Car batteries?

[Ramie]

My 2012 Silverado still has it's original battery, almost 10 years old.  I've never had a lick of problems with it and thought of replacing it last year but never got around to it, worked flawlessly last winter but it makes me a little nervous.  How long do modern car batteries really last?  The last I remember they recommended replacing them every 5 years.

[Chrisj CMA]

Replace it before you get stranded somewhere

[Avanti]

Quick check without load testing it.

Battery Health

12.6 volts = 100%
12.5 volts = 70%
12.3 volts = 50%
11.4 volts = 20%

[scooperhsd]

Test it, but I'd have the money put back to replace it this winter just in case (and your other car does have a good battery ?).

Also check if the OEM battery is conventional or AGM - not necessarily interchangable.

[Serk]

IMHO, make sure you have one of these that's charged up on the vehicle at all times, then drive it 'till it fails. Use the jump starter to get you to a store to buy a new one at that point.

https://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,119412.0.html

But I'm cheap like that... (And that's literally what I do.)

[f6john]

Serks suggestion will work. But I could bore you with a long story about my truck battery that tested good and would start the truck but convinced me to spend $3600.00 on a transmission rebuild that ultimately would not perform until I bought a new battery. I would replace it now. Electronics don’t seem to like fluctuations in voltage, at least the computer in my transmission did not.

[Rams]

My last new vehicle (gone now) had an original set of batteries that lasted 13 years.    I believe the vehicle manufacturers get a much better quality battery than anything you'll find after market.    I'm hoping this new truck with it's batteries I have now lasts as long but, after Obama's EPA shut down almost all battery manufacturing in the US, they simply aren't made the same and don't last nearly as long.

Rams

[cookiedough]

if you got 10 years you are lucky for sure IMO there in MN or WI or where colder winters you done good.  My 2014 Hyundai's still have OEM very good quality batteries after 7 years of near daily use.  Had both test and load tested and still check out 75% or so at local auto store as good but he said last winter might want to consider one for next winter was at I think around 12.5 volts.  IMO much below 12.3 volts is near done for and should be replaced since as said under 60% or so left and in BITTER COLD probably will not start your vehicle if left outside.  If I do not drive daily one of my 2014 Hyundai vehicles in the cold winter,  it does not fire over too easily/quickly like it should and probably should consider replacing it as well this winter.

My 2017 tundra I did not drive much all last winter guessing 2x's a month and let sit outside last winter and only 52K miles and 4 years old and was toast OEM battery so only 4 years of use tried firing up the truck and NOTHING totally dead.  Costco had the best deals locally on Interstate battery for my truck at 105 bucks, then my local Farm and Fleet store 105-110 bucks,  but have known a few locals with bad NEW batteries at Farm and Fleet.

My suggestion shop around and if you can get a new truck battery for under 100 bucks,  you done good for sure.   Yes, electronics, etc. do not like weak batteries either so consider buying a new one this winter.  Also, try not to skimp and save a few bucks on a very cheapo battery that might not last another 5-9 years.  

My other cheaper 4K car my kid drives I probably should have gotten for only 10 more bucks the SILVER (or was it called platinum?) 7 year warranty farm and fleet battery vs. the GOLD farm and fleet battery for 6 year warranty but so far has gone 5 years so who knows?  Farm and Fleet guy recommends going 7 year battery top of the line for only 10 bucks more has had less returns on them vs. the GOLD 6 year battery and the even cheaper base battery he does not recommend at all unless you know you will not keep the car it is  in for more than 2 years.

[old2soon]

My last new vehicle (gone now) had an original set of batteries that lasted 13 years.    I believe the vehicle manufacturers get a much better quality battery than anything you'll find after market.    I'm hoping this new truck with it's batteries I have now lasts as long but, after Obama's EPA shut down almost all battery manufacturing in the US, they simply aren't made the same and don't last nearly as long.

Rams

           Closed the lead mines here in Missouri and some other states I believe put a Lot of people outa work and Now AMERICA either importing cinese communist batteries or lead or both! And IF I rekemember correctly battery prices went WAY UP shortly after that. Go figure! RIDE SAFE.

[Ramie]

But I'm cheap like that... (And that's literally what I do.)

Yeah, that's my problem too.

[Charlie McCready]

I have a Chevy dually with the 454 engine. It didn't want to start one day at Lowes so I got out the Halo Bolt jump starter. The truck started right up as two old(er) geezers laughed at me.  They walked away when it started right up.  I've had the Halo for several years and it's only been re-charged three times I think. I have used it on my cars, truck, motorcycles, and lawn mower.  I have two of them now !!

[RP#62]

I would be ecstatic if I got 10 years out of a battery.  Hell, I would be ecstatic if one made it to its warranty date.  The heat here takes its toll.  I guess baking them at 100+ ° for 4-5 months every year just isn't good for them.   What I have noticed regarding the newer batteries versus the ones I grew up with (and maybe this is just me) is that the older batteries would give you a little more warning when they were on their way out.  That is, you might get 4 or 5 starts where it was cranking noticeably slower, before it actually got to the point where it won't start the car.  The newer one work great up to the point where they don't start the car.  The first one that I had fail that way, I would have sworn that the problem was a starter or solenoid because the previous start was just as strong as it always was.  I would replace that battery tomorrow.

-RP

[h13man]

Been using Everstart from Walmart for years and Duracell from Sam's of late. No issues with either brand but there's always one of these stores in the area of travel in event something goes wrong. 7-10 yrs. seem to be norm for me. Had OEM Delco last 11 yrs. and changed it out just because of age not failure.

[Valker]

This guy does wonderful testing of products. Here is his video testing car batteries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7rTcBanpMk

[Ramie]

Just got done replacing the battery with an interstate, $150 + tax.  (Remember when you could buy a good battery for $30).  Fired up the torpedo heater, It's below freezing here, and got out my tools.  The battery on the Silverado is located on the passenger side next to the firewall not much headroom with the hood.  Had to remove a corner bracket then a bar that goes from the firewall to the front edge of the battery tray.  Hooked up my trickle charger to the battery leads so I didn't loose all my radio, bluetooth and phone settings and pulled them out of the way.  Of course the old battery didn't have a lifting handle so I had to tip it up on edge and ease it out.  New one had a lifting handle so easy peasy.  Cleaned all the terminals and clamps and hooked everything back up and reinstalled all the brackets.  All my settings are still there.

[cookiedough]

Just got done replacing the battery with an interstate, $150 + tax.  (Remember when you could buy a good battery for $30).  Fired up the torpedo heater, It's below freezing here, and got out my tools.  The battery on the Silverado is located on the passenger side next to the firewall not much headroom with the hood.  Had to remove a corner bracket then a bar that goes from the firewall to the front edge of the battery tray.  Hooked up my trickle charger to the battery leads so I didn't loose all my radio, bluetooth and phone settings and pulled them out of the way.  Of course the old battery didn't have a lifting handle so I had to tip it up on edge and ease it out.  New one had a lifting handle so easy peasy.  Cleaned all the terminals and clamps and hooked everything back up and reinstalled all the brackets.  All my settings are still there.

wow,  150 for an interstate battery seems like a lot.  During last winter,  I bought a new Interstate group 27 battery I believe for my 2017 tundra truck (OEM only lasted 4 years, if that) and at COSTCO was ONLY 105 bucks plus tax for an Interstate battery.