How Long Do You Expect A Car Battery To Last Before You Replace It?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How Long Do You Expect A Car Battery To Last Before You Replace It? (Page 1 of 3)

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:46:29 PM EDT

Just curious.

I just replaced the battery on my wife's 2011 Ford.

I still have the original one on my 2006 FJ.

Why the discrepancy?

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:51:16 PM EDT

[#1]

My wife starts here car twice as much as I start my truck. 4-5 times everyday to and from work including daycare. Me to and from work. Weekends we drive here car. So I may get 4 years out of my wifes car. I just replaced the factory battery on my 05 F150.

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:52:12 PM EDT

[#2]

4-8 years

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:52:45 PM EDT

[#3]

I've had original batteties last 7 yrs. Mostly, though, I get 5 yrs out o them.

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:52:49 PM EDT

[#4]

I got 9 years out of the battery in my Ram.

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:53:36 PM EDT

[#5]

IBTP

5-6 years is probably average.

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:53:45 PM EDT

[#6]

If I get three years I'm happy. Went through a battery a year on my Honda, all factory warrantied, out of warranty I put an East-Penn / Deka in it and haven't had a problem since. Original GM battery in my truck made it seven years, also replaced with an East-Penn / Deka.

Discrepancy is because just like 96% of the products we buy, they're made like shit to maximize profits.

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:54:19 PM EDT

[#7]

5-6 yr

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:55:32 PM EDT

[#8]

4 to 5 years

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:55:48 PM EDT

[#9]

If I replace a car battery, I should only have to do it once.

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:56:49 PM EDT

[#10]

here? 2 years. like clockwork.

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:57:09 PM EDT

[#11]

The last time I had to replace a car battery, the replaced battery was 10 years old.

...It was replaced because it was stolen.

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:57:54 PM EDT

[#12]

5 years

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:58:06 PM EDT

[#13]

expect?? 4-5 years.

my 2007 colorado is still on the factory battery..... but it needs to be replaced, it wont start the truck when the temps below 25*.. last feb it would not even turn the truck over.... i kept it to get my money worth... replace it in december prob.

my 1996 diesel suburban had two new batteries put in around 2008...( dual battery system) .. one battery died due to charging / electrical shorts that helped kill it...... i replaced it about 6 months ago due to those problems, the second battery is still doing well. so i got 5-7 years out of all my batteries so far, dont guess i can complain.

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:58:15 PM EDT

[#14]

About 5-6 years

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:58:25 PM EDT

[#15]

One of those things that varies too much with the climate where you live and how you use the car.
Here in Michigan/Indiana area I replace my daily driver batteries around the 4 or 5 year mark. Yes, I can get more but it's just not worth fucking around with for me or putting more load on the alternator as the battery becomes marginal.
I keep daily drivers around 7 or 8 years so I'm looking at buying 1 battery no matter what and just do it even if it is going strong at 4 or 5 years.

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:58:43 PM EDT

[#16]

3-5 years

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:59:11 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:

here? 2 years. like clockwork.

View Quote

Posted: 10/2/2014 7:59:37 PM EDT

[#18]

About 87 months

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:00:21 PM EDT

[#19]

10 years...or Odessey gets to replace it. Dual Bats, cranking a diesel, running plow, they are good stuff.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:00:23 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
I've had original batteties last 7 yrs. Mostly, though, I get 5 yrs out o them.

View Quote

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:00:34 PM EDT

[#21]

how deep is the water where you live?

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:01:53 PM EDT

[#22]

3 years in Houston. Heat kills. My wifes 4Runner is 4 years old so I am expecting the inevitable but so far so good.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:02:22 PM EDT

[#23]

Car, 4-6 years. Motorcycle 2, maybe 3, a lot more vibration on a bike.
That would be with typical usage, YMMV

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:02:37 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:

The last time I had to replace a car battery, the replaced battery was 10 years old.

...It was replaced because it was stolen.

View Quote

Last one I replaced was 10 years old as well. On my mothers 2002 Buick. Big ol' thing, up under the rear seat bottom.

It lasted until 2012 and was still going strong when she left the interior light on for a whole weekend.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:16:13 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
Car, 4-6 years. Motorcycle 2, maybe 3, a lot more vibration on a bike.
That would be with typical usage, YMMV

View Quote

That was going to be my next question. I seem to replace my bikes' batteries every 3 years.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:19:37 PM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
Just curious.

I just replaced the battery on my wife's 2011 Ford.

I still have the original one on my 2006 FJ.

Why the discrepancy?

View Quote

Heat, vibration, overcharging, less than ideal charging, battery construction, battery size relative to demand, parasitic loads causing more charge/discharge over time.

Plus a few other reasons I can't think of at the moment.

ETA: one of my cars is an older gas VW that came in gas and diesel versions. The diesel battery is much bigger, but is the same price and fits perfectly. I buy those and they last a long time. They don't work as hard, and because they have more capacity to begin with, can degrade more while still doing the job.

Just an idea if it works for you.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:25:32 PM EDT

[#27]

I find the people I know who are the happiest in life have the most reasonable expectations.

I find that if I refrain from placing expectations on things beyond my control I am a generally happier person.

Bottom line: I "expect" to change a battery when it will no longer reliably hold a charge.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:27:27 PM EDT

[#28]

2006 Saturn on its original battery, but its located in the trunk so it should last longer.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:31:14 PM EDT

[#29]

In phoenix area its two years down to the month. Usually august every two years for me.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:31:31 PM EDT

[#30]

4 years

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:32:07 PM EDT

[#31]

Still running a battery from the late 90's

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:33:03 PM EDT

[#32]

The Motorcraft battery in my Ranger lasted 9 years until my wife left the dome light on during my 3rd deployment with that truck. The truck was a year old when I bought it so I would assume the battery was the original. Which would make it about 10 years old when my wife murdered it.

My Commander has the same battery 7 years later.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:33:31 PM EDT

[#33]

24 months. Then I no I will be stranded somewhere real soon.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:34:50 PM EDT

[#34]

About 4 years here in Indiana.

My parents old geo metro battery lasted like 10 years on the stocker.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:34:53 PM EDT

[#35]

The Sears Diehard Gold battery I bought in 1997 for my Trans Am that stays in the garage and rarely gets driven lasted 10 years. I could go all winter and not crank the car up then on a whim go out and fire it right up. It finally died in 2007, and I've been through 2 replacements since. The current Diehard Gold is a total piece of shit. I can't go more than 2-3 weeks without having to take the car out or the battery will die. I'm buying a trickle charger thingy sooner or later.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:35:30 PM EDT

[#36]

Quote History

Quoted:
3 years in Houston. Heat kills. My wifes 4Runner is 4 years old so I am expecting the inevitable but so far so good.

View Quote

Yep. Every day after 3 years is just luck of the draw in the Texas heat.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:35:40 PM EDT

[#37]

In the year round heat we have here in S. Florida they last 3 year. It doesn't matter what vehicle or whether you buy one of the fancy brands, 3 years.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:40:57 PM EDT

[#38]

I do mine every 5 years.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:40:57 PM EDT

[#39]

Test them, and get a feel for the starter speed.

Batteries on the way out will show up in the fall here in CO, they crank slower.

Can run 6+ years or run a lot less, really depends on the discharge/charge cycles. Daily drivers will keep a battery a lot longer since they don't discharge too hard unless you leave the key on. Equipment that sits, maybe 3 years

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:41:22 PM EDT

[#40]

Quote History

Quoted:

In the year round heat we have here in S. Florida they last 3 year. It doesn't matter what vehicle or whether you buy one of the fancy brands, 3 years.

View Quote

Exactly, three years. You'll notice either it will fail to start or will not charge adequately.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:41:37 PM EDT

[#41]

Mine? 15 years if not longer.

I drive a Volt.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:41:59 PM EDT

[#42]

Quote History

Quoted:
I've had original batteties last 7 yrs. Mostly, though, I get 5 yrs out o them.

View Quote

I can agree with this. My current battery is 6 years old, but it is under the spare tire in the back, (Chevrolet HHS), so it is not exposed to as much heat, or cold). It does have to fight with longer cables, but that doesn't seem to be much of a problem. If I have to change it this year, it won't bother me.

My 2000 Blazer went about 6 years, and then the batter developed a hole in it's side. Mounted firmly, it was not from vibration. IDK what happened?

I try to keep one of those battery pack jumper boxes around. The first one I bought jumped many cars, (my own, and othes), and finally gave up after about 10 years. I am still on my second, though it has only been used maybe twice.

Nice thing about new cars, and jumping them. If you can turn them over, they will usually start. If not, they usually won't, some other problem. Not like the cars of my youth, where you might have to grind and grind and grind, and then possibly get them to start. One thing I don't miss about the good old days.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:43:37 PM EDT

[#43]

Quoted:
Just curious.

I just replaced the battery on my wife's 2011 Ford.

I still have the original one on my 2006 FJ.

Why the discrepancy?

View Quote

Funny you made this thread

Just started having issues with mine when I left work and was thinking about searching the same question. Oh and I have an 07 FJ with the factory battery too lol

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:50:37 PM EDT

[#44]

Just replace them every 48 mos. or so.

Cheap insurance.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:56:49 PM EDT

[#45]

I just replaced mine and I got 1 week shy of 4 years out of it. I was lucky when it died as I just finished lunch and a buddy who was there gave me a jump. Drove straight to the auto parts store and changed it with no drama. I am grateful it wasn't a late night trip to the store when it died.

Florida is hard on batteries but from what you guys are saying we have nothing on Arizona.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:57:32 PM EDT

[#46]

I worked at a wholesaler for a while. I saw batteries that crapped out in 9 months and some that were around for 9 years. It is a complete and total crap shoot. Extreme temps will obviously kill them much more quickly.

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:58:32 PM EDT

[#47]

Anything more than 4 years is gravey.....

Posted: 10/2/2014 8:58:56 PM EDT

[#48]

Quote History

Quoted:
here? 2 years. like clockwork.

View Quote

No kidding. Three years if your lucky. The intense heat kills them quick here. I change mine every two years regardless if it "needs" it. I don't want to be stranded out in the desert miles from anyone.