New Battery Delimma

[Ovrhill]

Hello,

So, I needed to replace a 6 year old VW #000 915 105 DH battery in my BEW wagon a couple of weeks ago. I decided to stay with the VW branded product since this one lasted so long.

I contacted my closest local dealer. Done some business there for years. There are several other local dealers in the DFW area.

Was told on the phone that the battery was in stock. Took my core and was told at the counter that code "DG" suffix now supersedes the "DH" suffix. So, I accepted thier explanation and bought the battery with the "DG" suffix code.

I knew that the battery was a bit smaller. That bugged me. I didn't realize until I installed it that is was "much" smaller. The car turns over fine and starts right up. I got busy for a few days. But, the issue was still in the back of my mind.

I called some other local dealers today and was told that the "DH" code was still good. Although, the dealer where I purchased the battery is still insisting that the "DG" code is the replacement. Obviously, I think that they are full of crap and they just sold me the "DG" code because that's what they had.

It appears the only difference, besides the footprint" is that the "DG" code is a 72Ah and my old "DH" code is in 80Ah.

I'm not smart enough to know if this will ultimately make any difference long term, or, if I'm just making too much of it. So, I'm asking for opinions form you guys that are in the know about these things.

Should I go demand my money and my core back, or just leave well enough alone and move on?

Thanks.

 

[Vince Waldon]

Yes they really should have sold you the 80 Ah battery... and you could probably make a stink about it... but the good news is the only slight impact would be on cold winter starting, which you will probably not require in Texas.

 

[JohnTF]

I would suggest not buying a AGM or GEL battery .
The tricky part is deciding on which manufacture is a QUALITY source , things change over time - it use to be for general availability Interstate Batteries were the best for multiple reasons , about 50 yrs. of mechanic -ing , vary few Interstates failed before there dew date - most all that did - were a result of abuse / bad charging system - etc.
Next is Interstate was the only company telling me to not require ANYTHING but the date code on the battery --- no receipt , registered acc. etc.
Had several time with friends & family trying to get many brands Die Hard [ when sears was still around ] required a receipt , an account , phone etc.
---- Just locate the nearest Interstate dealer - look up able .
The cost ver. the performance --- does not add up .

Now days , can not be sure , so much change --- not sure interstate is who they used to be .

I have also been into alternative energy , mostly solar , and many types , and brands of batteries .

I've had Trojan deep cycle battery banks last 12-15 yrs. with my design of alt. energy systems - proper use maintenance .
Same with cars & truck buy known good quality --- maintain charging system -- use battery within stated spec.s -- and last longer than warranty .
Not a matter of belief - just my experience

 

[hskrdu]

When the dealer looks up an '04 Wagon, most will see the H6 (72Ah) as the battery. A good dealer will somehow see that the TDI specs the H7 battery (80Ah). I would exchange it for the correct size and Ah battery.

 

[benmarks]

This ^^.

 

[Zak99b5]

I'm just wondering how in the world "DG" supercedes "DH." All VAG supercessions/parts revisions use the next letter on the alphabet to denote this, not the previous one.

You, sir, were told a lie.

 

[Ovrhill]

You, sir, were told a lie.

And that's certainly part of the issue here. I can always handle being given some inadvertent misinformation. This is obviously more than that.

And, I still have the wrong part that doesn't fit in my battery tray properly. I just feel like I'll always have a negative feeling about this unless I get it resolved.

 

[JETaah]

An ALH or BEW New Beetle has and always had a 72AH battery. I think that it is all that they can cram in there.
Is the Jetta with either engine any more of a power sucker than the Beetle?

 

[oilhammer]

They sold you the wrong battery.

Which is dumb, because I'm sure they had the correct one on the shelf. It is a common one.

That's all we sell here is the OEM dealer batteries, because they are good, they fit properly, and they are priced competitively.

Most all VAG products with four cylinders will use the H5, H6, or H7 case.... 61Ah, 72Ah, and 80Ah, respectively (although some of the H7s may be 82 or 85Ah). This has been that way for quite a while. Now cars like the Phaeton, Touareg, all the bigger Audis, etc. will have larger (H8, H9, 100Ah) units possibly.

Take it back and get the correct one.

 

[Ovrhill]

Well, I'm pretty sure that this particular dealer doesn't have one. Or, at least they didnt when I bought mine.

We'll see. I do plan to take it back. And, other local dealers do have the 80Ah in stock. At least I have some dealer options locally.

 

[BobnOH]

This happened to me before I frequented the forums. That battery will work, but will not perform in extremes and it will wear out in like 3 years.
Return it.

 

[Ovrhill]

Did a return at the original place of purchase and bought the correct battery at another dealer today. Happy camper now!

 

[wonneber]

I know it's to late but I've had good luck with Diehard batteries.
Very few problems and can get them at Auto Zone now.

 

[dieseldonato]

I would suggest not buying a AGM or GEL battery .
The tricky part is deciding on which manufacture is a QUALITY source , things change over time - it use to be for general availability Interstate Batteries were the best for multiple reasons , about 50 yrs. of mechanic -ing , vary few Interstates failed before there dew date - most all that did - were a result of abuse / bad charging system - etc.
Next is Interstate was the only company telling me to not require ANYTHING but the date code on the battery --- no receipt , registered acc. etc.
Had several time with friends & family trying to get many brands Die Hard [ when sears was still around ] required a receipt , an account , phone etc.
---- Just locate the nearest Interstate dealer - look up able .
The cost ver. the performance --- does not add up .

Now days , can not be sure , so much change --- not sure interstate is who they used to be .

I have also been into alternative energy , mostly solar , and many types , and brands of batteries .

I've had Trojan deep cycle battery banks last 12-15 yrs. with my design of alt. energy systems - proper use maintenance .
Same with cars & truck buy known good quality --- maintain charging system -- use battery within stated spec.s -- and last longer than warranty .
Not a matter of belief - just my experience

Interstate still makes a good battery (well they don't make their own batteries, but you know what I mean) they go off the date code stamped in the plastic now if you don't have a receipt, basically the same as before. They also sell a "nationwide" brand to retail stores AFAIK they are the exact same except for the Megatron and Megatron 2 series isn't offered in a nationwide label.

 

[JohnTF]

I sold Interstate Batteries in both my shops in Northern CA & MN , between 1980s & 2000 .

 

[JohnTF]

I've heard both ways , but according another Google search just now - they still make their own .

did interstate battery ever make their own batteries - Google Search

 

[dieseldonato]

I've heard both ways , but according another Google search just now - they still make their own .

https://www.google.com/search?q=did...2j33i299l3.22652j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Interstate sub contracts to exide, johnson controls and a few other companies to make their batteries depending on the area.

Are Interstate Batteries Good?

Today we will take a look at who makes Interstate batteries, how they're rated, and whether or not they're a good choice for your vehicle. Read on!

mechanicbase.com

I don't know if it's all their batteries, or just certain ones that they sub out.

 

[benmarks]

If buying US-made products matters to you, I recommend East Penn/Deka batteries. They’re also sold rebranded as Duracell Platinum.

 

[oilhammer]

JCI makes most Interstate branded batteries, and we quit selling them years ago because their QC tanked bad. Right around the time they went to the lighter green topped case. Our warranty numbers quadrupled almost within a six month period, it was that bad.

For VAG products, we've just switched to the dealer supplied units, which can be from several sources (Varta, Enertec, a couple others) but have so far proven to be pretty good.

The in-house brand we now carry is AC Delco, and these are largely garbage, I'd never EVER put one in any of my cars (even my Fords have Motorcraft branded batteries, supplied by Deka I think, one of which is 9 years old now).

Interestingly, though, I recently replaced a battery in an Audi A4, and the one it had in it was an AC Delco branded replacement, but was an OEM VAG battery with a sticker over the top. So evidently the "normal" AC Delco battery for that application (an H8 form factor) wasn't good enough, and they had to rebrand someone else's, and in this case it was the OEM one.

 

[dieseldonato]

JCI makes most Interstate branded batteries, and we quit selling them years ago because their QC tanked bad. Right around the time they went to the lighter green topped case. Our warranty numbers quadrupled almost within a six month period, it was that bad.

For VAG products, we've just switched to the dealer supplied units, which can be from several sources (Varta, Enertec, a couple others) but have so far proven to be pretty good.

The in-house brand we now carry is AC Delco, and these are largely garbage, I'd never EVER put one in any of my cars (even my Fords have Motorcraft branded batteries, supplied by Deka I think, one of which is 9 years old now).

Interestingly, though, I recently replaced a battery in an Audi A4, and the one it had in it was an AC Delco branded replacement, but was an OEM VAG battery with a sticker over the top. So evidently the "normal" AC Delco battery for that application (an H8 form factor) wasn't good enough, and they had to rebrand someone else's, and in this case it was the OEM one.

That's interesting you guys had issues with them. One of my uncles has his own shop and sells interstate with little to no issues with them. The other works for a fairly large auto/ truck shop that sells interstate and Deka, seems to be customer preference for what brand is used. He's never mentioned reliability issues with either brand. I wonder if it has something to do with where the batteries are made?

 

[oilhammer]

Yep, and we can track back a long ways.... shop opened in '89, I started here in '93. We had very little issues with them until around 2004 or so. Then it was like you flipped a switch and warranty claims went up. Even the distributor said they had issues, and we were not the only shop that dumped them. Deka has a local distributor only a mile from us, but we only use them for stuff we cannot readily get from one of the other suppliers.

We're a pretty high volume shop, with a lot of fleet customers... we sell quite a few batteries. The medical courier fleets really tear through them, they are often used up in only a year's time.