PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

Good news! My Park Avenue has decided to kill yet ANOTHER battery, probably the 6th battery in 9 years.

The first battery seemed to hang around for a fair while, before it properly died. It wouldn't pass enough current to even try to start, the same way most battery failures typically unfold.

I replaced it with a Duralast (DuraKrapp?) gold battery, and since then, it has been the same story repeatedly. The car starts to develop gremlins, causing me to wonder if the alternator is trying some funny business. The car still starts just fine. The battery tester declares battery bad. Nothing about low CCA or anything, just bad.

This time though, because of the way the last battery was replaced, it is now covered only by a mere $18 worth of warranty remaining by AutoZone, which, supposedly if I try to use it, will get washed out by an $18 Core charge that somehow gets forfeited when they do a warranty exchange or something to that effect. Even if that is not the case, I have no interest in saving $20 to throw another battery in destined to fail in 1-2 years.

I guess my question is, is this what I get for using Duralast, or could something be causing these failures that I need to try and track down? If it is a brand issue, should I be on the hunt for a specific brand or even perhaps different type of battery?

It could possibly be a drain or an alternator issue... I have seen strange things from time to time on the older H bodies.. And you never know you could have relay stuck on draining power some.. Could even be the RAC module.. Hard to point at any one item..

I was using Wal Mart batteries, had some dealings with duralast and never cared for them.. I currently have my second Exide in the van... First one died and was totally my fault.. I have had decent luck with the Exide brand.. The 03 Bonneville has a Duracell Battery from Sams Club and is manufactured buy Penn MFG.. Been 3 years now..

Don't know what more to add Randall.

I feel like this issue has been going on since before the alternator was replaced, and also the alternator is testing good. I don't have retained accessory fitted on this car. I have never had starting issues either, even despite sitting for 2 months at one point. Unless possibly the starter is hitting the battery too hard, but even so, the car never takes more than 5 seconds to start on even the nastiest of cold days. Usually it starts within a single engine revolution, but can go up to 4-5 if it is cold outside in the winter.

I can try a parasitic draw test, but so far I have no reason to suspect I need to. No starting issues at all, just gremlins.

Is the car pulling 0.03 or less amps with the car off?

I'm sure you probably checked the grounds? Had simalar issues with the Grand Prix.