Replacing OEM Batteries in a 2003 vehicle?

[Carpet_Bagger]

Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
LOL

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


I just replaced my 07 Murano OEM battery after 27 months of service here in S.C. I was beyond the warranty for the battery based on mileage. I had the battery replaced by the local Nissan dealer who installed a replacement Nissan battery that comes with an 84 month pro-rated warranty with no mileage restriction. The Nissan replacement battery has a better warranty than the Nissan OEM battery.

 

[moklock]

The Nissan replacement is probably a Nissan branded Interstate, they were as of ~3 yrs. ago when I worked at a dealer that carried Nissan.

We had Nissan, Hyundai, Mazda and Subaru batteries there that all come from Interstate, they start out as all black, unbranded batteries the local distributor then applies the mfr. labels to the proper size/CCA battery for the part number.

 

[artificialist]

The DEKA/Carquest group 75 matches the OE perfectly. I know this for a fact because I put one in my 2003 Saturn ION.

Back in 2007, I hooked up a Midtronics tester and found that I had 345 CCA left of a 600 CCA battery.

I live in Florida, and batteries always have shorter lives here, it surprised me that it even had an effect on batteries stored away from the engine.

Buy a new DEKA/Carquest battery quickly and install it.

I bought the most powerful group 75 lead acid battery, which had 690 CCA, because I prefer to buy premium stuff for my own car. However, anything with 600 CCA or more should be fine for you.

 

[cornfused]

I've been wandering the same thing myself, about replacing my battery(just to be safe)

But it is hard to want to spend the money when I see absolutely no problem at all right now.
Mine is the 2003 Taurus with 32,000 miles, origional battery still starts fine every time!

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: cornfused
I've been wandering the same thing myself, about replacing my battery(just to be safe)

But it is hard to want to spend the money when I see absolutely no problem at all right now.
Mine is the 2003 Taurus with 32,000 miles, original battery still starts fine every time!

Then I recommend going to an auto part store that will apply a load test to your battery before you buy a new one.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: cornfused
I've been wandering the same thing myself, about replacing my battery(just to be safe)

But it is hard to want to spend the money when I see absolutely no problem at all right now.
Mine is the 2003 Taurus with 32,000 miles, origional battery still starts fine every time!


There was a thread a while ago that noted that OE motorcrafts and Japan-imported panasonics lasted near forever.

My dad had motorcrafts in his Fairmont and Escort that lasted >8 years and the 11 year life of the car, respectively.

 

[Colt45ws]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: cornfused
I've been wandering the same thing myself, about replacing my battery(just to be safe)

But it is hard to want to spend the money when I see absolutely no problem at all right now.
Mine is the 2003 Taurus with 32,000 miles, origional battery still starts fine every time!


There was a thread a while ago that noted that OE motorcrafts and Japan-imported panasonics lasted near forever.

My dad had motorcrafts in his Fairmont and Escort that lasted >8 years and the 11 year life of the car, respectively.

Something changed. I got 4 years out of my OE Motorcraft. I know of someone with a 1994 F350 with 7.3L that replaced the OE batteries just last year. They still started it fine too. He figured 14 years was enough.

 

[JustinH]

A quick update for the group.

I ended up buying a Walmart battery for the pontiac, a regular group 75 battery, for $47. It is a Johnson Controls battery, with a 1 year replacement warranty.

They had a 2 year replacement battery for 65, and a 3 year replacement for 75.

The battery for the saturn ion came from the chevy dealer, special order. It is a group 75 vented. My girlfriends mother works for a local dealer, and her cost was $92.

One more thing to cross off the list before winter I suppose..

 

[gmchevroletruck]

Would definitely replace, on an 03 model...

My 02 has been replaced recently, when the alternator got weak (did them both at the same time), and her 05 Dodge has had a battery replaced 2 years ago at 85k...Like you say, better to be safe than sorry, I'd say every 5 years or so, unless it's a super battery