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For a more detailed explanation of why these and other situations are normally not covered by the Interstate warranty, see The Warranty - Its Limitations.
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| Answers: | |
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I think my battery is defective. What should I do? Call 1-800-272-6548 (1-800-Crank It) to find an Interstate dealer near you. |
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Do I need my original purchase receipt for the Interstate warranty to apply? A copy of the purchase receipt is not usually required for warranty service. However, we recommend that you keep it in your glove box. Having your receipt on hand is a benefit to you and a convenience to the dealer who will replace your battery. Without the purchase receipt, we are still able to determine the age of your battery by the shipping code, which is burned into the cover of the battery. If you encounter a dealer who is not familiar with using the shipping code, call Customer Service at 1-888-772-3600. |
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If I don't have a receipt for my battery and if the date of purchase is not marked on the label, how can I tell how old my battery is? Our date code is branded on top of most of our automotive, marine/RV and commercial batteries, usually near one of the corners on the cover. This code tells the month and year that the battery was shipped from the factory to the local Interstate warehouse. It begins with a letter followed by several digits. The first letter represents the month: A = Jan., B = Feb., L = Dec. And the digit immediately following the letter represents the year: 9 = 1999, 1 = 2001. A date code of "A1,” for example, means January 2001. |
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Do I have to return the battery to the original dealer for the Interstate warranty to apply? No. One of the benefits of buying an Interstate branded battery is the convenience of more than 70,000 warranty dealers from which to choose. Call 1-800-272-6548 (1-800-Crank It) anytime for a dealer near you. |
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How do I exchange my battery if my original Interstate dealer is no longer in business? An advantage of Interstate Batteries is that we have more than 100,000 Interstate warranty dealers from which to choose. You do not need to have your battery replaced by the original dealer. Just call 1-800-272-6548 (1-800-Crank It) or use our online Dealer Locator to find an Interstate Batteries dealer near you. |
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What does the Interstate warranty cover? The Interstate Batteries warranty covers failure of Interstate branded batteries due to a defect in material or workmanship, such as a bad cell or an internal short. If battery failure occurs during the free-replacement period, which is 18 months on automotive batteries, an Interstate dealer will provide you with a new battery at no cost. Some dealers may charge for their labor to replace the battery. You may locate an Interstate dealer by searching our online Dealer Locator or by calling our Dealer Locator phone line at 1-800-272-6548 (1-800-Crank It). |
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What does the
Interstate warranty NOT cover? The Interstate Batteries warranty does not cover
expenses for installation, towing, electrical system tests, charging a battery, loss of
time, or other expenses which would be considered as incidental or consequential damages.
It does not cover damage to the battery caused by abuse or neglect (e.g., holes or
cracks), a failure to keep the battery properly charged or maintained (e.g.,
failure to add water to a battery with removable caps), fire, collision, explosion,
freezing, theft, overcharging (e.g., melted posts), or damage caused by use of special
additives. For a more detailed explanation of why these and other situations are normally not covered by the Interstate warranty, see The Warranty - Its Limitations. |
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What happens if my battery fails after the free-replacement period? If your Interstate branded battery fails after the free-replacement period but within the length of the total warranty period, the battery is prorated monthly from the date of purchase. Therefore, in the replacement of your battery, you pay only for the months that you used the battery. Any Interstate dealer whose name is listed on our online Dealer Locator or our Dealer Locator phone line at 1-800-272-6548 (1-800-Crank It) will be able to assist you with warranty replacements. |
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How is your prorate figured? The monthly cost, based upon the current published list price of the battery, is multiplied by the number of full months elapsed since the date of original purchase. The prorate is not figured according to the price that you paid for the original battery. Basically, you end up paying for the months of use on the original battery when you replace it with a new one. |
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What if an Interstate dealer figures the prorate incorrectly? We realize that mistakes will be made from time to time. If a battery is adjusted incorrectly, we will be happy to correct the mistake. Call 1-888-772-3600 for Customer Service. |
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Why was my prorate cost higher than the original cost of my battery? It could be that an error was made in the adjustment of your battery. Or it could be that the dealer who sold you the original battery sold it at a discounted price. The Interstate warranty states that a prorated battery adjustment is "based upon the then current published cost per month of the battery multiplied by the number of full months elapsed since the date of original purchase." The prorate is not figured on discounted prices but on the published list price of the battery. If you bought your battery at a discount, you may have saved $10 or $20 when you bought the battery, but you do not get that same $10 or $20 discount when the battery is replaced under warranty. |
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Why should I have to pay anything if my battery fails early? The Interstate Batteries warranty is the standard battery warranty offered in the U.S.; it is prorated for a fixed period of time and features a free-replacement period that lasts for a shorter period of time. If you buy our most popular battery, the Mega-Tron®, you get an 18-month free-replacement period. If you decide to pay more for our Optima red top automotive battery, you get up to a 36-month free-replacement period. If your battery fails after the free-replacement period but before the end of the warranty, you only have to pay for the months of use on the original battery when you replace it. The Interstate warranty is not a guarantee that the battery will last for the length of the warranty, since battery life is affected by various conditions, such as engine temperature, battery maintenance and alternator performance. But the Interstate warranty is there for you just in case the battery does not go the distance. |
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If my Interstate battery fails and I end up replacing it with another brand of battery, do I get money back from Interstate Batteries? The Interstate Batteries warranty is a replacement warranty, not a money-back warranty. One of the benefits of Interstate Batteries is that we have the largest battery distribution system in the U.S. with more than 70,000 Interstate retail warranty dealers, which means there's usually an Interstate dealer nearby. In certain circumstances, we will offer a refund based on the amount of time remaining on the warranty. |
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How do I exchange my Ameritron battery? Not all Interstate dealers carry the Ameritron label. In order to find the nearest Ameritron dealer, please call 1-800-241-2000 in the U.S. and 1-800-843-0200 in Canada, or contact your local Interstate Batteries distributor. |
