your point John.

But a battery is much harder to kill, and it would, in most cases show some sign of abuse if it was dead shorted. And possibly the individual applying the abuse, may also show signs of damage.

But your statement still applies, IMHO.

To be honest, I didn't know they took returns on batteries, unless it was a warranty issue.

The way I see it, if it was old enough to be suspect, it prolly needed replaced anyways. If it didn't, put a maintainer on it, and use it to jump start/test shit/run the GF's vibrator/whatever.

But then, I don't think scamming the less knowledgeable customers is a good practice either. It only leads to bad word of mouth/internet advertising.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:59 am

I agree that the store is waaay out of line on this one. That sounds like such complete crap really. I'd be very surprised if it was legit.

NonBusto27 · Post by **NonBusto27** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:44 pm

Yea i wasn't there when she bought the battery, I thought it was total BS from what she told me. We are going to take in the current battery and have it tested to make sure that is the problem before we go any further. I just wanted to get your guys opinion on the topic. Thanks for all the replys.

gtxtreme19 · Post by **gtxtreme19** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:42 pm

Well that battery most likely carried a 72 month warranty with the first two years being free replacement. Take it in ask them to bench test it and go from there.

NonBusto27 · Post by **NonBusto27** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:31 pm

yea my wife just took the battery she bought from O'Reilys and got the refund since it was never installed. We ended up getting one from Autozone since we have the discount card and her sister is paying for it we got free Autozone points!

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:36 pm

Wait, what?

Her sister pays for parts?

Is she single, available?

NonBusto27 · Post by **NonBusto27** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:52 pm

Her buying parts is like pulling teeth. She's not single and plays for the other team

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:02 pm

Glad I wasn't holding my breath on that one.

NonBusto27 · Post by **NonBusto27** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:48 pm