Darn car batteries! 8+ years old and going bad

[zakthor]

Wrt outback.... My dad had his battery die frequently. Turns out he needed a firmware update. As shipped his car would skip charging until computer thought it was necessary, literally alternator not activated. He'd drive to store and voltage was showing 11.8-12v. After firmware (and subaru paying for his new battery since their mistake killed his) all has been well.

[Bill Douglas]

My old Bosch battery in the 911 lasted over ten years.

The replacement one from Supercheap Auto in New Zealand lasted about eight months.

[WPOZZZ]

I changed the battery in my 2014 535i the other week. It was the original battery that was kept on a maintainer when not in use. The gf has been driving it the past few months and I'm pretty sure her less than 1 mile round trips killed the battery.

[petrolhead611]

Wife's Smart ForFour 2006 with Automated Manual Transmission would start in a cold snap but would only select reverse or neutral when running.Once charged it worked fine. Car mainly used for short runs a couple of times a week.The battery had a Smart part number label on it, and the main label was Mitsubishi. Had no paper record of it having been replaced. When tested at a Battery Specialist it showed only 178 CCA so bought a new one with a 3 year warranty.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by zakthor

Wrt outback.... My dad had his battery die frequently. Turns out he needed a firmware update. As shipped his car would skip charging until computer thought it was necessary, literally alternator not activated. He'd drive to store and voltage was showing 11.8-12v. After firmware (and subaru paying for his new battery since their mistake killed his) all has been well.

Good to know, thanks.

[Scott Douglas]

Happy to report I've got the battery changed out in my car. Got help from the plumber across the street and another friend from the neighborhood.
Walmart exchanged it for free since I was inside the 3 yr free replacement time frame. Only thing is they replaced it with a less powerful battery that only has 700 CCA, not the 750 CCA's of the old one.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Happy to report I've got the battery changed out in my car. Got help from the plumber across the street and another friend from the neighborhood.
Walmart exchanged it for free since I was inside the 3 yr free replacement time frame. Only thing is they replaced it with a less powerful battery that only has 700 CCA, not the 750 CCA's of the old one.

Good news you got it handled.

On the Walmart batteries get the ones that say Ultra Magnum Maxx or something like that. They cost more but are in the family of decent batteries. The new $50 ones suck it. Have no idea which one you have. Just sayin'.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Happy to report I've got the battery changed out in my car. Got help from the plumber across the street and another friend from the neighborhood.
Walmart exchanged it for free since I was inside the 3 yr free replacement time frame. Only thing is they replaced it with a less powerful battery that only has 700 CCA, not the 750 CCA's of the old one.

Glad you got it taken care of. Sucks that they dinged you on the 50CCA. Wankers!

[yellowline]

Originally Posted by zakthor

Wrt outback.... My dad had his battery die frequently. Turns out he needed a firmware update. As shipped his car would skip charging until computer thought it was necessary, literally alternator not activated. He'd drive to store and voltage was showing 11.8-12v. After firmware (and subaru paying for his new battery since their mistake killed his) all has been well.

What years was this a problem?

I have a 2018, and the original battery died a couple weeks ago. If my year was included and I could point to a TSB, I’d probably look a little more sane when calling the dealer.

[stevej37]

My first Optima lasted 12 years and was still starting the 84 Carrera fine.
The second one (to replace it) lasted three years. Will never buy one again.
The quality has gone downhill fast.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by yellowline

What years was this a problem?

I have a 2018, and the original battery died a couple weeks ago. If my year was included and I could point to a TSB, I’d probably look a little more sane when calling the dealer.

That's crazy, ours is a 2018, if our battery dies, that'll be bizarre. I charged it for about 20 hours and it's back in the car and seems to be working. That's actually a little scary because now I wonder why the battery ran down. I'm hoping it's some sort of operator error. Maybe I turned something on and ran the battery down or something.

The battery is dated E7, so presumably that's May 2017, so should be OEM, but there's no labeling of any sort on the battery other than the one with the family, power, etc... and the date. I was expecting a little something if it was OEM, but I can't imagine what else this one could be.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by Brian 162

My last AC/Delco battery was 9 yrs. old. Truck always started even in cold weather. Fuel pump crapped out. Battery drained pretty quick trying to turn engine over.

Ditto 9 years on a Walmart Battery..here in LV summer heat..

[masraum]

I think AGM batteries are very nice batteries if you can get one for your application.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by masraum

I think AGM batteries are very nice batteries if you can get one for your application.

I have an Exide AGM in my 4 runner. Its now 5 years old. It was replaced after the original battery gave up. I am happy with it so far. No spillage, no battery acid and it stays clean around the terminals. I will buy another when this one goes. Ordered it on line and it came the very next day. I did the Interstate batteries on my truck from Costo. As much as I wanted the AGMs in there, it was too expensive. 600 bucks for two vs 280.

[speeder]

I just had to replace two, count them-two, expensive batteries in my diesel PU truck today that were barely over 2 years old. They were Interstate batteries that had a 2 year free replacement, so I had to pay $83 each for new ones. That was a slightly pro-rated warrantee price. All because I don't drive the thing often enough and it sits a lot. Also, Interstate batteries kind of suck.

At my buddies shop to meet the Interstate dude to pick up the new batteries and he had a 2004 Mercedes SL550 w 42k miles on it in for service that still has its original factory battery.

17 years old and the battery is absolutely fine. FWIW, I have a Shorai lightweight lithium battery in my BMW motorcycle that is amazing. I left the bike behind in WI and went and got it last month. I never really rode it last summer, it just sat there. After sitting for months outdoors, (under a cover), I get there and it's 20 deg outside. The BMW seems 100% charged up and fires up immediately. Headlight bright as new. My PU truck is deader than a doornail after 2 months.

Batteries are amazing and weird. Generally, they do not like to be discharged.

[VINMAN]

I'm over paranoid with my boat batteries. I have 3 in mine. I buy new ones every two years whether I need them or not. Don't want to find out 25 miles offshore that a battery went bad.

.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by speeder

I just had to replace two, count them-two, expensive batteries in my diesel PU truck today that were barely over 2 years old. They were Interstate batteries that had a 2 year free replacement, so I had to pay $83 each for new ones. That was a slightly pro-rated warrantee price. All because I don't drive the thing often enough and it sits a lot. Also, Interstate batteries kind of suck.
Batteries are amazing and weird. Generally, they do not like to be discharged.

Ive had the same luck with the Interstates in my Super Duty. The don't hold up well for some reason. They really suck in the cold. My Dodge, the Pep Boys batteries in them have to be 6 -7 yrs old still crank it over like hell.


.

[A930Rocket]

On my 14 F150, I got 4 years on the factory battery and I’m at 5 years on my Advanced Auto Parts battery now.

The original, just like my other trucks up and died No warning at all.

[Scott Douglas]

I think a lot of battery problems are caused by the computerized charging systems in later model cars. I know our CR-V doesn't charge the way a good old fashioned system used to. I think it hits the battery with a really big jolt initially right after start up, then goes to practically nothing to help save gas. This tends to boil the electrolyte off in a couple of the cells, more than the others. Once the plates are exposed that seems to be it for current batteries. This, along with MFG's putting in the absolute smallest battery they can get away with doesn't help.
We once had a Ford Taurus wagon that had a smallish battery in it when new. That first battery died within 6 weeks of buying the car. Ford was kind enough to replace it free, but still with a smallish one (relative to what could have fit). When it finally went bad I bought the biggest one the Trac Auto (remember them?) guy said would fit. It had to be 1/2 again as big as the original, to the point I asked if he was sure it would fit and would he take it back if it didn't. It did fit, barely, but it did. The car was a totally different car once it had some juice to power all the electrics. The rotten egg smell finally disappeared as the FI was finally seeing correct voltages from all the sensors. Too bad the trannie quit working, so we traded it in, hoping they wouldn't attempt to back up, since reverse wasn't working.
I need to check the electrolyte in the CR-V tomorrow as it's been a while since I did that. It's a 24F just like I had in my Accord. If I'd been able to get the 750 CCA battery I was going to swap them so the CR-V would have the newest battery. I guess I'll have to take good care of the one in there now.
This new battery doesn't have removable caps so I guess when it goes it'll just go. I probably won't own the car when it goes.

[red-beard]

Scott, I think your second instinct is correct. The batteries are too small and charging current too high for the size.