car batteries used to lasted al long time

[look 171]

when I was old enough to noticed they had to be changed at some point. Now, they go bad in 3-4 years. What the hell? Why? charging and battery technology should be better, but what happened? Plan obsolescence?

[sc_rufctr]

Planed obsolescence may be part of it but modern cars are electricity hungry so it's not surprising batteries don't last like they used to.

Our family car when I was growing up was a locally built 1967 Chrysler VC Valiant (Dodge 106).
It had the classic slant 6 225 cu in engine and the original battery in that lasted until it was sold in 1987.

20 years from an original battery???

There was lots of room in the engine bay and it was a BIG BLACK chunk of plastic.

But that car only had basic electrics and no power windows. The radio was just AM with a single speaker.
An old friend had the V8 Lux version with electric everything and he was lucky to get 3 years from a battery.

[Joe Bob]

I'm at 11 years on my Yellow Top Optima.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by look 171

when I was old enough to noticed they had to be changed at some point. Now, they go bad in 3-4 years. What the hell? Why? charging and battery technology should be better, but what happened? Plan obsolescence?

Last November, my sister complained her 2003 Ford Focus was hard to start. On checking, we discovered it had the original battery from new - it was over 10 years old. The battery in my 2005 Boxster was original and that never gave me a lick of trouble, even thru Chicago winters.

I've had more issues with store-bought replacements myself, especially with my motorcycles. Oh, and BMW - every BMW I had, the OEM battery died around the 4-year mark.

[motion]

My F150 batteries seem to last about 3-4 years, as well. I just popped for $200 Diehard in one of em... hoping it will last longer. The Walmart batteries for $100ish last about 1 year. No kidding.

[T77911S]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

I'm at 11 years on my Yellow Top Optima.

you wont see that anymore. they are now made in mexico.


i remember when sear die hard batteries were THE battery. i have had several go bad well before they should, like, 2-3 yrs.

i just buy cheap advance batteries now. they last as long as anything else and are way cheaper

[oldE]

" Now, they go bad in 3-4 years."

My experience with automotive batteries is the opposite.
Early VW diesel Rabbits would trash a battery in three years. Their glow plug circuits were not very efficient and unless you were packing on the miles, in cold weather they couldn't handle the drain.
I think I replaced the battery once in my '93 Passat turbo diesel, before I traded it in '07. I anticipate changing the battery in the '06 TDi in a year or so.
Same story with the '96 F150. It didn't get used much in the winter time but the frame rusted out and the dome gasket failed but the battery was still rolling the engine over.

Best
Les

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I pull all the batteries out of any car I'm not driving in the winter and stick them in the basement (about 50° year round). Have yet to see one fail. Cold kills them. Keep them out of the cold. My DD is in a heated garage so that's never an issue even when it's below freezing.

[VINMAN]

I change the batteries in my vehicles every 2 years, whether they need them or not. My boat and PWC get new ones every year.

I noticed the same with the Diehards. at one time they were the gold standard of batteries, now they are no better than ones from pep boys.

.

[GH85Carrera]

The biggest difference I see in batteries is "in the old days" a battery just got weaker and weaker and weaker gave you lots of warning it was not going to last much longer. Now that just DIE 100% in an instant. The last 7 or 8 batteries I have had were fine one minute and dead the next. I have had some that die so completely that even with jumper cables attached they will not start the car.

A friend that works at a Interstate battery store said the reason is the plates are thinner and thinner. They can get more plates into the battery but they are more prone to get to thin and collapse and short and the battery is toast. That sound plausible but I don't know for sure that is the reason.

The first sign I have that a battery is not perfect, I replace it. I would rather waste a little money up front than be stuck in a parking lot again.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

The biggest difference I see in batteries is "in the old days" a battery just got weaker and weaker and weaker gave you lots of warning it was not going to last much longer. Now that just DIE 100% in an instant. The last 7 or 8 batteries I have had were fine one minute and dead the next. I have had some that die so completely that even with jumper cables attached they will not start the car.

......The first sign I have that a battery is not perfect, I replace it. I would rather waste a little money up front than be stuck in a parking lot again.

My experience exactly. the first time the battery hesitates when I turn the key, it gets replaced asap.

[Aragorn]

I used "the best/expensive" battery in the past but stopped using them a few years ago. The price/return ratio just didn't seem to be up to my expectations. On a whim I switched to the Advance Auto Parts brand of batteries (silver/gold.) While I have had a few bad batteries in the past few years, all were replaced (not pro-rated) when I took them back. I like the service and warranty that I get from Advance. Most seem to last around 5 years before they start to fade. Replacement is around $100-$150 on average which is not bad to me.

Motorcycle batteries are another thing. I have yet to find one that will last more than one or two summers.

[Rot 911]

The Toyota 4runner comes with a Panasonic battery. Not sure where they are actually made, but the OEM battery seems to have a fairly long life span. The one in my 2004 lasted 8 years and the one in my 2010 is still going strong. My experience is typical at least as from what I read on the 4Runner boards.

[gacook]

Do you leave things plugged in on your car when not in use? I have a 3 port power outlet that charges my GPS, phone, and occasionally MP3 player. It also has a USB port. Even though it's not technically a constant draw, it does apparently suck some power when the car's off because my battery was draining. Now, I just unplug it when I turn off the car. Battery's been a champ since.

[908/930]

Possibly the new high power alternators having something to do with it, higher voltage and amperage, charge rates up at 150A with some of the new ones. Replaced the battery in my 2011 Chev 2500hd last fall, that didn't last long.

[djantlive]

More draw on power in modern car is the cause. Plug in a tender and you will get 8+ years easy

[look 171]

Originally Posted by djantlive

More draw on power in modern car is the cause. Plug in a tender and you will get 8+ years easy

These are DDs. Do you think a tender is really necessary?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by gacook

Do you leave things plugged in on your car when not in use? I have a 3 port power outlet that charges my GPS, phone, and occasionally MP3 player. It also has a USB port. Even though it's not technically a constant draw, it does apparently suck some power when the car's off because my battery was draining. Now, I just unplug it when I turn off the car. Battery's been a champ since.

No, none.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by look 171

These are DDs. Do you think a tender is really necessary?

Not for a daily driver.

Would you like me to help you look for current drains when I'm back out that way? I think my DC clamp-on ammeter is in the trunk of my garage queen.

[afterburn 549]

Try to buy commercial grade from Big Trk suppliers (if you can get one to fit)
NAPA carries them ( Not Interstate ever)
I have had a set in my diesel pick up for over 6 years and they have went dead a couple times (my fault) still work fine.