Darn car batteries! 8+ years old and going bad

masraum · 04:35 PM

For a few weeks, I've been wondering about the health of the battery in the Boxster. I've been busy and procrastinating and hoping that it was the battery and not the starter. The car has been starting slowly. Turn the key and you'd get "Ruuurrr, rur, rummmm."

Tonight I went to take the wife's Outback out. It's a 2018 CPO Outback with <40k miles. It wouldn't start or unlock the doors with the fob or do anything. I checked and it only had about 2V. I checked the voltage on the Boxster to make sure my multigauge was working correctly, and at the time noticed that besides the battery only showing 12.25V, that the date code on it was 11/12. Holy Moly, the battery in the Boxster is over 8 years old. I decided to go ahead and replace the battery while buying a charger (I just bought one 2 weeks ago, but it's at the property). Now I've got two $65 battery chargers.

The good news is that as soon as I replaced the battery in the Boxster, the starting transformed into how it should be, an instant start after a quick couple of revolutions.

The Outback battery is charging. I'll let it charge and check it in the morning.

ckelly78z · 02-21-2021, 04:34 PM

On a vehicle that is used every day, batteries can last a long time from being recharged during use, and keeping the the plates active...something used once, or twice a year will need a new battery every few years.

masraum · 02-21-2021, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

On a vehicle that is used every day, batteries can last a long time from being recharged during use, and keeping the the plates active...something used once, or twice a year will need a new battery every few years.

In the heat that we have here in Houston, most batteries are doing pretty good to last 3-4 years. I've had a few that went 5-7, and figure those were doing really well.

look 171 · 02-21-2021, 04:44 PM

Its a pretty good feeling when new batteries get installed in cars. I jsut put in two in my Duramax. Some of my cars get used once every couple months but its always on a battery tender. How long do you think those batteries will last?

Scott Douglas · Scott Douglas's Garage

Such a timely thread. My car needs a new battery too. I wasn't using it on a regular basis before the start of the year due to Covid. Then I had my bypass surgery at the end of last year. My son came up to be with my wife while I had surgery and he charged it up as it was dead when he went to move it out of the garage. It started up when I got my wife to move it out from under the down spout of the rain gutter when I got home from the hospital. Now it's totally dead again.
My problem is I can't lift it out to put in a new one. Having your chest cut open will do that to ya I guess. So, the car sits in the driveway.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 02-21-2021, 05:01 PM

I'm at 6 years and getting one just because. Car starts and runs fine but it's winter and better safe than sorry, especially this winter, a throwback one from the 70s, which has been nice in a weird nostalgic way, but really don't want to get stuck.

Brian 162 · 02-21-2021, 05:08 PM

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.

masraum · 02-21-2021, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Such a timely thread. My car needs a new battery too. I wasn't using it on a regular basis before the start of the year due to Covid. Then I had my bypass surgery at the end of last year. My son came up to be with my wife while I had surgery and he charged it up as it was dead when he went to move it out of the garage. It started up when I got my wife to move it out from under the down spout of the rain gutter when I got home from the hospital. Now it's totally dead again.
My problem is I can't lift it out to put in a new one. Having your chest cut open will do that to ya I guess. So, the car sits in the driveway.

surely there's a pelican nearby that would be happy to lend a hand!

masraum · 02-21-2021, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I'm at 6 years and getting one just because. Car starts and runs fine but it's winter and better safe than sorry, especially this winter, a throwback one from the 70s, which has been nice in a weird nostalgic way, but really don't want to get stuck.

I'd been wondering about replacing mine, then the starting slowed down. Having the other battery go dead was apparently the kick in the area that I needed.

masraum · 02-21-2021, 05:19 PM

Quote:

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.

That's an old battery!

look 171 · 02-21-2021, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Such a timely thread. My car needs a new battery too. I wasn't using it on a regular basis before the start of the year due to Covid. Then I had my bypass surgery at the end of last year. My son came up to be with my wife while I had surgery and he charged it up as it was dead when he went to move it out of the garage. It started up when I got my wife to move it out from under the down spout of the rain gutter when I got home from the hospital. Now it's totally dead again.
My problem is I can't lift it out to put in a new one. Having your chest cut open will do that to ya I guess. So, the car sits in the driveway.

Hey, you need me to come down to give you a hand? What car is this going into? I am still somewhat young and able but don't expect me to do any ass kicking

Brian 162 · 02-21-2021, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

That's an old battery!

You're right. I just put it off. I was going to change it myself but we were away in Mass. when the fuel pump failed so I had the battery replaced at the same time

Arizona_928 · 02-21-2021, 06:12 PM

If only you could get that on a fla battery.....

billybek · billybek's Garage

My 2004 GMC had the original battery in it up to about 2 years ago. Amazing long life for a battery.
The guy at the parts store couldn't believe it was that old.
Died during a cold snap.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Geez, the last one for Mrs Beard lasted 3 years. The one in my F250 was replaced under warranty at less than 2 years.

mattdavis11 · 02-21-2021, 06:47 PM

My neighbor didn't bring my jump box back the other day. Had to retrieve it at 10pm. Ice still hadn't melted, nearly busted my arse. Now he knows I have one and I'm fairly certain I'm fecked at any given time.

Scott Douglas · Scott Douglas's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

Hey, you need me to come down to give you a hand? What car is this going into? I am still somewhat young and able but don't expect me to do any ass kicking

Thanks for the offer. My wife doesn't want anyone coming over because of covid.
I hope to take the battery out of her car and put the new one in it since we'll probably be getting rid of my car since it's not that easy to get in/out of now that I'm old(er).
When it's parked in the garage it's pretty tight getting out.

look 171 · 02-21-2021, 08:23 PM

Ok, if you need some heavy lifting in the future, give me a shout. Nice to get out for that long drive down.

You get well soon bud.

My sister was a CCU nurse. She took care of heart surgery folks and tells me they recover very quickly.

smadsen · 02-21-2021, 08:32 PM

The battery that came in the wife's 2013 Cadillac ATS is still cranking away at 110,000 miles of around town driving.

HobieMarty · 02-21-2021, 09:52 PM

I have a 1968 Dodge D100 truck and the last battery in it was a Mopar battery and lasted well over ten years. Keep in mind, this truck would sit many months without being cranked up and, of course, there is nothing electronic pulling the battery down as it sits. I replaced the battery in June of 2020 with another Mopar battery, let's see how long this one goes.

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