When do you usually replace your battery?
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 901
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From: South Jersey
When do you usually replace your battery?
My daily driver is soon to be 6 years old and has 55K. I've never changed the battery but will do it tonight. It still starts up fine and all but I've heard 5-6 years is really about as far as you should go with a car battery. It's best to replace it before it dies completely not just because of the risk of being stranded but leaving a slow dying battery in there can wear out the alternator quicker.
So when you guys replace your battery? Whenever it's practically shot and you HAVE to or after x amount of time?
So when you guys replace your battery? Whenever it's practically shot and you HAVE to or after x amount of time?
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,271
Likes: 2
From: Mexia, TX
I've been running an Optima RedTop since 2005 and it still works like the day I got it. I guess I'll replace it when it's wore out. When that'll be, I don't know, since it -is- an Optima.... lol
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 781
Likes: 8
From: Sanford, NC
Usually 5 to 6 years, I replace the batteries in all the normal driven vehicles. On the classic cars which have a battery tender hooked up to them, I have gone as much as
10 years before replacing them.
10 years before replacing them.
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
My 86's battery lasted 11 years. I realize not typical but if it was replaced at 3-4 years i would of bought 2 batteries for NOTHING
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
Likes: 92
From: Denver Metro Area, CO
When it refuses to start the car any longer. If it can last through the winter, it should easily
last the following summer. The last battery in my DD lasted for 3 more years once it first
started showing signs that it was dying but I park in a garage at night, that helps.
last the following summer. The last battery in my DD lasted for 3 more years once it first
started showing signs that it was dying but I park in a garage at night, that helps.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 2,007
From: SW Washington
Ditto on this. I've never replaced a battery for any other reason.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 131
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From: berea,ky.
x2 if it aint broke dont fix it lol why make the battery makers any richer
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 666
Likes: 5
About every 3 years I buy a new battery for my wife's van, and I put the battery out of her van into my truck. So by the time it comes out of my truck it is about 6 years old. Saves me from those "My battery is dead, come and get me" phone calls.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,477
Likes: 19
From: Sheffield, AL
These battery stories reminded me of an experience within my family. Hope y'all don't mind, as it does go along with the theme of battery life.
My father had a 1963 VW Beetle. He was a chemist and had access to distilled water, so that is what the battery was refilled with. The original factory battery [it had a Wolfsburg crest on the casing] lasted until 1978. At that time, the engine failed to crank one cold morning. Off to Sears for a new battery. Three days later, the engine again failed to start. It was determined that the ground strap was corroded... how long could that original 6V battery have lasted??
For those who might not know [long time ago], the battery was under the rear seat. This was troublesome in that one might forget to check it [they were not maintenance free back then], BUT the good thing was that the battery was protected from engine heat and vibration.
My father had a 1963 VW Beetle. He was a chemist and had access to distilled water, so that is what the battery was refilled with. The original factory battery [it had a Wolfsburg crest on the casing] lasted until 1978. At that time, the engine failed to crank one cold morning. Off to Sears for a new battery. Three days later, the engine again failed to start. It was determined that the ground strap was corroded... how long could that original 6V battery have lasted??
For those who might not know [long time ago], the battery was under the rear seat. This was troublesome in that one might forget to check it [they were not maintenance free back then], BUT the good thing was that the battery was protected from engine heat and vibration.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: SWPA
I just replaced the battery in my 99 Expedition. I noticed it was cranking a bit slow, and on the first cold morning it really cranked slow, but started the vehicle. I knew it was time.... that's usually how it works for me, never replace on unless it shows it's on it's way out. I got almost 9 years in the factory battery in my 97 F250 HD. I see newer batteries these days as junk, unless they are Optimas or something on that line. Interstates are anong the worst..
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,271
Likes: 2
From: Mexia, TX
I once had a short rant with a fellow at Sears when he started telling me that some Sears battery was better than an Optima....I promptly recited what my Optima had been through, to which I received rolling eyes and a bad attitude.
I shouldn't have done that, but it's going to take a lot to prove to me that another battery brand will be as good as an Optima.
My one problem with Optima is that I've noticed that the older one in my truck appears to have been made in Colorado, whereas the newer one in my mom's Jeep Cherokee is made in Mexico...don't guess it makes a difference since it's the same tech, it's just something I noticed.
I shouldn't have done that, but it's going to take a lot to prove to me that another battery brand will be as good as an Optima.
My one problem with Optima is that I've noticed that the older one in my truck appears to have been made in Colorado, whereas the newer one in my mom's Jeep Cherokee is made in Mexico...don't guess it makes a difference since it's the same tech, it's just something I noticed.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
Likes: 17
From: Dryden, ON, Canada
The newer batch of optimas, say from the last 2-3 years seem to not be nearly as good as the older ones.
Personally I stick Group 31 commercial batteries in everything, and I usually get 2-3 years out of them, the cold here kills them in short order. Run it down once at 30 below and it's shot.
Personally I stick Group 31 commercial batteries in everything, and I usually get 2-3 years out of them, the cold here kills them in short order. Run it down once at 30 below and it's shot.