Battery Longevity

[Charmet37]

Hi folks,

Time for a battery replacement and would like to know how long does a car battery usually last? I'm sure there's factors like climate, Short trips and other issues that can shorten a batteries life.

My Acura MDX has been sitting and I haven't started the SUV in a few months and notice there's no crank, Start or power. the battery that was installed was a genuine Acura battery and the date of the battery was September 2019 so that's a seven year old battery, Looks like I need to replace the battery.

What you guys think?

 

[Racer4]

Yes time to replace and make sure you clean both battery terminals.

 

[jhellwig]

10 years or more.

 

[Oillover]

My Acura MDX has been sitting and I haven't started the SUV in a few months and notice there's no crank, Start or power.

Yep, that'll do it.
I have one battery that's about 10 years old and doing fine.

Moving forward, if you want to extend the life of the battery, putting it on a trickle charger at least once a year will greatly extend it's life.
Especially when you know it'll be sitting for an extended period.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

Depends. I have had a new agm battery in a Subaru fail within 10 months. Replaced under warranty. Also most recent Subaru original batteries lasted only to 36-38 most (agm). YMMV

 

[GRUMPYDUDE2]

A trickle charger will extend battery life by several years. I would add that to the shopping list along with the battery replacement.

 

[charbaby]

I weird this way. I’d have to put a full charge on the battery and see how it performs before buying a new one.

 

[Charmet37]

A trickle charger will extend battery life by several years. I would add that to the shopping list along with the battery replacement.

Great idea to buy a trickle charger

 

[JeffKeryk]

I begin to suspect them at 5 years. Sometimes they die at 4... The off to Costco I go!

 

[The_Jeff]

Charge it and clean the top off of it. The gunk of dust and condensed battery fumes can create a slow short circuit between the terminals.

Being an Acura, I'm sure it has remotes and other gizmos that drain the battery. I'd give it more of a chance than you gave it by ignoring it for a season.

After charging and driving around for a day, put it on a tester. Looks like a Deka which is the best brand.

 

[gman2304]

I average about 7-8 years on my batteries. I do hook up my 2 amp maintainers to every vehicle a few days every month.

 

[PandaBear]

My typical OEM battery last 6-7 years on a new car since out of factory. On my hybrid though? It is still going at year 12. Aftermarket stuff from Walmart etc lasted me from 3 years to 5 years usually.

 

[Chris142]

Lucky to get 2 years out of one here in the desert

 

[JunkdrawerDog]

Lucky to get 2 years out of one here in the desert

Same here. Heat zaps them.

 

[KrisZ]

If you truly want to maximize battery life, you need to open it up and top off the electrolyte. AGM or lead acid, doesn’t matter, there is no way around it, especially in hot climates. These batteries should collect the vapors and condense them back into the cells, but it obviously doesn’t work in a lot of cases.

About six months ago I opened up a Costco AGM that is 4 years old and the mat was very much dry looking. I added about 60ml per cell and trickle charged overnight, followed by a discharge to 12.2V and another trickle charged.
I looked at it recently and the mat looks wet. So the top off was needed.

 

[SC Maintenance]

This is highly dependent on climate. Very hot you get 3 to 5 years if your very lucky. Moderate climates can be much longer. As mentioned proper maintenance can extend this. I would say batteries continue to get worse not better.

And how long you wish to run a battery. Lots of cars out there with batteries at 50% rated capacity and oblivious owners.

 

[D1dad]

I started using battery minders and a Pulsetech anytime my cars are setting after I replaced all 3 batteries in December of 24. All 3 batteries are testing @ 100% state of health and way above their cold cranking amps. I only have 1 agm and it started degrading a bit, but after setting on the Pulsetech for a week straight while I was away on business, it came back to 100%. I had my wife’s battery in her 24 Altima die with no warning whatsoever. Since that happened I’ve been pretty consistent with charging. Of course charging won’t fix defective.

 

[AuthorEditor]

I replace every 4-5 years, often in the fall. Winter starts below zero will reveal any weakness in your battery and it's the worst time to have a no-start situation. If I lived in a hotter climate I bet battery life would be shortened by the constant heat. I've experienced many battery failures around the 4-5 year mark. Better to replace early than to be stranded somewhere. Think of it as a regular maintenance item.