My Amazing 12-year old battery...

[Yosemite_Sam1]

It's an original Toyota battery when I bought my new truck.

Zero maintenance and I thought it's dead, which is long overdue for replacement anyway, when it did not crank nor rev the engine.

Checked the voltage and saw it still have 11.1V.

Being new in battery revival, I put on the charger showing it already have 13.6V in 2 hours of charging.

But the lights are not yet green to indicate it's fully charged. Left it overnight.

By morning it's showed 12.4V, the charger gone green. Tried to start the engine with it and it went alive in just one try.

Got an internet recommendation to leave the engine and the lights on and measure voltage (think this is the alternator test). It is showing voltage of 14.3V.

I'll check again after a week with battery and truck exposed in sub-zero weather. Otherwise, it's out for replacement.

[hugemoth]

The Walmart battery in my truck is still going at 10 years old. Not going to try for 20.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Pips you rained on my parade!

I thought I hit a jackpot with my battery going 12 years. And some went as far as 20 years!!!

Thanks for the added knowledge. I'll put my battery on stress test and if it fails, I'll definitely replace it before I go again on long trips this spring.

[ktmrfs]

my 2004 duramax first battery lasted to 2015, replacement still in use
97 Mercedes E420 mfg in feb 96 needed a new battery in 2008, that replacement still going strong. battery is under the back seat which helps life
97 mercedes SL500 on it's second battery, battery is in the trunk.

now western oregon is probably a good place for long battery life. not to hot in the summer, not to cold in the winter. Although the duramax spent many days in northern idaho at temp between -20F and -40F

Todays batteries are much better than batteries of the 60's and 70's

[Grit_dog]

Yosemite Sam1 wrote:


I maybe over-cautious because I don't want to find myself with the dead battery and stuck int he middle of nowhere in my truck, am I stretching it by reviving and extending it's life or is it already a sign of a soon-to-be-dead battery?

In my previous cars, it's always a replacement whenever my battery is showing and symptoms of being weak.

Given your self professed vast knowledge of vehicles with batteries, I’ll just presume this question is tongue in cheek?

[GaryUT]

The battery in our truck was still going strong when I replaced it at 9 years.

Since we boondock in the middle of nowhere, usually out of cell range, I didn't want to chance it any longer.

[dodge_guy]

The batteries installed in the trunk or inside the car last 2-3 times longer than the ones under the hood.

[Cummins12V98]

DR mower I bought in 1999 had a "LONG" brand sealed battery, I replaced it at the beginning of last Summer. Never removed or disconnected it. Not bad 20 years!

[Lwiddis]

I agree with Yosemite Sam1 and replace every three years. Too much back in the boonies time.

[gbopp]

Yosemite Sam1 wrote:
I maybe over-cautious because I don't want to find myself with the dead battery and stuck int he middle of nowhere in my truck, am I stretching it by reviving and extending it's life or is it already a sign of a soon-to-be-dead battery?

I bet you can get one more year out of the battery. Go for it. 🙂

[Beaker]

Replaced original batteries in 12 year old truck right after Turkey Day this year.

Living in NE PA usually replaced in 3 years.

[4x4ord]

oops

[Yosemite_Sam1]

IdaD wrote:
I only ever get about 4 years out of batteries. Maybe it's the climate where I live or I'm just unlucky.

I'm getting that for my cars. So when I sell them, I advertise it as New Battery with a Car.:B

[Yosemite_Sam1]

4x4ord wrote:
Yup at 12 years old it's time to replace the truck.... might as well do it before you change the battery.

LOL! And I used to have a replacement every 3 years when on lease or 5 with an outright purchase. The battery have not given up by then.

This is the longes falling in love with it being absolutely trouble free.

But I was planning to, but it's two more years of wait for my Cybertruck.

[IdaD]

I only ever get about 4 years out of batteries. Maybe it's the climate where I live or I'm just unlucky.

[4x4ord]

Yup at 12 years old it's time to replace the truck.... might as well do it before you change the battery.