Battery service life - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

dodj · 12-18-2019, 02:52 PM

How much life do you Canadians and northern state Americans get out of a battery?
Myself I usually get 5-6 years on an AGM battery on all my vehicles EXCEPT the BRZ. It seems to need a new battery every three years.

I have a 2013 Sport tech BRZ. In 2016, the factory Panasonic battery couldn't start the car in the cold. So I replaced it with an AGM battery. This morning.....that battery started the BRZ but just barely. Time for a new one again.
You guys out there have a similar experience?

ToySub1946 · 12-18-2019, 05:18 PM

My original battery got weak after about 3.5 years and I replaced it.

Now you've forced me to look at my replacement, which is leaking from it's top, causing corrosion...something to deal with, shucks, but thanks.

Running a battery down, like leaving the lights on, just one time even, can cause a wimpy battery to not be able to restore itself.

Our best bet would be a deep cycle battery...why didn't I do that ...

My lifetime experience is that battery life varies greatly, from 2 to 6+ years.

Note: In some forums, members have reported having trouble with short life of Optima agm type batteries, since they moved their production facilities to Mexico...yet my research today shows me that move was ten years ago. Johnson Controls owns Optima. All auto batteries that I've seen in recent years are made in Mexico.

"it's probably from the mexican water. there is a reason they say "don't drink the water" when you go down there

maybe the batteries don't like it either."

Recovering an AGM battery which is difficult to recharge:

KMA KiCKz · 12-18-2019, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dodj

How much life do you Canadians and northern state Americans get out of a battery?
Myself I usually get 5-6 years on an AGM battery on all my vehicles EXCEPT the BRZ. It seems to need a new battery every three years.

I have a 2013 Sport tech BRZ. In 2016, the factory Panasonic battery couldn't start the car in the cold. So I replaced it with an AGM battery. This morning.....that battery started the BRZ but just barely. Time for a new one again.
You guys out there have a similar experience?

Running on about 5 years so far on stock battery for my FRS with no issues. I guess I'm spoiled with my California weather.

Could be due to harsh weather conditions, alternator, or maybe starter?

Hopefully others can chime in on the issue.

qqzj · 12-18-2019, 06:18 PM

I am from CA too. Battery is 6 years and 2 months. I typically get 7-8 years out of them.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

RToyo86 · 12-18-2019, 06:53 PM

I'd suggest a block heater if you aren't using one.
If I drive mine another winter I'm installing one as well.

On my Suzuki it was the difference between an easy normal crank to start and be buying a new battery if I didn't plug it in on a particularly cold evening. Night and day difference.

ichitaka05 · 12-18-2019, 06:57 PM

Replaced mine this year fall, so stock one lasted... lil over 5yrs. I live in the state that only have 2 season. Burning hot summer and frozen ice winter (no in between), so lasting 5 yrs isn't bad. BUT of course, I had 2 accident in between those 5 yrs and the shop recharge my battery every time, so you wanna add that to the factor.

7 skulls · 12-18-2019, 07:39 PM

My stock battery lasted 2 years and the replacement would have went down in 2 years as well if I didn't buy a small duracell battery tender. Something in these cars, combined with cold, just eats batteries.

dodj · 12-18-2019, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RToyo86

I'd suggest a block heater if you aren't using one.
If I drive mine another winter I'm installing one as well.

On my Suzuki it was the difference between an easy normal crank to start and be buying a new battery if I didn't plug it in on a particularly cold evening. Night and day difference.

Ya, the barely starting included it being plugged in all night at work...12 hours.
Plus I use Amzoil signature synthetic oil.

Maybe I just need to move to California?

StraightOuttaCanadaEh · 12-18-2019, 09:40 PM

4th canadian winter, going strong. I charge it once in a while

Aluma007 · 12-18-2019, 10:31 PM

south texas here...3 years....about 30k miles... kaput. :P

Grady · 12-18-2019, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aluma007

south texas here...3 years....about 30k miles... kaput. :P

Heat kills them!

alan.chalkley · 12-19-2019, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grady

Heat kills them!

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

Hot-Lava_Dave · 12-19-2019, 08:54 AM

Mine gave out after about 3 1/2 years. So about normal maybe since I live in Michigan.

davesrave · 12-19-2019, 11:52 AM

My original battery lasted 6.5 years. But the car is garaged. My other car is 6 yrs old with original battery and the stop/start function stopped working, which typically means the battery is almost done.

12-18-2019, 02:52 PM	#1
dodj Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Drives: Rallye Blue BRZ Location: Canada Posts: 130 Thanks: 72 Thanked 64 Times in 39 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Battery service life How much life do you Canadians and northern state Americans get out of a battery? Myself I usually get 5-6 years on an AGM battery on all my vehicles EXCEPT the BRZ. It seems to need a new battery every three years. I have a 2013 Sport tech BRZ. In 2016, the factory Panasonic battery couldn't start the car in the cold. So I replaced it with an AGM battery. This morning.....that battery started the BRZ but just barely. Time for a new one again. You guys out there have a similar experience?

12-18-2019, 05:18 PM	#2
ToySub1946 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Drives: 15FRS, 05MustangGT, 85Toyota truck Location: Eureka, Ca. Posts: 574 Thanks: 672 Thanked 590 Times in 279 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	My original battery got weak after about 3.5 years and I replaced it. Now you've forced me to look at my replacement, which is leaking from it's top, causing corrosion...something to deal with, shucks, but thanks. Running a battery down, like leaving the lights on, just one time even, can cause a wimpy battery to not be able to restore itself. Our best bet would be a deep cycle battery...why didn't I do that ... My lifetime experience is that battery life varies greatly, from 2 to 6+ years. Note: In some forums, members have reported having trouble with short life of Optima agm type batteries, since they moved their production facilities to Mexico...yet my research today shows me that move was ten years ago. Johnson Controls owns Optima. All auto batteries that I've seen in recent years are made in Mexico. "it's probably from the mexican water. there is a reason they say "don't drink the water" when you go down there maybe the batteries don't like it either." Recovering an AGM battery which is difficult to recharge: Last edited by ToySub1946; 12-19-2019 at 03:21 AM.

12-18-2019, 06:57 PM	#6
ichitaka05 Site Moderator Join Date: Oct 2009 Drives: ichi 86 Project Location: Middle of No where Posts: 20,965 Thanks: 7,663 Thanked 19,051 Times in 8,326 Posts Mentioned: 677 Post(s) Tagged: 27 Thread(s)	Replaced mine this year fall, so stock one lasted... lil over 5yrs. I live in the state that only have 2 season. Burning hot summer and frozen ice winter (no in between), so lasting 5 yrs isn't bad. BUT of course, I had 2 accident in between those 5 yrs and the shop recharge my battery every time, so you wanna add that to the factor. __________________

12-18-2019, 09:40 PM	#9
StraightOuttaCanadaEh Wes Join Date: Feb 2017 Drives: Artisan Spirits '17 86 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,794 Thanks: 1,165 Thanked 1,674 Times in 994 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	4th canadian winter, going strong. I charge it once in a while __________________ Instagram: @gt86ws

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12-18-2019, 06:18 PM	#4
qqzj Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: MDX, Camry Location: SF, CA Posts: 399 Thanks: 54 Thanked 69 Times in 44 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I am from CA too. Battery is 6 years and 2 months. I typically get 7-8 years out of them. Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

12-18-2019, 06:53 PM	#5
RToyo86 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Drives: 17 Asphalt 86 Location: Ottawa Posts: 2,165 Thanks: 1,706 Thanked 2,198 Times in 1,125 Posts Mentioned: 13 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I'd suggest a block heater if you aren't using one. If I drive mine another winter I'm installing one as well. On my Suzuki it was the difference between an easy normal crank to start and be buying a new battery if I didn't plug it in on a particularly cold evening. Night and day difference.

12-18-2019, 07:39 PM	#7
7 skulls Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Drives: 2014 scion frs Location: Newfoundland Posts: 241 Thanks: 283 Thanked 247 Times in 122 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	My stock battery lasted 2 years and the replacement would have went down in 2 years as well if I didn't buy a small duracell battery tender. Something in these cars, combined with cold, just eats batteries.

12-18-2019, 10:31 PM	#10
Aluma007 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Drives: 2017 Brz Location: TX Posts: 305 Thanks: 105 Thanked 78 Times in 64 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	south texas here...3 years....about 30k miles... kaput. :P

12-19-2019, 08:54 AM	#13
Hot-Lava_Dave Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Drives: 2016 Hot Lava MT Location: Rochester, MI Posts: 226 Thanks: 364 Thanked 211 Times in 107 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Mine gave out after about 3 1/2 years. So about normal maybe since I live in Michigan.

12-19-2019, 11:52 AM	#14
davesrave Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Drives: 2014 Boxster S; 2015 Macan S Location: MA Posts: 206 Thanks: 326 Thanked 233 Times in 63 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	My original battery lasted 6.5 years. But the car is garaged. My other car is 6 yrs old with original battery and the stop/start function stopped working, which typically means the battery is almost done.

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