How long should a battery last?

[zimmerDN]

So this car has problem cranking in cold temperature. I am guessing it's a battery related issue because the battery is 8-9 years old. Should I even bother taking the battery out and getting it tested at a autoparts store? Or should I just go out, buy a new one and depose the old?

The battery can't be tested with just a multimeter right? It has to be underload test?

 

[cowsareholy]

if its that old just go out and get a new one, you wont have to depose of the old one most places take the old one as a core anyways.

 

[The Critic]

If it's that old, go buy a new one. 3-5 years is the typical service life for many batteries.

 

[wiswind]

Exchange the old for new, as stated, you are on borrowed time at 8-9 years.
Better to do it on your schedule versus some super cold morning.
The AutoZone Duralast Gold has been rated very well, and is resonable in price.

 

[Mr Nice]

Yep, if its that old....buy a new one.

The Duralast Gold is made by the same company that makes the Sears DieHard. Its a great quality battery and low cost.

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

My battery lasted about 6 months brand new from the factory. It lasted that long because I yanked the lame 450 CCI in favor of a DuraLast with 900CCA.

EVERYTHING electrical works better WITHOUT over-cycling the alternator..

 

[Cutehumor]

I have a duralast regular one in my 96 sunfire. It's six years old. I bought a sears battery charger two years ago and have been charging it once a year since. I never had a battery last this long!

 

[Donald]

I would not suggest getting more CCA than the battery that came with your vehicle unless you have room for a larger size battery. More CCA in the same size battery means they do things like make the plates thinner, so the battery may put out more CCA but may not last longer.

 

[JTK]

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.. the battery is 8-9 years old.

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Is it a motorcraft by chance? MC's seem to last forever in our climate. Cheap/expensive, replacements all seem to be inconsistant in regards to how long they last. I usually just replace with a wall mart cheapy (or the likes).

Joel

 

[zimmerDN]

How do you know when a battery is manufactured and if it's a maintance free battery?

 

[The Critic]

Look for a date code to decipher on the side of the battery. Maintenance Free batteries will say so on the side label.

 

[zimmerDN]

There isn't such side labels. There are hardly any labels at all in fact. Just the serial & lot number. Is that usually the case with OEM battery?

 

[Drew99GT]

Maintenance free battery's usually don't have removable caps to add water; the Delco Freedoms have a little site hole.

 

[The Critic]

Many maint-free batteries have caps. Autolite ones come to mind.

 

[Drew99GT]

And many don't. I have an Autolite maintenance free that has no caps.

 

[GT11]

are optima batteries worth the extra money?

 

[97f150]

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are optima batteries worth the extra money?

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In the majority of applications, in short, NO. If you have an odd need to mount you battery upside down or continously run lights or winch or stuff like that than yes, but for the normal vehicle it is not worth it.

 

[GT11]

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are optima batteries worth the extra money?

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In the majority of applications, in short, NO. If you have an odd need to mount you battery upside down or continously run lights or winch or stuff like that than yes, but for the normal vehicle it is not worth it.

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I thought so too. My friend swears by optima batteries with his life.

But I stll have the original battery in my 02 accord. It's the delphi freedom. So far I put 99,000 miles on it and it's still working good.

 

[George7941]

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continously run lights or winch or stuff

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This implies that redtop Optimas can deepcycle better than regular batteries. The blue Optimas are designed to be deepcycled, I don't know if the redtops can be deepcycled. Somebody enlighten me. Thanks.

 

[97f150]

The blue tops can be deepcycled, the red tops are recommended for regular automotive apps. as a starting battery, which you can get a decent starting battery for $60 less and a warrenty that extends two or three years beyond that of an Optima. The yellow is for marine apps. Therefore the only reason to spend the extra money and put an Optima in your grocery getter is if you decide that your battery just positively HAS to be mounted upside down or on its side.