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How often do ya'll replace your batteries? I always thought you go by the year (five year, three year) but an elder is telling me he goes seven and even ten years between replacements. I'm thinking this old 2011 everstart needs replacing in my 03 3.8, but now I'm not absolutely sure. Would it last another year in Florida weather?
I've worked at an Auto Parts store for the past 19 years. We sell about 50 a week. On average a battery will last between 4 and 6 years. Maybe 1 out of 100 will last ten years. I replace them right around the 5 year mark.
Why would you worry about replacing your battery if you are not having issues with it? That is just money down the drain unless you are planning a trip to a remote area or something along those lines.
My old '77 F-150 has a NAPA Legend 75 group 24 battery that was installed in June 2003, it's set out for a couple months at times with no attention, it's never been "dead" though. Funny thing is I bought a new Legend 75 in February 2002 and it died suddenly when just 16 months old and this current long lived battery was the "free replacement" under the warranty agreement. Truck has it's OEM alternator still and since the late '80s, a electronic later model regulator (I junked the mechanical regulator then). This is April 6, 2015.
My '07 FX4 oem Motorcraft 59 battery died in 2012, I replaced it with a 65. I replaced the oem Motorcraft 65 in our '01 Merc in 2006 before we took a cross country 3 week road trip, but that original 2001 MC battery is my now "backup" that lives in the basement in a wooden cart and it has served a couple times in police cars when I had one fail and had to wait on next supply delivery and I used a few weeks in a '95 Thunderbird once.
There is no "accurate hard and fast rule" IMHO, but I have noticed over the last 40-45 years since I been buying batteries for my stuff that if that battery ever goes dead and needs a jump, it's days are shortened. Let it happen a few times, life is really short.
If I plan a trip now, I'll take my charged up jump box or a backup battery in a "boat box". Even a good one today can go bad tomorrow.
I work for a towing/battery service for AAA. I test and replace them all day long. Typically batteries last about 5 years. Many higher quality batteries such as interstate will go much longer. A battery like yours will likely be gone in about 5 from my experience in Minnesota.
I personally wouldn't replace it until it starts giving you problems. Just carry some jumper cables in the trunk which should be done anyways for when it does go. There's no sense in replacing a perfectly good battery.
If a battery goes completely dead, it's life is drastically shortened. If it stays dead for a few days, it's probably best to replace it. Both heat and cold shorten the life of a battery.
A very simple test: measure the voltage at the battery posts ( not the connectors) and have someone start the car. If the voltage drops under 9 V when cranking, replace it.
04-06-2015, 07:23 PM
Battery Replacement Schedule?
