Odyssey Warranty is as worthless as their batteries!!!

[DrGonzo]

First off this is not a stab at STM as I know this is not at all their fault.

So here is the story,

About 6-8 months ago I purchased one of STM small sealed batteries. I was relocating mine behind the rear pass seat and needed a sealed battery. I know Austin has had good success with it so I decided to buy one. Got the battery installed and wired in no problems. Finally got the car running, drove it to BRG2011 and back "12 hours round trip" The battery is strong and never had an issue with the car starting.

Last month I got some engine knock and started to tear into the engine to find the problem. Battery was unhooked as I had to drop the pan to look at the bearings which requires removing the starter. For about a month the car was down doing various repairs and part installs. I finally got everything back together about 2 weeks ago. Hook the battery back up and it's dead...WTF!! Nothing was hooked to the battery for the last month now so why is it dead.

So I put the battery on my digital charger on slow charge and let it charge "8amp" for 12 hours. "This type of charger shuts off when battery is fully charged". Next day I come out to check on it and the battery is 2% completely charged...WTF!! 12 hours and it will only hold like 2 volts. Within 30 min there was no voltage on the battery at all. The damn thing drained itself!!!

OK so the battery is fried for some reason. I called STM and spoke with Brian. He states I need to contact Odyssey directly for the Warranty claim, No Biggie, not the first time I had to contact the manufaturer. For two days I tried calling and finally got through. Lady at the office says I need to call the manufacturing plant to speak to them about the warranty..... and that the warranty has to be processed thought the person I bought it off of!!! OR I can take it to a local dealer "Which there are none around me. Odyssey's website only shows like 5 states that have dealers. Now I'm getting dizzy from the loop I just went and starting to get a little P'd off!!!

So I call Brian back at STM and let him know what Odyssey told me. He calls them for more info on the warranty claim. Here is what I am now told:

1. I have to ship it to STM so they can ship it to Odyssey. I have to pay all shipping!!!

2. The battery is not made for vehicles but motorcycles and snowmobiles!!
If you go to Odyssey's website and click on Auto/LTV the PC680battery is listed there: Odyssey Drycell Car Batteries
If it was not made for auto's then why do they have the option for SAE automotive terminals??

3. Odyssey tells STM that the battery should be on a trickle charge when not in use and stored. Ok, when is unhooking a battery for a month timeframe considered storing the battery??

Design specs from their website

Odyssey design:

• 2 year full warranty
• Rugged Drycell sealed design
• Military grade
• Vibration resistant
• 60% more starting power
• Deep discharge reserve power
• 2 year storage life
• 8-12 year design life
• Can be mounted flat or upright

All bolded items have just been shown to be false in this case.


I am not going to stop fighting this issue as this is total BS. I paid $150.00 for a battery that lasted 6-8 months on a vehicle that is not raced,dragged and barely even driven. I don't have an electrical issue so there is no reason for this battery to be dead.

So right now I have a 5year old Walmart special "Neverstart" Lead-Acid battery sitting in a turkey basting pan "As it leaks when on charge " in the trunk just so I can start my damn car!

I should have just gotten a Braile or a Optima!!!