V70 D5 battery choice

[Tatsfield]

My Volvo fitted battery died after almost three years within the so called warranty period, but since it was a warranty replacement for the original battery which also died after less than 3 years Volvo are refusing to honour the stated warranty because I didn't pay for the dud battery they fitted. Arguing about it while they have my car doesn't seem like a great idea so I told them I'd fit my own as I wouldn't reward them for fitting a dud and refusing to replace it under the warranty which they had made such a fuss about when they fitted it. I've found a 86 amp 800 cca replacement with a 5 year warranty for £18 less than Volvo are charging and so I'm going to buy that. But my message here is that if Volvo fit a battery under warranty, they actually will not warranty the replacement! And that the track record for their Volvo branded batteries isn't very good when fitted in my 2012 XC70 so anyone saying that fitting a genuine Volvo battery and paying extra for the privilege will bring you peace of mind may be wrong.

[bkulcsar]

My original battery lasted 12 years (apr. 400.000 km). Replaced it 4 years ago with Varta Silver Dynamic. So far, no problems.

[Georgeandkira]

To Tatsfield's point above: "...but since it was a warranty replacement for the original battery which also died after less than 3 years Volvo are refusing to honour the stated warranty..."

FYI: Not warrantying the replacement battery was the experience I had when a "36 Month Free Replacement Guarantee" got me a new battery when mine died at 35 months. This was at AutoZone which is a national chain in the US.

Could be a world-wide phenomena.

[big_ben]

Had similar problem in the past with both an Opal and a Kawasaki (motorcycle) where the replacement battery expired before its warranty was up but after the vehicle warranty had expired. If you can get the faulty battery, a proof of purchase and find the manufacturer direct you should get a replacement (eventually). Good but not much use if your car is off the road in the meantime.

Meanwhile my V70 still has the original battery after 13 years and 305k miles. Battery tester tells me an 80% state of health. Surprisingly it outlasted the alternator and survived being under voltaged for a week by said failing alternator. I'm impressed but a few more months would be perfect

[Tatsfield]

Success!

Two hours later and the Service Manage reviewed my complaint and, I expect, looked at the amount of money I am spending with them, and reversed their ruling and agreed to fit a free replacement. Probably be back here in three years but for the time being it's a result!

[AndyV7o]

I have heard that Exide make Volvo batteries, Exide make good batteries but have patchy reliability, basically, you get a good one which will crank over a submarine for 58 years, or a bad one which prematurely implodes internally.
I spoke to a Guy at Tayna regarding this and he said 'With my own money, Id buy the Varta, they have an impeccable reputation for good reason, we have far less (if any) issues with them.' So, he didnt say anything negative about the Exide, and they stock and sell lots of em, but what he did say did answer my question...

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

My Volvo fitted battery died after almost three years within the so called warranty period, but since it was a warranty replacement for the original battery which also died after less than 3 years Volvo are refusing to honour the stated warranty because I didn't pay for the dud battery they fitted. Arguing about it while they have my car doesn't seem like a great idea so I told them I'd fit my own as I wouldn't reward them for fitting a dud and refusing to replace it under the warranty which they had made such a fuss about when they fitted it. I've found a 86 amp 800 cca replacement with a 5 year warranty for £18 less than Volvo are charging and so I'm going to buy that. But my message here is that if Volvo fit a battery under warranty, they actually will not warranty the replacement! And that the track record for their Volvo branded batteries isn't very good when fitted in my 2012 XC70 so anyone saying that fitting a genuine Volvo battery and paying extra for the privilege will bring you peace of mind may be wrong.

That is normal industry practice with warranty on anything , you get a 5 year warranty say … and they will correct multiple failures up to the last day of the 5 years that is all .

[Clan]

Originally Posted by AndyV7o

I have heard that Exide make Volvo batteries, Exide make good batteries but have patchy reliability, basically, you get a good one which will crank over a submarine for 58 years, or a bad one which prematurely implodes internally.
I spoke to a Guy at Tayna regarding this and he said 'With my own money, Id buy the Varta, they have an impeccable reputation for good reason, we have far less (if any) issues with them.' So, he didnt say anything negative about the Exide, and they stock and sell lots of em, but what he did say did answer my question...

Can't say I have seen an Exide battery that looks like this … certainly no Exide branding on them . I suspect they are still VARTA ones .

I didn't have any luck with exide about 7 years ago on a different make of car , the first lasted about 6 months , the second 18 months , the third was always lazy .. slapped a cheaper volvo one on and no further problems to this day ..

Volvo batteries are now 20% cheaper at the dealer until the new year by the way ..

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by Clan

Can't say I have seen an Exide battery that looks like this … certainly no Exide branding on them . I suspect they are still VARTA ones

Volvo batteries are supplied by Exide.
Exide own Yuasa.
Whilst the Exide brand may not, Yuasa definitely do a battery which is suspiciously similar to a genuine Volvo battery.
The spec is the same and stickers aside, the battery is too.

[AndyV7o]

Interesting... The case on that volvo battery is identical to a lucas 019 rather than the yuasa (see pic) however the Ah and cca of the Lucas are different, yet, the same as a varta/bosch blue.... Puzzled! Im going to be digging tonight I can see....
(Btw, I realise the 019 is 190 high and the yuasa is 175mm high, how big is the volvo one? It looks 019 size (190mm) too)