car battery problem, help please

[dethman]

Question: approximately how long do car batteries last? My car wouldn?t start this morning and I had to jump it. I don?t think I left any lights on or such. It?s a 2001, so three years old with 25,000 miles on it approximately. After running it for about 20 minutes, the car started on its own with no apparent problem.

Now the real question: do I need to replace the battery? I?m taking a road trip this weekend, that?s why I need to know, I just don?t want to be stranded somewhere. Thanks for any help the car techs can provide?

 

[isekii]

you probably have something on.
Check and see if it's the trunk light or something.
Like it stays on even when the trunk is closed. That has happened to me before. Not on the IS300 but on my first car 91 corolla.

 

[minendo]

Look at your battery and see if it is a 36 month battery, 60 month battery, etc. That should tell you.

 

[jemcam]

I've seen new batteries last less than a couple months and I've seen them last 5 years. There's really no telling to be honest with you.

Your best bet would be to go to Autozone or someone like that who will test your battery free of charge. If it's not the battery, it could be your alternator. They should be tested to determine what your problem is before heading out on the road man.

 

[0roo0roo]

couple years, it depends. and if notyhing was draining it and it just died like that... buy a new one quick. the next time it dies... you'll have to jump it again and thats a big pain. its dying ...

major way to screw up a battery is to deep drain it though.. leaving on lights etc shortens the life big time. and well.. ur ones been deep drained somehow or its near dead

 

[WTT0001]

Also check the fluid level in it (if it can be checked)

 

[CraigRT]

my battery died the 2nd year i had the car.. it's also a 2001, and it was dead in the summer of 2002. sometimes OEM batteries are crap.

 

[IGBT]

Factory batteries usually aren't that good. Go get it checked to be shure.