Battery replacement

Whats the rule of thumb for changeing out the OEM battery, 3-4 yrs?


Thanks
Tom

 

"typical" life is about 4-6 years for a battery. Mine was at the 5
year mark and with the winter coming, I decided to replace it before it
got cold. That'll also prevent my wife from calling me to tell me the
battery died. I think I paid $40 at Costco for a 36/84 battery...if
replaced within 3 years, no charge - prorated after. Every year I
stretched it, it's like $4-5 buck/year I'll save. Factor in the time it
takes to get someone to help jump start your car if it dies...wasn't
worth it in my book.

-John

 

I wouldn't say there is one. It all depends on if it has drained down
completely (which shortens life) or if it is hot all the time like in
Phoenix, which kills the batteries fast. I remember in Phoenix the used to
have these batteries, maybe they still do, that had styrofoam balls in the
liquid as if this was supposed to somehow keep the battery cooler.

3-4 years doesn't sound too bad though, and if it is bad it needs
replacement no matter how old it is or what the "rule of thumb" may be.

CaptainKrunch

 

This question is likely to cause a long thread akin to what you get when
asking about mineral oil vs. synthetic. Since '87 I have replaced a
total of 5 batteries in three different cars. All of the 5 batteries
were between 4 and 5 years when they needed replacement. This is in a
moderate climate (Northern California) and with no abuse (like leaving
lights on until the battery is drained).

By the time the battery is too weak to start the car, it has already
been bad for some time, and this puts excess strain on the charging
system. When you notice your battery becoming weaker (e.g. slower
cranking og longer time to start the engine) it may be prudent to change
it rather than to wait for it to fail completely.

 

the only rule there is is "when it stops taking a charge as well".

This varys depending on many things. How many short/long trips you
take (flatteneing the battery with lots of short trips drastcally
reduces the battery life) the temperature the battery is kept at, its
electrolyte level etc

I used to go test mine every Saturday morning, and make sure it was at
about 13.5V, since i took a long run fridaynight. Around the winter
time, I'd also lob in a battery into the boot, to jump me if needed,
or power anything that needed powering if anythign else broke. or
simply to give someone else a jump start

Of course, brand can make a big difference too, for example, in
nicads, with a sub C sized cel, and a 100SA draw, some brands will
give 90% plate capacity (and battery capacity is found by way of the
20 hour constant discharge) and ome would give only 70, and yet others
would explode, or otherwise break.

Personally, I'd go with the BIGGEST battery that will actually fit in
my car. never hurts to have a little extra capacity, especially when
you've got heated windows on, or heated seats (a favourite feature of
mine) or the AC going.

 

My 91 Civic's OEM battery lasted 4.5 years in mostly northern U.S. climate.

The next battery (Sears, medium priced) also lasted 4.5 years in all northern
U.S. climate.

I had maybe a total of two jumps and/or roll starts done on each battery.

Aside: I read in some shop manual recently that roll starts are not good for
some part of the car.

snip

 

Here in Central Calif, where its hot (over 100) in the summer, my experience
has been 3 years for battery life.....in any car I've owned, except this 99
Civic that I bought in May 1999.....still on the original battery and am
waiting for it to croak.

 

The OEM batteries in my 2 Nissans lasted exactly 8 years each. (1995-2003,
1992-2000).

This was in St. Louis with its frigid winters and sizzling summers and I
never checked the fluid levels (I thought they were sealed type which they
weren't).

Nissan OEM is simply unbeatable. Who makes them? My Honda is too new to
need a battery yet.