What's the LONGEST (or Shortest) a car battery has lasted for you.

[gamin]

Got 12 years from an Interstate battery in the 88 Carrera. It was still working when I replaced it earlier this year with an Interstate AGM battery. I only replaced the 12 year battery due to worries about future longevity and I wanted a smaller size.

[Scuba Steve]

The stock one in the wife's VW CC lasted 6 years. That's a record for me anyway, typically they go after 4-5 years.

[coldstart]

My girlfriend is still running her original battery in her 2003 Toyota truck after 12 years.

I have had the original battery in my previous DD, an Acura RSX, last 8 years.

The battery on my parents 2000 Volvo S80 did not last a week. Likely a lemon.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by dad911

8+ years - 1990's Optima
1 year - 2000's Optima

I've had the same experience; this has to be a conspiracy. I bought an Optima for my 911 in the late 90's; I swapped it into my VW bus when I switched to an Odyssey for the track. It was still going strong when I sold the bus last year.

My 2003 E46 M3 still has the original battery; my previous M3 had an aftermarket battery that had to be replaced every 18 months.

[URY914]

My 1970 VW Bug's original battery lasted 11 years. The floor rusted out before the battery needed replacing.

[flipper35]

I had an Exide that lasted 10 days. The replacement lasted 1 month. The replacement for that was not the same make model. I had an Optima red top that lasted 9 years in that same car.

[mikehinton]

The first battery in my 1990 Miata lasted for 17 years. The battery in my '87 Carrera has been in the car since I purchased it 8 years ago. Our Jeep Grand Cherokee ate batteries every 3 years like clockwork.

[WolfeMacleod]

I had to replace the original batter in my '02 Saturn about two years ago...
So give or take, about 11 years.

[Don Ro]

They don't seem to last long here in AZ. The heat kills them. 2 - 3 years is the norm.
My g/f had her Acura battery replaced recently by her Independent Acura Specialist Auto Repair joint.
They gave her a deal...$10/year for free replacement for life.

[Jeff Jagusch]

I have an Optima in my racecar, based on the warranty tag, the newest it could be is 1999, we have really abused the battery, as usually it sits outside in a the trailer all winter with no tender. We just can't seem to kill it!
Having said that, I won an Optima at a raffle, and it lasted less than a year!

Now our track scooter batteries never last more than a year?

[Scuba Steve]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

They don't seem to last long here in AZ. The heat kills them. 2 - 3 years is the norm.
My g/f had her Acura battery replaced recently by her Independent Acura Specialist Auto Repair joint.
They gave her a deal...$10/year for free replacement for life.

That's my line of reasoning. I kept looking for old battery posts by people in TX and... nope!

[Mark Henry]

The red top Optima in my '67 bug I bought in 2002.

I swap it out summer /winter so it's always in a running car.
Funny thing is it has always seemed low on charge, I don't think it's ever held a full 13V.

[Laneco]

We've got an Odyssey in the spyder that's been in there 12 or 13 years. Absolutely fantastic battery.

Worst battery...the Optima we bought for Steve's cabby. First one lasted about a year, second was less than that, the third one seemed to be a good battery. Or at least it was when we sold the car last summer.

angela

[Jerome74911S]

The original GM supplied battery in my 2003 Chevrolet daily driver is still going strong.

[Rusty Heap]

Going on 15 YEARS on a Kubota factory battery, and geez it has to warm up the glow plugs.

Shortest was 10 days, don't know if it had a dead cell but wouldn't take nor hold a charge. Cheap O'riley batterys suck. By the best your wallet can afford. AGM gas mat sealed batteries have really come down in price, but lead and an acid bath has worked for a long long time.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by Scuba Steve

That's my line of reasoning. I kept looking for old battery posts by people in TX and... nope!

My Optima was while I lived in El Centro, CA. I did keep a solar battery tender on it.

[SoCal911T]

When I bought the 911T it had Interstate batteries manufactured in 1998. The starboard one went after 15 years and the port side is still going.

[911T70]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Just wondering-
My volvo xc70 is over 10 years and keeps on tickin' at this point. Usually they are long gone by now (for me anyway). Is that normal? What do you get?

My wife's 2005 XC70 also has its original battery. Every fall, before our hard winters, I ask her to have her battery checked by the garage that services her car and they always tell her it's strong. Never even looked at it (it's hidden in the back somewhere). Wonder what brand it is?

[Jesset100]

1996 Toyota Corolla factory battery 14 years
Replaced the factory battery in a 2010 Honda Civic, which was still good with a Optima yellow top that lasted 2 years.
Never again Optima!

[patz]

13 out of my Yellow Optima. Killed it DEAD at least 6 times.