[username]

My 2.5 year old OEM fitted EXIDE battery on my Swift VDI started showing signs of strain around 49k km. After managing for quite a while, replaced the battery with Amaron Pro DIN74 at 50.6k km.

The battery supposedly costs Rs. 10,500 and that the OEM Exide battery can be exchanged for Rs. 1000. Effectively paying Rs. 9500.

Called up Justdial to get to know the list of Amaron Pitstop shops in chennai for a replacement. While i was driving to one of the Pitstops, got a call from Jagdeesh of JP Trading Corporation, a battery dealer (I was referred to him by Justdial) and was quoted the same battery at Rs. 8000 after exchanging the old battery. Thought i can save Rs. 1500 extra. But, wanted to check with MASS (have someone at MASS, Kottivakkam, Chennai) and the same battery was quoted Rs. 9500 from MASS as well.

On talking of Rs. 8000 deal, the MASS person provided me a number and wanted me to check the price with someone whom the MASS sources from. Upon calling him, it turned out to be that, its Jagdeesh again, who offered the battery for Rs. 8000.

Thanking Justdial and my signs, drove to that shop and got the battery replaced for Rs. 8000 and got it checked by MASS as well.

Later, on talking with Jagdeesh, got to know that they quote different prices for different people. Since, i was referred by Justdial, he quoted a lesser price as there may be getting other competitive offers.

In case anyone requires the contact numbers, please let me know.

[Captain Slow]

Got a few calls from Bosh dealers in Bangalore, S3 - 3,100 (1 year warranty) & S4 - 3,800 (2 year warranty) prices without exchange. They offered 500 for my old battery.

Finally went with Amaron flo with 4 year warranty. Got this for 3,200 in exchange for my old battery.
The car starts up a lot quicker now, the starter motor sounds happier

[Vtecguy7166]

Originally Posted by Captain Slow

Got a few calls from Bosh dealers in Bangalore, S3 - 3,100 (1 year warranty) & S4 - 3,800 (2 year warranty) prices without exchange. They offered 500 for my old battery.

Finally went with Amaron flo with 4 year warranty. Got this for 3,200 in exchange for my old battery.
The car starts up a lot quicker now, the starter motor sounds happier

Whats the difference between S3, S4 and Amaron flow battery?
Please pardon my ignorance .

[Captain Slow]

Originally Posted by Vtecguy7166

Whats the difference between S3, S4 and Amaron flow battery?
Please pardon my ignorance .

I guess they are the same! s3 - 12 months warranty, s4 - 18-24 months or something thats what the dealer on the phone told me.

Amaron, Go, Flo are the same except for the warranty and the Flo claims to have 5 extra amps compared to the Go.

Go -36 Months
Flo -48 Months

Im very happy with the flo battery. The car used to struggle to start up in the mornings now all it needs is a single crank

[ST7677]

I bought an Amaron Pro Battery for my car Honda Civic on 20 Nov 2010.
And lately I have been regularly facing starting problem with the battery, especially on Monday mornings. The battery is completely drained and sometimes even the central lock does not open.

I have got the alternator, the charging voltage and the standby (when car is shut down and locked) consumption of the car checked and they are in proper condition. This implies that the battery is not functioning properly. Since this battery is less than a year old and in free (30 months) replacement warranty stage I requested this battery to be replaced with a new one. But dealer says that battery will be replaced only if it goes completely dead

I tried calling up the Amaron anytime response number 98409 54848 and the number went unanswered and so I wrote emails to amron, however there has been no response from them. There seems to be no way to approach them thru their published contact details.

Below is the interaction history so far (mostly one sided)...
14th Sep - Called up Anytime response number - 09840954848 - No response.
14th Sep - emailed 'mktgabd@amararaja.co.in'; 'amararaja@amararaja.co.in' with complaint - no response

15th Sep - Called up Anytime response number - 09840954848 - No response.

16th Sep - email reminder to 'mktgabd@amararaja.co.in'; 'amararaja@amararaja.co.in' - no response

17th Sep - Spoke to dealer, his technician wanted to open and add electrolyte to the battery, since this a sealed maintenance free battery under warranty, I was not sure if that would void the warranty so I refused.

23rd Sep - called Anytime response number - 09840954848 - No response.
23rd Sep - sent SMS to Anytime response number - 09840954848 - No response
23rd Sep - called Corp Operations Office - 040-23683000 - no reply beyond auto answering machine
23rd Sep - called Anytime response number - 1800 4254848 - Went into "your call is waiting mode" for 10 mins - no response.
23rd Sep – email reminder to 'mktgabd@amararaja.co.in'; 'amararaja@amararaja.co.in' with a scanned copy of warranty card and a complete interaction history.

I am thinking of sending a formal written complaint to them through speed post and then approach consumer court. Meanwhile any suggestions before that?

It's always a scary thought in back of the mind, wherever I go, that after I switch it off, will it start again ? Because so many times it doesn't... :(

Just for a note: My previous stock car battery lasted for 4 yrs 4 months (with same usage pattern) without any issues except in last 2 weeks of it's life.

[honeybee]

Try registering a complaint with the local consumer redressal forum and send a copy of it to the dealer. This might help.

[Durango Dude]

Honda Civic 1.8 MT 2006 (1st lot)
Audison LRx4.300 & LRx1.400 + Hertz HSK165 + Adire Brahma 15" Sealed Sub
Stanley Nappa Leather

Could your signature be the reason for the undue drainage of the battery. Of course I'm not blaming the Stanley Nappa leather.

[bullboy]

When i bought an Amaron for my bike the delear told that they wont repair the battery as it is sealed but will replace with a new one if gone faulty within the warranty period.

[amit1234singla]

Originally Posted by ST7677

...But dealer says that battery will be replaced only if it goes completely dead ...

If the battery can not crank the engine in one go, it needs to be replaced. What's the use of some charge in battery if it can't start your car?

Did you try visiting the Amaron pit stop dealer? If not, I suggest please do so and pretend to be a customer looking for a new battery. While discussing warranty, ask how would they check if the battery needs replacement during warranty period. Mosy likely they would say we check the voltage. Then ask them to check the voltage on your car's battery with and w/o engine running and do the same for a new battery. That should tell if it needs replacement.

In any case, this is pretty bad customer service from Amaron. I bought 2 Amaron batteries in last 6 months.

[ST7677]

Originally Posted by Durango Dude

Honda Civic 1.8 MT 2006 (1st lot)
Audison LRx4.300 & LRx1.400 + Hertz HSK165 + Adire Brahma 15" Sealed Sub
Stanley Nappa Leather

Could your signature be the reason for the undue drainage of the battery. Of course I'm not blaming the Stanley Nappa leather.

Sir, you are talking like an Amaron dealer
few things here:
1. The problem happens mostly when the car is left unused over a weekend, sometimes even overnight. (at least in my car no body listens to music when engine is not on).

2. I have checked if there is some leakage and abnormal current consume while the car is off, but not found so.

3. My car is running with this setup since last 4 years, the more ordinary stock battery never complained. I don't even have lights dimming problem, so battery is never strained.

4. I do not listen to high levels of music, the car is heavily damped, for me it's sound quality over quantity

5. Since this problem started more than a month back, all accessories have been disconnected. I am even avoiding using head lights as far as safely possible, because I want the car to start next morning.

[Ragul]

Consumer Court is the way to go. You will also be doing the rest of the driving community a favor by doing this.

--Ragul

[Durango Dude]

I'm sorry to have offended you but there could be a leak from where the battery is discharging even when not in use.

[dhanushs]

Check the specific gravity of the battery.

If the battery is faulty, then the dealer ought to replace it, irrespective of what tiny amounts of charge it can retain.

Also, did you try any other dealers? IMO, the warranty can be claimed from outlets across India.

[Skyline GT-R]

Please check if the battery matches the spec in the manual.

Sometimes battery shops just fix any 12V battery if the terminals are on the same side as the wires without checking the specs.

[manim]

Originally Posted by ST7677

I bought an Amaron Pro Battery for my car Honda Civic on 20 Nov 2010.

Mine is also Amaron Pro, bought on Feb 2010 (model:55B24LS).
My car remains idle regularly, for more than 10 days at a time, but so far never had problems.

(Since mine is an AT, I am more concerned).