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Life of car batteries

beneteaubeneteau Member Posts: 8,552 ✭✭✭
edited March 2015 in General Discussion
Car batteries now-a-days just don't seem to last very long. Maybe because of all the electric/electronic components now-a-days. Just had to replace the battery in my wife's car and it wasn't 3yo. Thank goodness it had a free replacement warranty for the 1st 3 years. The one before this didn't last 2 years.
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Comments

  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I got eight years out of the batteries in my truck. The replacements are dated 2008 and 2009 and still going strong. If you live in a HOT climate the heat will kill the battery in about 3 years.
  • armilitearmilite Member Posts: 35,490 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by bpost
    I got eight years out of the batteries in my truck. The replacements are dated 2008 and 2009 and still going strong. If you live in a HOT climate the heat will kill the battery in about 3 years.


    Correct heat will destroy a battery much sooner then the cold will.[;)]
  • Ditch-RunnerDitch-Runner Member Posts: 25,374 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    we just changed the battery in my wife's 2010 element back in January , when the real cold weather hit , it would just manage to start the engine and turning over very slow , it had a 5 year run seems about normal.
  • fishkiller41fishkiller41 Member Posts: 50,608
    edited November -1
    Interstate batteries are still good.Not like they USED to be tho.
    3-5 yrs. is about average..
  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I must have sold and/or installed 20,000 car batteries in my younger years.[:0]

    Now I'm not going to say buy this one or that one, or how long they last.
    But I will say this about new batteries today.... there seems to be more of a variance in quality even among the same company or style of batteries.

    Years ago you got what you paid for... cheap got you 3 years of service, high price got you 6 years or more.

    Now a days it doesn't seem to matter....some cheapies last, some $$$$
    are junk too.
  • pwilliepwillie Member Posts: 20,253 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I just replaced my "Generac" battery....after 5 years....
  • mango tangomango tango Member Posts: 3,833 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I worked in the auto repair industry many years ago, and the general rule of thumb, is to replace your car battery every 4 years whether it needs it or not! Every time you turn the key after 4 years is a gift!
    If your going into winter, and it's close to the 4 year mark, change it, because it always seems to go bad when your 20 miles from home, and it's 20 below zero, replace it, it's cheap insurance!
  • Don McManusDon McManus Member Posts: 23,695 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Approximately every 4 years.

    Does not make a whole lot of sense to risk being stuck in the middle of nowhere for a $ 150.00 item.
    Freedom and a submissive populace cannot co-exist.

    Brad Steele
  • armilitearmilite Member Posts: 35,490 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Back in the 60's -70's it was fairly common for batteries to last 8-10 years. Back then engine compartments were rather large and batteries back then were larger as well. As cars got smaller so did the batteries.
    When the 90's and 2000's came along the demands on batteries increased dramatically. As the batteries got smaller so did the batteries capability to cool themselves drop as well. The acid in the battery is what helps cool the battery. The acid needs to be able to move around the plates. With todays batteries being 2/3 the size of batteries of years gone by, there are nearly twice the amount of plates. Thus it makes common sense that a battery of today would not last nearly as long as the ones made back in the day.
  • guntech59guntech59 Member Posts: 23,188 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I live in a cold place.

    My batteries have been lasting 8-10 years through winters with temps going below zero regularly.....way below a lot.

    I replace them when they are bad. I'll not throw away money replacing things that still have half their life left.
  • fideaufideau Member Posts: 11,895 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My brother's 2005 F150 still has the original battery, and tires. I know because I was with him last week looking at tires, and his are not at the wear bars yet.
    I believe I put a new battery in my 2004 Camry in 2012.
    Seems to me in years past, other cars I have had, I had to replace batteries more often.
  • badchrisbadchris Member Posts: 1,676 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    8 years & counting on my original battery in the truck.
    Got 8 years out of the last Duralast battery in the car.
    I can't complain.
    Enemies of armed self-defense focus on the gun. They ignore the person protected with that gun.
  • Chief ShawayChief Shaway Member, Moderator Posts: 6,289 ******
    edited November -1
    We gave my son my wife's 2001 Sentra.
    I replaced the battery in it in 2013. 12 years was a good run.
    It would still start the car but it was slow. I told him to be careful because it starts the second you bump the key now. [:D]
    Replaced the one in my 05 Z-71 couple of years ago.
  • RobOzRobOz Member Posts: 9,523 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    the Explorer that I traded last year had the same battery for 9 years. The original only lasted three.
  • bearman49709bearman49709 Member Posts: 503
    edited November -1
    Used to have to change batteries every 2-3 years, now they last a long time.
    My 2008 Explorer has 129,000 miles and still has the original battery. Temps went below -30 several times this winter and sometimes it sat for two or three days and still turned right over.
  • JimmyJackJimmyJack Member Posts: 5,515 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    New batteries now are all made with recycled lead. They will not last like they used to. If you make it to 5 years you are on borrowed time.
  • jltrentjltrent Member Posts: 9,344 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Replaced the batteries in my 02 Ford PSD last year (12 years) and my 2003 and 2004 Kubota tractors still have the originals in them.
  • TfloggerTflogger Member Posts: 3,398 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I got 11 years from my Triumph's OEM battery. and 12 years from my Buicks OEM battery.
    I'm 2 years into the replacements of both, so far so good.
  • buddybbuddyb Member Posts: 5,393 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    OEM battery in my Tundra was still doing fine at 9 years old,but I knew I was pushing my luck and went ahead and replaced it.
  • vrichardvrichard Member Posts: 102 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had a 1994 T100 Toyota with a Panasonic car battery took it out after a couple years put the battery in my Bobcat loader still working.Thats 20 years or so.Hard to believe but it`s the truth.
    Dick[:D]
  • KAMsalesKAMsales Member Posts: 1,672 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The AZ summers here tend to smoke batteries in about 2 years regardless of brand/quality.
  • B&G ClingerB&G Clinger Member Posts: 1,789 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by guntech59
    I live in a cold place.

    My batteries have been lasting 8-10 years through winters with temps going below zero regularly.....way below a lot.

    I replace them when they are bad. I'll not throw away money replacing things that still have half their life left.


    I have an identical story. Live in MI, drive a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban. Replaced battery in 2008 when bad. Still starting every time. Sooner or later, it will wear out and I will be putting a new one in it.
  • themountainmanthemountainman Member Posts: 1,207 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    New fangled batteries fail without warning. Olden ones gave you a few slow grinding warning starts to replace it.[:0]
    There are 3 kinds of people in the world. Those who can do math and those who can't. :?
  • CaptFunCaptFun Member Posts: 16,678 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by us55840


    If I may inquire, why would you call a battery a 'welds' [?]


    put a screwdriver across the terminals and see what happens..... they are pricey batteries. I really like them for marine applications.

    They seem to be popular with users of the Ready Welder.
  • CaptFunCaptFun Member Posts: 16,678 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    MrsFun's Soccer Mom Mini van seemed to chew through batteries 3 yrs max, pretty sure it was the heat with the way the battery is located. My battery is in the trunk '09 original equipment cranking a diesel every morning strong.
  • spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,717 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    used to replace multiple tractor battery setups with 2d or 4d size single as close to starter as possible, building a bracket if needed...battery lasted twice as long with no real corrosion problems on cables..now my newer vehicles have little batteries jammed into tiny space with no size option ...if facts are right epa forced closure of last lead recycling plant in America so maybe it is all chinee lead now....if so it is lucky most don't explode on use
  • TooBigTooBig Member Posts: 28,559 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Interstate batteries suck in my opinion
  • nordnord Member Posts: 6,106
    edited November -1
    '04 RAM CTD still on original batteries. '06 Jetts TDI sold in 2013 at 180k miles still with original battery.
  • dakotashooter2dakotashooter2 Member Posts: 6,186
    edited November -1
    Most modern vehicles now place a constant draw on the battery whether it is on board electronics or the security system. We have learned to put battery maintainers on or disconnect anything that will sit over winter otherwise the battery will be dead within about 1 1/2 months.
    My ex parks her H3 during the summer but if we don't keep a maintainer on, it is stone dead within about a month.

    I get about 4 years before they start to groan in the winter. I usually replace them but keep the old ones for the law equipment or generators which gives them use for at least another 4 years.
  • grumpygygrumpygy Member Posts: 48,464 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Killed my HD Battery in less than a year. My Fault I didn't shut the master switch off, headlight is on any time the switch is one.

    Heading out in a few to get another. Taking that one back maybe they will give me a trade in.
  • grumpygygrumpygy Member Posts: 48,464 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well I was wrong seems that Battery in the HD was 4 years Old. Not bad for a bike.
  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,163 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I see no rhyme nor reason to battery life. I've seen batteries last well past their warranty period and the replacement lasts a couple of years tops. Similar size and usage batteries of same brand-one set lasts 2 years while another is still in service after 5 years.
    A friend asked me about batteries last fall. His tractor uses the same batteries as mine and his were getting weak. I stated my choice of brand and indicated they last 2-3 years. He commented that his were the same brand and had been in use for 6 years. What's the logic in that?
    It's like drawing cards from a full deck. Sometimes you get a full house and sometimes a 3,5, 7, and joker.
  • kidthatsirishkidthatsirish Member Posts: 6,984 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm on my first replacement battery in my 06 tacoma....I live in oklahoma where 105 is a common summer time temp and zero often happens in the winter.....I think having a battery that can crank the six cylinder motor for my four cylinder. ..and the Extra room in the engine bay for cooling air to flow helps lengthen the life of the battrry.
  • wpagewpage Member Posts: 10,201 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Modern batteries are crap...

    I always modify the base on my vehicles when the original fails. Then equip with a big rv/marine battery.

    Even the new rv/marine batteries are hit or miss. [:o)]

    Like men they dont make them like they used to..
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