Replacing OEM Batteries in a 2003 vehicle?

[JustinH]

Here's the deal.

I would have never thought to do this when I was 17, but 10 years later, I have no desire to be stranded at the side of the road in a blizzard rolling through Buffalo..

My girlfriend and I both drive 2003 model year cars. Both have the factory batteries in them. Hers is dated from late 2002, mine is a later date in 2003.

Should we replace the batteries before winter? Both cars have no problems at all with the battery.

Her pontiac takes a run of the mill group 75 battery, about 65 dollars for a 3 year warranty johnson controls battery from walmart or sams club.

My saturn is a totally different animal. It is a Ion. The battery is in the trunk, and after calling 5 parts stores, no one stocks it, and the dealer has to special order it.

I did a cross reference on this battery, and AC delco says that the only car it is made for is the 2003-2004 saturn ion.

The battery is $120 from the Saturn Dealer.

Thanks,
Justin

 

[Familyguy]

You're already well past the ragged edge of when a typical GM supplied factory battery bites the dust. I don't know of any aftermarket places to get a battery for your Ion offhand. Guess you'd better stock up before Saturn finally goes TU.

 

[Slick 55]

I recently replaced the battery in my 2003 Honda for this exact reason. I figure after 6 years, I got my money's worth.

 

[Scienceman]

change both batteries.

 

[brianl703]

Is the battery in the Saturn Ion a side-terminal battery with a connection for a vent hose on the sides?

If so...East Penn/Deka makes a side terminal battery like this which should be available from Carquest or Batteries Plus (under a different brand name). (I just checked Batteries Plus and they do list a battery for the Ion)..

 

[milwaukee]

If it were me and I was seriously trying to avoid a AAA call on the side of the road during a Buffalo winter I would replace the battery in both.

 

[SrDriver]

When we lived in Wisconsin (The Land Of The Frozen Chosen) changed batteries quite often because of the harsh winter and temperature conditions.

I would not go for a 3 year battery but look for a better one than that and yes, would change them.

 

[hemitom]

Why not load test the batteries to find out their capacity, why waste good money if the batteries are still capable of performing. i just had a test done on the battery from my 2002 ranger original battery, under load it holds at 500 cca, plenty of power to start my truck this winter.

 

[daves87rs]

I would replace em'.

Wife's 03 lasted until this spring....only had 7% power left!


My 04 still has the OE Delco...still works well..


I will be replacing my 06 pretty soon....gut tells me that the battery might go this winter....

 

[friendly_jacek]

LOL

If you lived in south, you would have replaced batteries once or twice since 2003.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: hemitom
Why not load test the batteries to find out their capacity, why waste good money if the batteries are still capable of performing. i just had a test done on the battery from my 2002 ranger original battery, under load it holds at 500 cca, plenty of power to start my truck this winter.


A load test doesn't tell you much about the battery's reserve capacity. A battery can lose a lot of reserve capacity but still pass a load test. Reserve capacity determines how long you can run loads with the engine off before the battery cannot start the engine.

 

[hemitom]

The test i had done was with the the truck not running, a load to the battery was applied for a certain amount of time i forget excatly how long, then a read out of the batteries remaining power was given.

 

[PT1]

Replace them both and save a freezing cold, snow blowing,snow plows blasting past your unlit car sitting on the side of the road in a -20F wind whipping dark stormy winter night breakdown.

Oh yeah...almost forgot during those times the wait for AAA is usually 4-6 hours...if your cell phone battery holds out.

 

[PT1]

OR think about this....it's January...38 knot winds blowing 2 feet of drifting snow everywhere...you trudge out of your office at 6pm...it's already dark and everyone else has gone home. You feel the wind stinging your face as you walk to your car...you turn the key and get rrrrrr...click.

 

[PT1]

Or...you just got home after fighting a white knuckle 2 hour commute because your town is getting hit with a horrible 10F winter "Alberta Clipper" blizzard...you come in and just get warmed up in front of the TV....suddenly the phone rings...it's your wife and she is at the mall 27 miles away and the car won't start....

 

[Nick R]

6 Years sounds about right. We had to replace the battery on our expedition last december because it kept not wanting to start. We drove up to a ski resort to get the ski and boot fittings done, and when I came back out it didn't want to start and ended uphaving one of the workers jump us. Not fun, play it safe and get a new battery.

 

[mechtech2]

7 years is a good life for the average car battery in northern climates.
Sure, some go further.
Go find good prices and sales now, and get your batteries.

 

[Gary Allan]

I just passed 7 on my jeep. Wife would have been on 12 if she didn't have me defeat the doom light switch ..which also has the light warning chime on it. Just one too many deep cycles. Never failed to hold a charge, but was weakened a good bit.

I guess jeep bought better OEM batteries for the Wranglers. I'll get a top tier battery to replace it when it goes.

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: PT1
Replace them both and save a freezing cold, snow blowing,snow plows blasting past your unlit car sitting on the side of the road in a -20F wind whipping dark stormy winter night breakdown.


Why would you park there in the first place?!!!

I carry booster cables and have never worried about my battery, but if you're concerned about it you might as well change them. They're approaching the end of their life anyway.

 

[StevieC]

I don't know how many years you will get out of the OEM battery, but I get 10+ all the time out of my Interstate batteries. When it is getting close I find my local Interstate dealer and get ready for it to happen. Ususally it's about 10.5 - 11 years that it gives up. If it hasn't given up by the 11th year I just replace it anyways because at that point it has only cost me $10/yr.