When do you replace your car battery?

[Choporoz]

I have almost always waited to replace my car batteries until after it was too late. It seems that 20+ years ago, your car would usually let you know it is time, by turning over sluggishly, but still crank up for a few days.  But in recent memory, I find myself needing a jump or worse before I know I have a problem. 

Does anyone just replace their car battery after maybe 3 or 4 or 5 years without waiting to get stuck somewhere?

   Especially with cars now with keyless entry and electronic start buttons, etc....I think there is even greater risk to battery failure at wrong time. 

 

I have a 2015 Toyota with a 2020 battery....I have not had starting issues, but a couple other odd things like two different fobs working intermittently....so I think I'm going to go ahead and get a new battery,  even though my cheap sensibility says wait until you're stuck somewhere extremely inconvenient 

 

  maybe same goes for boat cranking battery.... just pop in a new one every 3 years or so... the lifetime added cost over waiting for a failure might be worth the reduced risk of being stranded 

[Tennessee Boy]

It has happened the same every time.   The first very cold day in late fall or early winter my car or truck with an old battery will not start.   I jump it and go buy a new battery.

[DaubsNU1]

About 20 years ago I got to know a good mechanic in a small town...he was the kind of guy who sat you down, asked about your vehicle...your goals, how long you wanted to drive it, how hard you drove it, etc., etc., etc.

 

His theory related to batteries, and living in the Midwest, where summer temps could push triple digits, and winter lows could be below zero.

 

** Just replace your battery every 3 years **

 

For my boat, I keep it plugged in 24/7/365. I have battery tenders for my John Deere garden tractor & ATV's. They sit in unheated shop 365.

[Mike L]

I found Sometimes it’s not the battery going bad it’s the alternator 

 

The battery starts it, but the alternator keeps it running and chargers the battery as you drive. 
 

Just something to keep mind. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike
 

 

 

[gim]

Whenever I take my vehicles in for routine service (oil change, filter, tire rotation, fluid levels, etc), they do a battery load check.  If they say its time to replace it, I replace it.

 

I also carry a Noco booster pack and jumper cables as back up options.

 

On marine batteries, the life span varies on the type, size, and user.  Lead acid should generally last about 3 seasons.  Anything longer is bonus time.

[MN Fisher]

24 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

like two different fobs working intermittently.

My fob started working intermittently - replaced the batteries in the fob and it fixed the issue.

[Choporoz]

21 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

My fob started working intermittently - replaced the batteries in the fob and it fixed the issue.

Same here...in the past... I'm last few days, both mine and my wife's fobs had intermittent issues.  Too much coincidence for me

[WRB]

If you have access to the battery terminals  check the battery with a load tester to determine its health.

Key fobsI change the coin battery every year.

Tom

PS, Habor Freight has a good battery load tester.

[casts_by_fly]

Ram/Chrysler/stelantis vehicles are prone to electrical 'niggles' when the battery isn't in top shape.  Things will intermittently work or not, you'll get an odd dashboard light, etc.  That's about the time to change it.  Speaking of which, I think mine is acting up.  2018 truck and original battery, so... It can also sit for a week or two at a time now and then without me driving it.

[Kev-mo]

I always just wait until my mechanic says it's time for a battery. Only got 'stranded' once and that was only for 15 minutes until someone offered me a jump. Alternately you can get a battery tester and test monthly. There were definitely signs the battery was done on last couple/few batteries I've needed. Harder to start after that first cold night of fall etc. Also pretty sure most batteries now have an expiration date on them. Harsher conditions would shorten that shelf life...

[Team9nine]

Guilty - usually when it fails to start, that’s my first clue 🤭

[gim]

19 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

Guilty - usually when it fails to start, that’s my first clue 🤭

 

I bet you change your jeans as often as you change out batteries...years. 🤣

[TnRiver46]

I can hear mine getting weaker 

[VolFan]

Well this last one I waited until last Thursday, at least one day too late… I had to jump it to take it to the mechanic for an appointment that I already had, so I just had them replace it. Usually with my 2006 4Runner I can tell pretty quick when it starts to struggle to turn over and can replace it pretty quick. That’s been about every 5 years. 

[Woody B]

Modern agm batteries don't usually give a warning.   Quality with new batteries is sketchy at best.  Replace a battery when it fails.   If you simply replace one because of age you may be taking out a good battery and installing a bad one.   

[Bird]

I've never replaced a battery before it failed.

The day I have to jump a vehicle is the day the battery gets replaced.

[VolFan]

The best part about mine is we keep our jumper cables in my wife’s car. It’s a hybrid…that was at the mechanic shop. 

[FryDog62]

I wait until it doesn’t start, then I jump with my NOCO battery jump starter and drive to get it replaced. Keep one in the boat too…
 

[Functional]

My tundra battery died in 2 years from new. Started up for the drive to work no issue, went to go home and it was dead as a door nail. Was summer and didnt need lights so couldnt have left anything on. On the other hand I've had other cars 3-5 years and never had a single issue with a battery. 

 

Now I have a jumper pack and will wait until it dies and drive to the nearest auto parts store. Sometimes you just cant tell. 

[Choporoz]

I think it's partly an age or stage of life thing for me.  When I was 22 with limited income and few responsibilities that I took seriously,  I was perfectly fine with inconvenience of getting a jump, being late for whatever, or even being stranded for a time.  Later, I mitigated some of that risk with jumper cables and AAA.  Now, I am willing to buy a battery a year or two early to virtually eliminate the risk of getting stuck somewhere for even 20 minutes because of a dead battery

[TnRiver46]

20 hours ago, Woody B said:

Modern agm batteries don't usually give a warning.   Quality with new batteries is sketchy at best.  Replace a battery when it fails.   If you simply replace one because of age you may be taking out a good battery and installing a bad one.   

 

18 hours ago, Bird said:

I've never replaced a battery before it failed.

The day I have to jump a vehicle is the day the battery gets replaced.

Smart fellas

 

6 hours ago, VolFan said:

The best part about mine is we keep our jumper cables in my wife’s car. It’s a hybrid…that was at the mechanic shop. 

Haha! I think we have two sets in both our cars and one set in the boat 

6 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

I wait until it doesn’t start, then I jump with my NOCO battery jump starter and drive to get it replaced. Keep one in the boat too…
 

If I kept that in my boat it would be unrecognizable 😂 

[Jigfishn10]

On 6/10/2024 at 9:21 AM, gimruis said:

Whenever I take my vehicles in for routine service (oil change, filter, tire rotation, fluid levels, etc), they do a battery load check.  If they say its time to replace it, I replace it.

Same

23 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I can hear mine getting weaker 

Battery ESP?

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Same

Battery ESP?

Hahah! Nah that’s what the multimeter is for

 

i start my truck dozens of times a day and you get used to the sound. When it’s not as peppy you know it’s getting close 

[GreenPig]

I'll replace the battery when I have to jump it off with my jump box that stays in my truck.

[spartyon8]

I put jump boxes in every car in the house. The minute I need one...new battery/alternator diagnostics immediately. At least having the jump box gets me home to test stuff...alternator will show itsellf quickly after a jump.