How long typically does a car battery last?

[N2RJ]

Mine is showing signs that it's ready to croak.

But it's almost been 5 years now...

What's the typical life expectancy for a car (starting, lights, ignition) battery?

In Trinidad we replaced batteries almost every 2-3 years, but that's only because it is so hot and humid there.

I've heard of batteries here in the states lasting 5 years and more.

[n8yx]

You're about dead-on 'average' at 5 years...ditto for the batteries in my motorcycles. But YMMV... ;)

[k7unz]

Well, here in Tucson mine go every four years, almost like clockwork (hi)!

Doesn't matter what brand or advertising claim, that's it....four years.

And when they go, there's no warning, they just go!

Jim/k7unz

[KE6SHJ]

Hey Ryan how goes it. Yeah typically its 5 years. I have mine swapped out every 4 which may be a little overkill but better safe then sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[K8ERV]

I just replaced the original battery in my Ford Explorer at 8 years. Still worked well, but knew I would eventually need a new one. WestMountain CBA at 5 amps still showed 17 amp-hours, so it's now my station battery. Do think that is an unusually long life. But I have never had a battery fail within the warranty period.

In spite of what they say, keep the fluid level up with distilled water, and never let the battery go dead for more than a day??

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[KB0LPI]

I'd say 5-7 years. I replaced the original battery in my '94 in 2001, and it's still in there today, so It's getting about that time......

[KD6NIG]

Depends on the warranty. Usually the warranty time plus a few months.

Depends on what you do with it also.

Most of mine have gone 3-5 years. My truck one seems to go a little quicker but thats because it gets driven during the week and sits on the weekends, so it probably drains a little and then gets drawn down nicely Monday morning when I crank it after its sat for almost 2.5 days.

The other car gets driven almost daily so it stays charged. Its only a year old though-and its in the trunk by the spare tire which allegedly keeps it cooler. Plus it supposedly has a "monitor circuit" on it that keeps it charged but once charged, the charging system only keeps it there, not like the old style where you just get what you get out of the generator/altenator.

We'll see if it results in longer life.

I usually get 3 winters out of the truck one though. But its in the engine compartment which means it gets the heating of the engine and the cooling of when its sitting, so it probably has a wider temp range its subject to.

I've found batteries with a 3 year warranty make it 3 years. I just stuck a 5 year "diehard" in the truck, we'll see if it makes it or I get a prorate :)

[WB2WIK]

Lots of variables there.

BIG batteries usually last longer than small ones in the same application. Batteries that are located in cooler locations with more airflow around them (for cooling in motion) last longer than ones that are very confined, not well ventilated, and in hotter locations. And obviously starting and stopping a lot, making many short trips that don't fully recharge the battery kills them much faster than normal operation where the car's started and driven >20 miles to a full recharge.

Although batteries work harder when it's very cold because cars are harder to start and must crank longer (so it takes a lot longer to recharge them after a very cold WX start), what actually kills them is heat. For a given application auto batteries don't last as long in Phoenix as they do in Cleveland, purely based on the average operating and storage temperature.

5 years does seem to be about the limit in most cases. The guys in Phoenix and Tucson tell me it's more like 3-4 years there.

WB2WIK/6

[n2jso]

I've had them last anywhere between 3 and 8 years.

[W4INF]

I think 5 is going to be typical for the average automobile battery.

Andrew

[KC9ECI]

We just replaced one in the mini pumper at the FD that was installed in the 80's.

[K8ERV]

We just replaced one in the mini pumper at the FD that was installed in the 80's.

NOT a fair comparison. You guys push it rather than start it. Saves gas---

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[w5dwh]

Walmart batteries about 3 years. An OEM Motorcraft, more like 5.

[WB3ECV]

Just replaced the original in my 2000 Dodge Ram; I bought the truck in September 1999.
The battery seemed fine in the morning when I went to work; when I tried starting at the end of the day, I thought someone had stolen it; not even the interior light was working. Naturally, it was a damp, rainy night.

[KC7UP]

Here in this climate 5 years at most using a good battery. Some last longer but may leave you stranded if the weather turns cold.
Curt

[N2RJ]

As it turned out the negative (earth) terminal of my battery was slack, so I took it out, cleaned it with a wire brush and sprayed some WD40. After that I applied some grease and retightened. Did the same for the positive terminal.


I'll see how it goes, but I think the next time I'm at Costco I'll get a new battery.

[KC7YPJ]

on average I get roughly 3-5 years out of a standard issue 24f size battery, I've got a couple of optima spiral core's that have been around for 7 years now in my camping/kegger truxks, both are still running fine even with being parked for long time periods, then run large draw stereo's etc while shut off, with occasional winch duty and whacker lights (search & Rescue) and still haven't had a problem with them, I guess when you pay double for a battery you get what you pay for. running a desulfating charger on my deep cycle batteries once every couple of years has kept them in good shape for well over a decade on my camper and shack supply.

the avg life depends largely on use, initial quality, and how you maintain it.

[KC9ECI]

On the other hand, if you take a brand new battery, stick it on a 40 amp charger for an hour, and the timer fails...24 hours later you have a nasty smell in your garage, a bulging, boiling battery, and a new doorstop.

[kf6rdn]

Who needs a battery? Get a stick and make your wife push start it.

[N2RJ]

The car failed to start this evening, so I had to jump start it (sorry rdn, it's an automatic, can't push start it).

So off to costco I went to get a new battery. The car started like it was brand new.

The good news is the old battery can be exchanged for approximately 50% of its value (100 month warranty) at any costco. So this weekend I'm going to carry the old one back.

[k8wpj]

My experience growing up in Ohio, was that you needed to service your car front to back and top to bottom at least 4 times a year, even if it's just an oil change and inspection... Every time a battery hit 3 years, during the third winter my battery would fail, if i had not already changed it.

In colder northern climates, cars idle for extended periods to warm up, and to heat up the passenger area.... The opposite of idling with the A/C on in key west. And in extremes of temperature you'll have extra loads on the systerm...

[M0DSZ]

Questions as to ensuring long battery life have been answered but there is a "Calcium" additive offered in more expensive batteries here. This is supposed to reduce sulphation (sulfation if you prefer) of the plates and prolong the battery life.

[W0BLH]

My wife drives a 1987 Dodge Omni we bought new in 1986 and has 40K miles on it. She was having some problems and I checked the battery and it was 9 years old. We replaced it with a Wally World cheap battery and it was ready to go. It is only driven during the summers and no rust.

[KG4CGC]

Average life 5 years. With the correct replacement, another 4 to five years.
If you replace with more battery than you need, it will last longer.

We had a battery recommended to us by the battery specialists that was a lesser CCA that was recommended by the manufacturer. 2 years. After one year and 11 months, they gave us a new battery plus 16 dollars.