When to replace a battery?

[Throckmorton]

Okay so I was at AAP and they offered free battery testing. My battery is 4 years old so I figured why not have it tested.

They said the voltage was fine but the battery was only putting out 298 cold cranking amps at a temperature of 40F. The factory specs call for 585 CCA but the car has no problem starting.

Should I replace my battery?

 

[oilyriser]

Can they show you their test on a new battery, to see if it puts out 585?

 

[SMB]

As far as I know, the battery should be replaced every 4-5 years.
Let them check your alternator as well.

 

[fred]

Never replace a battery till you have been jump started two or three times.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: fred
Never replace a battery till you have been jump started two or three times.


That's sorta been my criteria ..sorta. My wife's original OEM battery would probably still be going strong if she hadn't left the lights on about 3 or 4 times after 7 years in service. She had me pull the courtesy light fuse ..which defeats the warning chime. It never failed in service otherwise ..but did crank the engine slower after her last deep cycle event. My 02 jeep still has the OEM battery ..and probably will for another 3 or 4 years.

..but if your wallet is thick enough ..swap it out early if it gives you peace of mind

It would be interesting to see what one of their off the shelf batteries showed in comparison to the alleged specs. Wouldn't it be funny if you had to go through about 3 or 4 of them to get one that was up to their own advertised levels?

 

[alreadygone]

298cca is just above 1/2 of what is needed! Go ahead and take a chance on starter damage. If you feel they may have been less than truthful, there are a lot of places that do free battery testing, try another or two, see if results are the same.

 

[Pablo]

Just use a lower viscosity oil.

 

[alreadygone]

Why not a hand crank?

Bob

 

[Gary Allan]

That would make a really good post in the Cheapskate thread. Heck, with some of the new hybrids ..a pull cord could be just the ticket.

 

[eljefino]

Where you are it's not cold. As long as the rest of the battery is ok, eg, it isn't a big parasitic drain on your alternator from internal problems, I would keep running it a while more.

I wonder if the AAP guy had the alligator clips or whatever on tight enough-- I could see many failure points in that test that would rig it in favor of the "carnies" who want to sell you a new battery. "Shenanigans" I declare!

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: oilyriser
Can they show you their test on a new battery, to see if it puts out 585?


I've got to disagree with that (though it has been my de facto approach up till now). Especially with my wife's car, I'm simply unwilling to have her (or her and my girls) sitting in a desolate location waiting for help because the battery suddenly failed. No one thinks twice about precautionary, pre-failure replacement of belts, hoses, tires, oil and other fluids, etc. Why is everyone willing to run batteries to failure, leaving themselves stranded at least once? You ARE going to replace the thing a time or two during a car's normal life. Why not take control and do it slightly early, and enjoy the peace of mind of not leaving yourself or loved ones stranded pending replacement? The wife's Avalon will get a new battery at about the three year mark, whether it "needs" it or not.

 

[lasmacgod]

I have a few different criteria.

1) If you have a "photo-eye" on the battery, it should show a green color inside. When it no longer shows green, I replace it no matter how well it cranks over.

2) When it needs a jump start for no good reason.

3) When it is seeping an excessive amount of fluid around the posts and/or vents.

4) Physical damage.

Always, always test the alternator when replacing the battery. Every time I fail to do that it bites me in the a$$.

I would have them test a new battery. My concern is that the starter may be turning over "fine", but with the reduced power the starter and solenoid are getting hotter. This will shorten their lives. I don't know about everyone else, but I have always found that a battery is cheaper and easier to replace than a starter.

 

[onion]

I start thinking about replacement once the vehicle starts to crank slow. Then I procrastinate until I need a jump start... then I replace it.

 

[Win]

Originally Posted By: ekpolk


Especially with my wife's car, I'm simply unwilling to have her (or her and my girls) sitting in a desolate location waiting for help because the battery suddenly failed.

...

Why not take control and do it slightly early, and enjoy the peace of mind of not leaving yourself or loved ones stranded pending replacement? The wife's Avalon will get a new battery at about the three year mark, whether it "needs" it or not.


+1. Waiting for a battery to strand loved ones (or you) is pretty cavalier. In addition to starting, it's your backup electrical system.

 

[kargo27]

Originally Posted By: fred
Never replace a battery till you have been jump started two or three times.


LOL! I used to be "that guy".

Now, if it's getting close to the expiration date, I change out the battery early so as not to be a drain on the alternator.

 

[kargo27]

Originally Posted By: Win
Originally Posted By: ekpolk


Especially with my wife's car, I'm simply unwilling to have her (or her and my girls) sitting in a desolate location waiting for help because the battery suddenly failed.

...

Why not take control and do it slightly early, and enjoy the peace of mind of not leaving yourself or loved ones stranded pending replacement? The wife's Avalon will get a new battery at about the three year mark, whether it "needs" it or not.


+1. Waiting for a battery to strand loved ones (or you) is pretty cavalier. In addition to starting, it's your backup electrical system.


+2. In the metroplex of Dallas/Ft. Worth too many criminals and unknowns (illegal aliens) around to be cavalier about women's safety in a stranded car.

 

[alanu]

Change it!!!!

Thats 50.9% efficient. If the tester uses the same miniVAT from snapon (alot of interstate batteries testers use a similar version of snapons tester)

Typically the snapon tester will say 85% is bare minimum pass.

Low batteries will fry your regulator in your battery because the alt has to work overtime because it senses a low battery.

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
why not take control and do it slightly early



Yes ..this is sensible. But first one must have an experience base that defines "slightly early". That's usually formed with a few "just a day too late" experiences. In my experience with batteries there is much variance in the quality level of the battery ..and the process variable in their manufacture. I've had top of the line batteries short out (not wear out) in under a year ..and "warranty"/price batteries last many years. Much depends on driving habits. Many starts per mile? More battery fatigue. 4 season or severely cold climate? ..add a bit more. Commuting 30 miles one way for 20+ years in a mild winter region for the majority of your battery's life?

Most of us just go to start it one day and, if we're lucky, get a slightly slow whrr-whrrr and figure it's time to change it out. YMMV.

 

[JHZR2]

we have had multiple oE batteries last 10+ years and >200k miles of service.

Can't see a good reason to replace prematurely if the vehicle has been well-maintained.

However, after a deep cycle event or other issue (alternator failure, etc.) despie the potential robustness of the battery to last, its best not to chance it, too long, IMO.

JMH

 

[1sttruck]

We get at least 5 years (older OEM Ford), but typically 7 to 8 years out of batteries, be it older Die Hard Golds, Interstates, or newer Ford OEM. Gotta check water levels at least monthly in the summer. Replace the battery when it gets slow cranking, unfortunately for some is during the first cold snap. A cold snap also shakes out people with inadequate coolant levels, poor choice of winter tire, poorly maintained locks, old wipers, inadequate alcohol in the washer fluid, lack of foresight to carry a scraper and/or snow brush in the vehicle, etc.