The guy at Interstate should have checked the battery and let you know if it needed replacement.
If it was the original, i'd assume it was close enough to needing replacement to chalk that up.
There is no way they should have charged you more than 20 bucks to install that; and it probably would have been free anywhere else.Way high, depending on local taxes
I get my receipt, and I go chew a manager a new one if I were you. I think you got screwed to the tune of 25-60 bucks here.
Edit: I've been getting batteries replaced in cars for 40 years now. I've NEVER paid for an installation, and no one has charged me to check a charging system in ANY car for at least 20.
The last time I checked, all car batteries have vents in them so they won't explode from internal gas pressure. I've had good luck with Wal-Mart and Sears batteries. The Interstate battery is the best on the market but the mechanic ripped you off on labor. FWIW, I would probably buy an Interstate battery for my car if there was a store close by. I would never let a mechanic change out a battery on my car.
The battery should be fine on a 2012.
If you let is drain down by leaving the lights on, it can still be recharged on a charger.
But please do NOT jump start if possible.
When it does start up, if the battery is really low, the poor alternator can easily burn itself up trying to charge the way low battery.
Mechanics always say you need a new battery, because it is quick profit.
A new battery is only about $75 max, and installation should always be free.
It takes about 3 minutes.
The only concern with VW is that they take very low batteries compared to most cars, so are hard to find.
That is typical of what a mechanic would charge, but you can get a lot cheaper.
You can get a very good battery for around $100 with free installation at Walmart Auto Center, or at Autozone. Interstate is a good battery, but they are overpriced. You can get just as good for cheaper.
I would probably buy an Interstate battery for my car if there was a store close by. I would never let a mechanic change out a battery on my car.
All three answers so far are wrong. This is a vented battery. That means a tube runs from the battery to the outside to vent hydrogen gas. Vented batteries cost about 50% more than non-vented batteries and they're harder to find. Plus, if the shop checked your battery and charging system and those fees are included in the $200 price, the shop is treating you fairly.
Apparently the other people think the shop should test your system for free.
Way to much for that price you could have got a higher quality drycell battery such as an optima and had it installed. It should be like 130 at the most
There is NOTHING WRONG with your origInal VW battery except that it has DRAINE#D OUT! Get a TRICKLE CHARGE! THE GENUine FACTORY BATTERY WILL LAST FOR NEARLY ten years! all OTHER BATTERIES ARE PRETTY MUCH junker ones, ESP auto zone types! europeans ARE very FASTIDIOUS ABUT how THEY MAKE anything< BATTERIES INCLUDED! do not waste $200- ON A junk er one! just GET YOUR original one TRICKLE CHARGED back to life! it IS BASICALLY unheard of FOR A vw BATTERY TO ONLY LAST FOR three years! do not get duped INTO BUYING A junker WITH A HIGH PRICE TAG! iF IT REALLY is THE BATTERY GET A real vw/audi ONE only! JOHNSON CONTROLS are ALSO very very BAD and poorly made! You DO need a EUROPEAN GRADE VENTED BATTERY! I will NOT believe that your ORIGINAL ONE is even CLOSE to being bad! I*t should STILL have the VW warranty on it! SAVE YOUR MONEY and get this one RECHARGED to FULL strength!The only other one I would even TRY to buy would be a DEKA battery! Even INTERSTATES are testing out POORLY!<<
Price is probably fair. I just replaced my battery myself, 04 Deville, it's a 1000 amp located under the rear seat. $180.00.
Somethings not adding up right. $139 WITH labor. "Will come out to $200"? That leaves $61 in tax?
So I don't know much about cars. I drive a 2010 Volkswagen CC 2.0L Turbo. About a week ago, my friend left my car idle and since then it had been having trouble turning on up until today, when it just died.
One of my friends helped me jump start it and then told me to go to the mechanic so they can recharge it or go buy a "battery tender" myself.
I went to the mechanic and they just told me that it was dead and I needed to buy a new one. I said fine, how much is it going to be for a new one? He said the battery itself (interstate) is $170, but he's giving me the good price at $138.80 and including labor, it'll all come out to about $200.
First did I actually need to replace it? And if I did, is that a good price?
Yes. Walmart recommends the EverStart MAXXMAXX-H5 for your car. They will install it for 99.97.
Autozone will check your battery and help you install a new one for free.
Recently bought top of the line Duralast Gold for 150.00.
YES RIPOFF
Free at autozone
