How Long Does Your Battery Last

My last battery lasted for just over 10 years. It is a weekend driver at about 2-3K miles a year and mostly sits all winter. Never use a maintainer or charger. If you are buying a good battery is should last somewhere around 50-60 months.

 

just replaced mine.... 7 years. Obviously all batteries (and situations) are different but i would suspect you would get 5-10 years out of a good battery.

- sean

 

I use a trickle charger all year round, whenever I pull into the garage I hook the charger up.

I usually get 7-10 years out of a battery, however in 2007 I needed a replacement and I tried one of these gel based batteries (Optima Yellow Top) and that only lasted 3 years. It was A LOT of money for 3 years worth of usage.

I went back to a regular battery last spring when the Optima gave out.

Phil

 

Interesting timing of this thread since my battery is also on it's last leg. This year I didn't start the car all winter. With no charger, the battery wouldn't start the car this spring. It looks like the battery is about 5-6 yrs old.

BTW what group size does our batteries take?

Ace

 

It's been 6 years for mine and it's still going very strong.
It's always on a Battery Tender when not being driven.

 

I mounted a trickle charger down by the battery and ran the cord out by the front grill. I just plug it in a couple days before I need the car (I don't even test if it needs it) and it starts right up when I am ready.

I have an Optima Yellow Top. It's been in since early 2006 and it still fires strong. So far so good.

 

BTW, This may be a complete waste of money but too late now. I don't just plug the car in the wall, I plug it into a surge protector and IT plugs into the wall.

I went out and bought the very very best one I could find. I figured if a lightning strike will kill a TV it could kill one of those pricey, unavailable ignition boxes in my car too.

Better safe than sorry.

 

I forgot to add that I also disconnect the quick release for the ground.

 

Good day,

I was always told that the main killer to a car battery is vibration... and so if it is unsecured, then the life will be reduced quite dramatically.

In the past I have seen batteries last anywhere from 5-7 years. However, recently, as in the past 5-6 years a battery up here lasts around 3 years tops no matter what the brand. Maybe it is because of our nasty winter months or perhaps the battery needs of newer cars? Hard to say what the reason is... but my old '57 chev truck is outside all Winter (-40C / -40F) temps and the battery is over 10 years and it starts like a charm every time....even after sitting for a few months ... in the Winter no less!

Cheers,

Sam

 

i use a gel cell in my 328,,i have had it for over 3 years...i also use a battery tender...you need to use one of these,,,because the analog clock will eventually drain down the battery....depending on how new the battery is,,and how much you drive your car,,,with the battery tender ..i know that my car will start everytime, and the battery will be fully charged when i take off,,,the tender will also increase the life of the cars battery as well.....

 

Just passing by
At the moment in Europe (must be everywhere) we have different types of batteries.
The older lead acid battery is no longer obtainable (or difficult) but thats the type that should be in the older 308-328 (and mine: 348).
later on in the 90's they started to produce CA batteries (Calcium) (also known as maintenance free) and developed that to EFB Enhanced Flooded batteries. Now with the ultra modern mini hybride cars (Start stop systems and sometimes regenerative breaking) we need AGM batteries. (the last when half loaded)

Togheter with the Calcium technology the charge voltage has raised... i dont know exactly but google it, lets say 14,6 and more Volts.
Our older and better cars only load 13,8 V or so and therefore the batterie never gets really fully loaded.. A not fully loaded batterie dies quick...
So you need the simple lead battery (or Antimoon is that english?) or if you have Ca battery you need to raise youre charge voltage (some specelist shops can do that)

my 5 cts :-D

 

Optima Red Top w/ BatteryMinder; 10 years and counting...

 

The dealership put in a new Interstate in 11 years ago this April while I was having the PPI done and it’s still in there. I do keep a Battery Tender on it and I probably just jinxed myself and will be buying a new battery soon.

 

Me too! LOL!

 

I replaced my Optima red top with an Interstate 4 yrs ago and it's still going strong, red top didn't last for me.

 

The last Sears Die Hard in my TR lived for 12 years -- it just wouldn't die!

Different story for the OEM battery that came in the wife's Subaru -- dead at 4 years.

My Honda Civic has a microcscopic battery (size 51), but if I buy a quality 6~7 year battery brand, it seems to make it the 6~7 years.

Douglas -- Do you have a lot of added electronics (that might be sucking juice even when the car is "off")? Have you ever measured the "off" current draw from your battery? A high value here (say more than 100~150 mA), might not prevent the car from starting if used every few days, but it won't be good for the battery life.

 

how long a battery lasts seems to be a random and unpredictable thing.


I find that if a battery dies after sitting in the driveway for a month, it's a bit weak but will be fine if recharged and driven.

if a battery wont hold a charge and dies after a couple days, it's time for immediate replacemtn. !!

 

Thanks!

 

My 75 GT4 is still on the last battery installed in 2000. It is only driven a few hundred miles a year at most, and in the last couple of years I have always used a battery tender. The battery is labeled "DGB" battery - Damn Good Battery.

 

My 328 battery was like that (since 1998/99) - and then it just died a couple of years ago