Battery service life

[Grady]

Originally Posted by alan.chalkley

My original battery is over six years old and still going strong , plenty of hot days and bush fires around here.

Yes it is hot there also but for the last 10 years we average 10 deg hotter and 10 deg colder than you. A little more extreme changes. Not to mention sitting in traffic in the summer where my IAT goes above 130.

You can keep the brush fires! Concrete does not burn!

[ZDan]

Battery in my '17 was weak/deadish when I test drove the brand-new on-the-lot car in December 2017! They replaced it before I took delivery in January '18...

[CB750F]

My car just turned 5 in October.
Since I found this forum I've seem people bitch about the battery.
I figure it should last 5-8 yrs.
I was gone 2 weeks this summer, came back it started no issue.
In November we had a few cold days, -10c & snow so I did not use my car for 2 weeks.
It was dead.....
I store my car from Dec-March & it's on a battery tender now & every winter.
It started no issue when I boosted it.
So, guess I'll be shopping for a new battery in the spring, or when it fails.
I can't remember what people bought, any good suggestions?

[Aluma007]

Originally Posted by Grady

Heat kills them!

This is the only car I've ever had to change out a battery on...but what really sucks is that it decided to kaput a couple of days AFTER my warranty ran out. :/

[soundman98]

where's the battery? i checked in the wheels. i can't see it.

[Sapphireho]

Originally Posted by soundman98

where's the battery? i checked in the wheels. i can't see it.

You have to take them off, idiot!

[soundman98]

WHAT KIND OF CAR IS THIS. ON MY BMW I COULD CLEARLY SEE THE BATTERY THROUGH THE DOOR PANELS

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Aluma007

This is the only car I've ever had to change out a battery on...but what really sucks is that it decided to kaput a couple of days AFTER my warranty ran out. :/

Batteries are weird and the most unpredictable thing on a car. Way back in the day I had batteries boil completely dry from a faulty generator (yes I said generator not alternator), filled them with water from a ditch and got years more service out of them. Had more than one go flat and then freeze solid but work fine when thawed out and charged up. My 58 Ford sat in the driveway for about 4 years and I would only start it up every couple of months. The thing would start first crank every single time without even the slightest hesitation even though the battery never really got a full recharge and was well over 12 years old.
I have also had ones that just stopped working one day with no apparent reason or warning. Nothing could bring them back to life but that was a very rare occasion.
Then along came cars with ECUs, "smart" charging systems, Security systems you can shut off, key-less ignition and entry and all sorts of other electrical systems that were on all the time even with the car shut off. Now batteries all seem to just give up after a few years. The constant parasitic draw is the only thing that I can say is the real difference. My broke ass could not afford quality ones back in the day so a reduction in quality would seem to be ruled out. Now I just assume I will have to replace a battery within a few years no matter how much I watch the levels, keep the connections free of corrosion or perform any other preventative maintenance on them.

[soundman98]

battery companies are like tool companies. when you get down to the who actually makes them, it really only boils down to like 3-4 main companies that just rubber stamp any name anyone with a fat wallet wants them to put on it!

[ToySub1946]

I agree.

My Walmart $50. 'Value Power' battery says Johnson Controls on it.

Same company which owns Optima.

It's all the same shit, different colors...

And of course 'Made in Mexico'.


When you try to figure out who currently owns Johnson Controls it gets quite complicated...lots of changes in most recent years....mostly to avoid taxes...LOL.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by ToySub1946

I agree.

My Walmart $50. 'Value Power' battery says Johnson Controls on it.

Same company which owns Optima.

It's all the same shit, different colors...

Yes and no.
Keep in mind they can be made by the same place but to totally different specs. It all depends on what the customer wants and if something is far cheaper there is guaranteed to be inferior specs requested. There will be more than just the colour that is different.

[Grady]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

You have to take them off, idiot!

Once you get the wheels off there is a plastic liner you have to remove. From there you need little Gnomes to get in the engine bay and change the battery. Worst Design Ever!!!

[Grady]

Originally Posted by Aluma007

This is the only car I've ever had to change out a battery on...but what really sucks is that it decided to kaput a couple of days AFTER my warranty ran out. :/

You do not keep your cars long enough. I have had to put a battery or 2 in every car I have owned.

[soundman98]

must also not buy many used cars. i've settled into a routine that any used vehicle i pick up, i immediately do tires, brakes, oil change, and a battery.

because when i don't, all of those things will fail within the first 6 months.