Battery life?
Author
Discussion

Changedmyname

Original Poster:

12,549 posts

207 months

Friday 31st August 2012
quotequote all
I've had the battery on my car for 11 years and now it has finaly given up the ghost.
I was told a few years ago that a battery should be changed every 5 years.
With them getting better, what are your thoughts on this?

The Moose

23,589 posts

235 months

Friday 31st August 2012
quotequote all
Change it when it needs it IMHO.

No doubt I'll be shot down in flames for saying so though!

WeirdNeville

6,037 posts

241 months

Friday 31st August 2012
quotequote all
They are getting better but electrical loads on them are getting far greater too.

I certainly only change them when they 'die' - and have had many that are a decade old at least. I bet it's battery manufacturers advising to change them more frequently.

I generally find fitting a large stereo system is the acid test - see how they cope with a 40 amp load without the engine running! I had a 'micra' battery in my 200sx because the FMIC pipework fouled the battery tray. That system could play for all of 10 minutes before the engine would fail to crank!

Changedmyname

Original Poster:

12,549 posts

207 months

Friday 31st August 2012
quotequote all
The Moose said:
Change it when it needs it IMHO.

No doubt I'll be shot down in flames for saying so though!
Fair comment.

GaryST220

970 posts

210 months

Friday 31st August 2012
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I have the original 9 year old battery fitted to my Mondeo, and it's never been anything other than faultless.

iva cosworth

44,044 posts

189 months

Friday 31st August 2012
quotequote all
Some batteries just get weaker and weaker then die.

Others can die overnight with no warning

Changedmyname

Original Poster:

12,549 posts

207 months

Friday 31st August 2012
quotequote all
I had a feeling mine was on the way out,as the turn over was sounding like a diesel (perish the thought).
But as I'd left the car on the driveway for 5 weeks and the alarm was trying to tell me something.
The amount of plastic I had to take off before getting a the damn thing was stupid....bloody modern cars eh!

gsrgeoff

259 posts

256 months

Friday 31st August 2012
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Batteries used to average about 6 years (in the 80/90's), although i'm sure like everything else they last longer these days.

Caruso

7,519 posts

282 months

Friday 31st August 2012
quotequote all
I'm sure a lot depends on the vehicle. I'm lucky if I get 2 years out of a battery on myblackbird but I had one last 15 years in a 928.

Ecurie Ecosse

4,812 posts

244 months

Friday 31st August 2012
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My Volvo battery just let go after 16 years.

A shame, as I was proud of its originality.

Perd Hapley

1,750 posts

199 months

Friday 31st August 2012
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I had a relative who used to boast about the longevity of his MK2 Escort's battery. Must have got to about 15 years, if he wasn't lying.

BFG TERRANO

2,172 posts

174 months

Saturday 1st September 2012
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The Moose said:
Change it when it needs it IMHO.

No doubt I'll be shot down in flames for saying so though!
I was once told to change at 5 years to. As an old battery not in its prime will make the altenator work harder to try and keep it tip top?

magpie215

4,972 posts

215 months

Saturday 1st September 2012
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Winter usually finishes off tired old batteries.