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The Die-Hard Battery is back......but it's not a real Die-Hard.
Those of you here on the forum with non-electric (gas or diesel) engines, that trade or lease your vehicles every few years, will probably not need to replace your battery unless you have a defective alternator or other electrical component...or just a crap-battery itself. But those of you who keep your vehicles longer than that may be looking at a factory-spec or aftermarket battery-replacement. Some of you who have been around as long as I have may remember the Exide Go-Power and Sears Die-Hard Batteries, which both had a reputation for a long life and a lifetime-replacement warranty. (I was a big fan of the Exide batteries myself).
The Die-Hard was marketed and sold by Sears & Roebuck, but, over the years, gradually lost its lifetime free-replacement to a pro-rated lifetime warranty, then to 20 years, then 15 years, then 10, then 5, then with Sears itself going out of business a few years ago. More or less the same thing with the Exide batteries. But, it appears that the Die-Hard name, at least, has returned, if not the warranty.
This evening, I was at Advance Auto Parts to pick up a spray-can of Liquid-Wrench Penetrant for a colleague of mine (not many places seem to carry Liquid Wrench anymore...Advance is one of the few places that still do)...and, inside the store, they had a row of new-looking ad-signs proclaiming that "The Die-Hard is back". So, I went over to the battery-rack and checked them out. Sure enough, there was a whole row of Die-hards......in three series, Gold, Silver, and Platinum. They seem to be quite hefty, solid, well-built, with good cold-cranking-amps (one of the measures of a battery's potential strength)...and, on the outside at least, reminded me of the old lifetime Die-Hards I remember. Of course, I wasn't expecting a lifetime warranty from a company like Advance,, and, sure enough, it is only 3 years....but, at least, it is a full-replacement warranty (no deductible or pro-rating), meaning that if it craps out in less then three years (or fails to hold a charge), you get a new one free.
From what research I did (and what little info I could find on it) the present-generation Die-Hard batteries are made in Wisconsin, by a company called Johnson Controls.
Exide and Delphi also produce vehicle-batteries in the U.S. I didn't know until until I looked it up, but Exide apparently also made some of the old Die-Hards that used to be sold at Sears......which is not surprising, considering the excellence of their own Exide-label batteries.
I went to Autozone today to get a new battery for motorcycle. They only had Duralast, which is what I got. The place was completely packed, I don't remember auto parts stores being so packed around here.
From what research I did (and what little info I could find on it) the present-generation Die-Hard batteries are made in Wisconsin, by a company called Johnson Controls.
Exide and Delphi also produce vehicle-batteries in the U.S. I didn't know until until I looked it up, but Exide apparently also made some of the old Die-Hards that used to be sold at Sears......which is not surprising, considering the excellence of their own Exide-label batteries.
Exide batteries are garbage. Johnson Controls for life!
Can't speak for today's Exide batteries, but, in my early days of driving, they were arguably the best ones in the industry. They were the only ones with a no-restricted lifetime warranty until the original Sears Die-Hard came along and also offered one.
Also, one difference between today's batteries and those of decades ago is that the alternators in today's vehicles are so much better......they can keep batteries from discharging even at idle speeds. Years ago, at idle-speeds, you could actually see the headlights and instrument-panel lights dim at idle, and then suddenly get bright again as you give the engine some gas and take off. Same with the ammeter-gauge, if the car had one.
First car I ever owned had a battery from pepboys...cant remember the brand. It keeps dying every 2 years and have a 3 year full replacement warranty. I have installed that battery in all my cars after my first car, on my 4th battery now.
Those of you here on the forum with non-electric (gas or diesel) engines, that trade or lease your vehicles every few years, will probably not need to replace your battery unless you have a defective alternator or other electrical component...or just a crap-battery itself. But those of you who keep your vehicles longer than that may be looking at a factory-spec or aftermarket battery-replacement. Some of you who have been around as long as I have may remember the Exide Go-Power and Sears Die-Hard Batteries, which both had a reputation for a long life and a lifetime-replacement warranty. (I was a big fan of the Exide batteries myself).
The Die-Hard was marketed and sold by Sears & Roebuck, but, over the years, gradually lost its lifetime free-replacement to a pro-rated lifetime warranty, then to 20 years, then 15 years, then 10, then 5, then with Sears itself going out of business a few years ago. More or less the same thing with the Exide batteries. But, it appears that the Die-Hard name, at least, has returned, if not the warranty.
This evening, I was at Advance Auto Parts to pick up a spray-can of Liquid-Wrench Penetrant for a colleague of mine (not many places seem to carry Liquid Wrench anymore...Advance is one of the few places that still do)...and, inside the store, they had a row of new-looking ad-signs proclaiming that "The Die-Hard is back". So, I went over to the battery-rack and checked them out. Sure enough, there was a whole row of Die-hards......in three series, Gold, Silver, and Platinum. They seem to be quite hefty, solid, well-built, with good cold-cranking-amps (one of the measures of a battery's potential strength)...and, on the outside at least, reminded me of the old lifetime Die-Hards I remember. Of course, I wasn't expecting a lifetime warranty from a company like Advance,, and, sure enough, it is only 3 years....but, at least, it is a full-replacement warranty (no deductible or pro-rating), meaning that if it craps out in less then three years (or fails to hold a charge), you get a new one free.
I have had one of these in my car for 5 years, still going strong even starting an ornery old diesel in sub-zero winter temps. However when I bought it, the name was AutoCraft Platinum AGM. AutoCraft had been Advanced Auto's house brand until they purchased the DieHard name about a year ago. But if I open the email receipt from five years ago, the image has been updated:
It's the same exact battery as AutoZone's Duralast Platinum AGM. Buy whichever one is on sale.
First car I ever owned had a battery from pepboys...cant remember the brand. It keeps dying every 2 years and have a 3 year full replacement warranty. I have installed that battery in all my cars after my first car, on my 4th battery now.
So I have never bought a car battery ever.
Do you keep buying the same vehicle? I didn't think batteries would be that universal. Not to mention, you must buy used with poor batteries to start with.
04-05-21, 06:35 PM
The Die-Hard Battery is back......but it's not a real Die-Hard.
