What is the problem with the premature failure on AC Delco batteries? I had an 05 Deville the battery lasted 18 months. Since I have had 2 fail 1 year apart on my 88 corvette. My son had one fail after 6 months on his Colorado.My wifes HHR just failed after 18 months and my sister in-laws Impala failed after 18 months.The service writer said they only last 2 years on average. Things like this are why G.M. is broke. If they would design them to last a shade over 3 years they would get alot of sales with people going back to the dealer, beside pick up some other work. Just not a good product in my mind..
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Re: Delco battery problems??
The 1st one in my 08 GMC lasted 6 months. The next one lasted 1 yr. I'm on my 3rd one now. I certainly wouldn't buy a Delco once the warranty expires. -
Re: Delco battery problems??
You have to remember that GM does not own AC-Delco anymore and has not for quite a few years.Dick WhittingtonComment
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Re: Delco battery problems??
I bought a battery for the '99 Suburban a year ago, the first Delcos two lasted from Jan. '98 (mfg date of Sub.) until Summer '08. The service writer at the local Chevy dealership recommended Interstate. 'had no problems with the Interstate even after a month of setting.Comment
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Re: Delco battery problems??
I've had about the same success with Delco batteries in the last several years. As mentioned, Delco no longer makes the battery and now they are absolute trash. I don't know who makes these things and I really don't care. I've learned my lesson. The 18 months life span number mentioned above is very typical now for a 5 year Delco battery. (maybe it has to do with the new math or metric conversion
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The one I installed in the 66 big block never did seem to have near the cranking power that it did with the 6 year old Delco it replaced.
My new WalMart battery has been working just fine for two years now and has a great guarantee.Comment
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Re: Delco battery problems??
I have not had any battery failure on my last three GM vehicles, that have been leased for 3 years with the current one a 39 month lease. Maybe I'm one of the few lucky ones but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.
RickComment
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Re: Delco battery problems??
Dick-----
I believe that GM still owns AC-Delco but it's no longer a parts manufacturing operation. It simply packages and sells parts under the AC Delco brand name.
For quite awhile, DELPHI, the part manufacturing operation which GM spun off many years ago continued to make lot of the parts sold under the AC Delco brand name. So, things were not that much different than when all of the DELPHI operations were still part of GM.
However, preceding and during the DELPHI bankruptcy, a lot of the DELPHI operations were closed or sold off. Among the many were most, if not all, of what had been AC Spark Plug and all of the Delco battery manufacturing operations. Most, if not all, of Delco Chassis (the "DEL" in DELPHI) are gone, too. Inland-Fisher-Guide (the "I" in DELPHI) is gone. Harrison Radiator (the "H" in DELPHI) may soon go.
Today, there ar still some AC Delco parts manufactured by what remains of DELPHI. These are mostly electronic, fuel and cooling system parts (although cooling system operations may "go" soon). NONE of the filters, spark plugs, chassis parts or batteries are manufactured by DELPHI or GM.
The only AC Spark Plug Division manufacturing operation I know of that MAY remain under DELPHI or GM is the hydraulic valve lifter manufacturing. I'm not even sure about that, though.
I've heard lots of reports of problems with current Delco batteries. I bought one a few months ago for use in the 69 (but, of course, have not installed it yet). My future selection of Delco batteries will depend on how well this one works out. I'm not too hopeful, though.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Delco battery problems??
Rick------
At 3 years, you might still have batteries which were manufactured internally by DELPHI battery manufacturing operations. I believe they were "phasing out" but not completely out of the battery business at that time. I'm not sure about that, though; time flies.
The original 6-1/2 year old Delco battery in my Pontiac Grand Prix is still ok. But, I'm almost certain it was still a DELPHI-manufactured battery.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Delco battery problems??
We don't have a huge failure rate inside the two year window at our dealership. The good thing about a premature failure is that warranty covers it inside of 3 years. Still no excuse for the failure rate you've experienced.
My luck would usually have the battery die at 3 years and 2 months !!
Tom Hendricks
Proud Member NCRS #23758
NCM Founding Member # 1143
Corvette Department Manager and
Specialist for 27 years at BUDS Chevrolet.Comment
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Re: Delco battery problems??
The AC Delco 7 year Professional Series batteries are a pretty good battery compared to some of their offerings. The problem with alot of the newer GM vehicles, especially the C6 Corvette, is the cars have so much going on when they sit they are never truly asleep. They tend to eat batteries, especially on cars that are driven less frequently, like Corvettes.Comment
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Re: Delco battery problems??
Both of my toys have Delco #24-7YR batteries, and both are nearly ten years old and still going strong (knock on wood); they must have been made when they still knew how to make batteries.
Porsche just announced availability today of Lithium-Ion batteries as an option in the 993 and 911 variants, and in the new Boxster Spyder, which are 25# lighter than the standard lead-acid batteries (intended as a lightening aid for track events). The car comes with both batteries, and they advise that the Li-I battery "may not be satisfactory for regular use below 32*F" (there's a message there). The option is only $1700.00 
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Re: Delco battery problems??
I am pretty sure ALL the daily driver batteries I have are DELCO manufactured. The only issue has been leaking positive terminals on two of them around 3 to 5 years ago. Which was a new to then feature.
I am convinced the battery in the 2008 Z96 was made by EXIDE even though it says DELCO. All the EXIDE construction (cap and case configuration) indicators are there. Just over two years so far, and the Battery Tender is on it every minute I am not driving it. We will see.TerryComment
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Re: Delco battery problems??
the delco battery in my 22 year old silverado was replaces at 11 years but the replacement delco started to leak at the terminals in less than 2 years and was replaced. the rplacement delco is still in the truck which sets out side here in winter weather and it has never failed to start even after setting for 3 weeks. i also keep a battery maintainer on the 08 vette because the computers will run down the battery in 3 weeks. any of these new cars if you run the battery down and jump start it you must still use a battery charger to get the battery back up to full strength as just driving it will not do it.Comment
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Re: Delco battery problems??
I had a Delco battery in my 1985 that was bought in 2001. It was holding 12.6 or 12.7 voltage after driving. One day I left the parking lights on and covered my car in the parking lot at work without noticing the lights being on. Could see the car all day, but being covered no one could see the lights on. Got a jump and drove home. Could not get the battery to show 12 volts anymore. Installed 7 yr Delco that has the longest free replacement of all the different batterys I checked on, even INTERSTATE.
Had a previous Delco in my 68 that lasted about 9 years. The Delco in it now is over 7 years old.
From what I understand the battery manufacturer of Delco battereries is the same manufacturer for for Wal-Mart and Auto-Zone. Each has their specifications.Comment
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