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How long do car batteries last?

B

BD2003

Lifer
I bought the car about a week ago, its three years old. Havent had a problem with it until today. I park the car, everything was shut off, go back 2 minutes later to try to start it up again, and it sputters for a second, and then the clock and odometer (electronic) go off.

Managed to flag a cop down to give me a jump, and it gets me going, until I park it. After I turn it off, I check to see if the headlights will still come on, and they do. Then I try to start it up again, and everything cuts itself off again.

I'm sure ill be able to get it started back up tomorrow with a jump, but short of needing a new battery, what else could it be? It certainly wasnt headlights left on overnight, it was literally 2 minutes after I parked that it wouldnt start.
 
3-5 years is average life for a car battery.
And extreme cold and extreme hot conditions can make them go faster.
Also dont run your car too long with a dead battery it will kill the altenator.
 
A car battery should last anywhere from 3-6 years under "normal" conditions.

Most car batteries will only survive being completely discharged (IE leaving your lights on overnight) a dozen or so times. Every time you do it, the battery gets a little less effective.

Very cold (well, it gets worse as you get below say 40 degrees) temperatures will also lessen a battery's starting power.

If it's a new-to-you car and you don't know the history, you may as well just shell out the $60-75 for a good new battery (personally I like interstate) and that way you'll know it should be good for at least a while.
 
Originally posted by: flot
A car battery should last anywhere from 3-6 years under "normal" conditions.

Most car batteries will only survive being completely discharged (IE leaving your lights on overnight) a dozen or so times. Every time you do it, the battery gets a little less effective.

Very cold (well, it gets worse as you get below say 40 degrees) temperatures will also lessen a battery's starting power.

If it's a new-to-you car and you don't know the history, you may as well just shell out the $60-75 for a good new battery (personally I like interstate) and that way you'll know it should be good for at least a while.
Click to expand...

Its freezing ass cold today, about 30ish degrees tonight. How could it get discharged other than leaving stuff on? Because I'm absolutely 100% positive that wasnt the case. It just up and decided to not start.
 
The original Ford Motorcraft battery in my '95 Lincoln lasted until the January 2004. But that was an astoundingly long time. 3-5 years is generally the norm.

ZV
 
Its a 2002, so its prob more like 3.5 years old by now. Considering its spent most of its time in super hot florida, and then up to freezing cold/burning hot nyc, I guess 3.5 years sounds like its about time.
 
Cold WX works on the battery in two ways.

First, Pb cells rapidly lose their ability to deliver power at colder temps. This is why you need to pay particular attention not just CCA (Cold Cranking Amperes) but the temperature of that rating. 0F will be much different than 35F. If you live above the 40th parallel, there's a good chance of seeing the lower temp range at least one time every winter. The exception would be the immediate coast.

Second, as the temperature gets colder, more torque is required to crank the motor. More torque on the starting motor means more amperes required from the cranking batteries.

Finally, a discharged battery has dilute electrolyte and this will freeze. Freezing of electrolyte is very bad for your batteries. To demonstrate, put a can of soda pop in your freezer overnight.
 
I replaced the factory panasonic battery in my bro's 1994 honda civic last summer. That battery lasted over 10 years, it was still working fine, but I didn't want to chance it. I still have it today, has good water levels, and the plates still seem to be ok. Just needs to be charged I suppose.

Perhaps you are not only looking at a dead battery, but also something wrong in the charging system, namely the alternator.
 
Originally posted by: sharkeeper
Cold WX works on the battery in two ways.

First, Pb cells rapidly lose their ability to deliver power at colder temps. This is why you need to pay particular attention not just CCA (Cold Cranking Amperes) but the temperature of that rating. 0F will be much different than 35F. If you live above the 40th parallel, there's a good chance of seeing the lower temp range at least one time every winter. The exception would be the immediate coast.

Second, as the temperature gets colder, more torque is required to crank the motor. More torque on the starting motor means more amperes required from the cranking batteries.

Finally, a discharged battery has dilute electrolyte and this will freeze. Freezing of electrolyte is very bad for your batteries. To demonstrate, put a can of soda pop in your freezer overnight.
Click to expand...

So would it be a bad idea to leave it overnight with a dead battery then?
 
Pb pilas should never be left in a discharged state any longer than necessary. It accelerates the aging and raises overall internal resistance which in turn lowers cranking capacity! They should be fully charged at all times!
 
Originally posted by: Baked
My Interstate Battery lasted a good 4 years before replacement.
Click to expand...

Arguably - the best batteries made.

Cars in Southern climates lasy no more than 2-3 years.
 
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
I replaced the factory panasonic battery in my bro's 1994 honda civic last summer. That battery lasted over 10 years, it was still working fine, but I didn't want to chance it. I still have it today, has good water levels, and the plates still seem to be ok. Just needs to be charged I suppose.

Perhaps you are not only looking at a dead battery, but also something wrong in the charging system, namely the alternator.
Click to expand...

The smaller the engine, the longer thebattery will last. It simply takes less power to spin the motor.

I saw aGeo Metro 3cyl w/a 7 year old battery.

I call shens on the 10 year statement. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: sharkeeper
Pb pilas should never be left in a discharged state any longer than necessary. It accelerates the aging and raises overall internal resistance which in turn lowers cranking capacity! They should be fully charged at all times!
Click to expand...

In english please? 😛
 
Originally posted by: SuperSix
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
I replaced the factory panasonic battery in my bro's 1994 honda civic last summer. That battery lasted over 10 years, it was still working fine, but I didn't want to chance it. I still have it today, has good water levels, and the plates still seem to be ok. Just needs to be charged I suppose.

Perhaps you are not only looking at a dead battery, but also something wrong in the charging system, namely the alternator.
Click to expand...

The smaller the engine, the longer thebattery will last. It simply takes less power to spin the motor.

I saw aGeo Metro 3cyl w/a 7 year old battery.

I call shens on the 10 year statement. 🙂
Click to expand...


I swear, it used to be my moms car, then she gave it to my older bro for college. I still have the battery and can take a pic of the production date if it's on there. But the original battery was never changed since we bought the car new in '94.
 
Also I will add that a charging system that is in proper working order will keep your batteries in good health much longer. Overdischarging is worse than undercharging!

Deka makes good batteries.
 
Optima batteries > all others
If you check the water levels and keep them full with distilled water they will last longer.
 
Optima batteries > all others
Click to expand...

Optima is good. 🙂

Good brands include:

Douglass (Guardian)
Trojan
Concorde
Lifeline
Optima
Exide-Yuasa
Sonnenschein (Prevailer)

Top of the Line:

Rolls-Surette

Not that ATOT landlubbers have heard of these! 😛
 
Depends on the car. I find Mopar batteries are almost unacceptably crappy.

my 2001 Neon had the battery replaced under warranty just over a year later, in 2002.

I am still on the 2nd battery, but god knows it will probably go at any time now.

I'll just get an Optima next time.
 
Originally posted by: amdskip
Optima batteries > all others
If you check the water levels and keep them full with distilled water they will last longer.
Click to expand...

The Hawker Odyssey is an improvement on the design of the Optima Yellowtop (not the cheaper Redtop). It's pretty much the longest lasting true deep cycle battery on the market, giving you over 400 charge/discharge cycles at a full 100% depth.

My favorite is the PC680MJT, because of the balance of performance and weight (16lbs), plus the steel jacket to project from conditions in the engine bay. Many people like bigger ones though, if they're not worried about weight.
 
Originally posted by: CraigRT
Depends on the car. I find Mopar batteries are almost unacceptably crappy.

my 2001 Neon had the battery replaced under warranty just over a year later, in 2002.

I am still on the 2nd battery, but god knows it will probably go at any time now.

I'll just get an Optima next time.
Click to expand...
Well, you can't judge an entire product on one experience. Both of my 98 Dodges have their original battery.

I spent 10 years as a mechanic, most of that time working at Dodge/Jeep dealerships. Mopar batteries are no worse than any other OEM, imho.
 
Originally posted by: CraigRT
Depends on the car. I find Mopar batteries are almost unacceptably crappy.

my 2001 Neon had the battery replaced under warranty just over a year later, in 2002.

I am still on the 2nd battery, but god knows it will probably go at any time now.

I'll just get an Optima next time.
Click to expand...

I've got a 2002 neon. 😛
 
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