For sure a cell can short suddenly and kill the battery. Can happen to a new battery also - my record is 6 weeks on a Nissan OEM battery - whomever made those back in the day. Also had a couple Walmart batteries fail pretty early as well.
I was young and dumb back then now that I think about it, replacing that battery that was still good, but I don't think i've ever had it where a battery was just dead one day. Usually it gives you a warning for a couple weeks beforehand. In a way just changing out a bunch of batteries for the heck of it seems like throwing money away.
Yeah, I hear ya. Throwing out good parts is something I try to avoid. However, are you testing the battery every 2 weeks?
Gets tested everytime I turn the key. Like I said, keep an open ear and listen to how fast it cranks with a good battery. I usually start all my vehicles with the door open so I can hear. You won't hear much with the door closed
I actually think the opposite. One should simply apply a load test, prior to doing that. Again, we're in this mindset that we can afford to throw away perfectly good things. On the one hand, it's great to be in such a position. I used to do that for 20+ years on brakes. I'd remove the hardware and see they were 50% used, and say, I'm already in here, might as well replace them. I even did the same for tires. That's why today, I'm very much against throwing away perfectly good tires at age 6, or age 10, depending on which unscientific determination one wants to use.
I've seen these in passing but never looked into them in any detail. Despite what others have posted I've had a complete battery failure with no warning - car started first try, drove to Walmart, tried to start and - "click" Wouldn't turn over at all.
I have an older sealed AGM unit that is 6 years old and still charges up to 85% and will start a 8 cyl. with a dead battery. I also have a 2 year old compact GooLoo GP4000 that is powered by Lithium Ion battery which only needs to be recharged every 9 months! The only concern is the potential risk of fire in any Li-Ion battery when exposed to a high heat environment. I don't carry the GooLoo jump pack in the truck when the outside temperature exceeds 90 degrees F.
I'm with you I'm not getting younger or stronger. This winter my goal is to go through everything in my basement and toss out everything that I haven't used in years. It's not much but as I told my wife carrying it up the stairs are going to be a issue soon enough. Also going to paint the the main floor before I get to old to do it. All daughter's so I was always a one man band my dad had boy's he had a orchestra.I like your thinking.
My new policy is to change batteries early. I haven't got much time left, and I want to enjoy what's left of my sanity. Worrying about an f.-ing battery is officially off my list.
The Opinion of Everyone Else: Oh, my God, you're going to spend money, American hard-earned money, on a battery before you've been lifted by the side of the road? Are you crazy?
My kids and wife got jump packs for Xmas. I’ve only had a battery leave me stranded twice since I became a somewhat responsible family man and no notice was given by the battery. Just shot. I did a training session yesterday with the wife and sons. Today is with my daughter. Jump packs certainly have come a long ways.
I always wanted one but they typically cost as much or more than a replacement battery....so I would sooner but a new one and carry the old one as a booster. I Actually take my summer car battery out in winter and bring it for backup in my truck.
Absolutely technicians don't throw out batteries if they test good. I worked with them and if someone requested a new battery "just to be safe" that old battery is absolutely getting charged and tested and kept by someone if it's ok.
Here's the one mentioned a few comments up. $90, cheaper than most batteries and way easier to lug around. Will even boost diesels.
How did the training go with your daughter? I have 3 for my own sanity I never attempted to train them on anything car related but I regret it now considering there all with guys that are far from handy. Great guys but really useless to even check the oil level.
The problem with jump packs is the battery on those is usually dead too.
