How long have your factory batteries lasted?

[Sleeper1]

I can understand your view point on winters in Maine. I had never seen so much snow and it started snowing in October of 82'. It was cold too! We lived in a cabin year round on Hermon Pond. My mother moved from Naples, Fla. to Hermon. What a change. I remember when we started meeting people and they were amazed she and I were living there through the winter. No indoor plumbing and only wood burner for heat, still I very much enjoyed our experience.
I was thinking about taking my family on a road trip around July 4th 2016. Our tentative plans are to travel up to Maine and visit the Parks and Hermon(maybe look up some school buddies) and then drive the coast back. I wonder if the Pilots Grill restaurant is still in business?

 

[RVTRKN]

Even though I'm enjoying the stories, back to the main topic, last month my batteries were dead when I went to start my 07 C&C. I recharged the batteries enough to start it and went on my way. The usual codes popped up and went away after making sure to run it once a week. I was going to my daughters house, a 15min drive, when my check gauges message popped up, I found the voltmeter showing 8 volts. I pulled over and loosened and retightened each battery terminal and all was OK. I noticed when starting the voltmeter was slow to raise to 14 volts, so I cleaned all bolts, terminals and connectors, retightened all and now seems normal. The terminals weren't that bad, I wonder if it's going to show its ugly head again. BTW, I only drive the 07 a few thousand miles a year if I'm lucky, it only has 61K miles in 8 years.

 

[verk]

Replaced my factory batteries yesterday so nearly 12 years. Never had a hiccup starting. Was always impressed with how the truck started regardless of how cold. I rarely plugged my block heater in and have lived in Rockies and New England only since I bought the truck new. Original batteries measured 684 and 492 of rated 750 CCA with a conductance meter when they were removed. I think the longevity was due to:

1-good voltage regulation from ECM
2-kept my battery terminals clean and snug, used the "corrosion preventative treated" protector pads that sit underneath terminals

 

[dfb]

Had an 04.5 Dodge Dually Cummins... Had the original batteries when I sold it last November... Over 12 years!!!

 

[Grizzly]

My original batteries lasted 9 years. I replaced them with Johnson Control batteries from Sam Club. They were slightly cheaper than Costco and Sam Club installed them. Costco will not install batteries.

 

[BILLVO]

125K miles on my 05 with the OEM batts yet and still going.

 

[bzingre]

It is with a heavy heart I type; today was the last day for the factory batteries. Truck assembled August of 2002 and delivered October 31, 2002 - one of the first 3rd gens. So, if my calculations are correct, it should be 13 years, 4 months, 11 days. I may have nursed them a little longer, but starting was a becoming a challenge after a week or so of sitting. Truck has 122,000 miles. Pretty impressive factory units. If the replacements last half as long, they may outlive the truck!

 

[promisedland]

Wow! That is good! I say you took care of your rig. Cheers!

 

[bighammer]

It is with a heavy heart I type; today was the last day for the factory batteries. Truck assembled August of 2002 and delivered October 31, 2002 - one of the first 3rd gens. So, if my calculations are correct, it should be 13 years, 4 months, 11 days. I may have nursed them a little longer, but starting was a becoming a challenge after a week or so of sitting. Truck has 122,000 miles. Pretty impressive factory units. If the replacements last half as long, they may outlive the truck!

I just replaced mine a few months ago. My truck is also early '03; I don't see the actual build date, but I do have the dealer invoice from when they bought it on 11/21/02.

Something puzzled me for a moment when I saw reference to credit sale info. (I paid cash for it) Then I realized our local Dodge dealer financed it thru General Motors Acceptance Corp. or GMAC when they bought it. :-laf It sat there for a bit until I picked it up. I think they were pretty happy to get it off the lot. (and their books)

 

[deaner70]

I just bought new ones for my '03. replacing the originals with 112k on the truck. Got them from Mopar OEM. 90 bucks each

 

[RVTRKN]

Thought I'd bring this thread back with an update, the Costco batteries I purchased last year proved to be a good investment. My AC clutch shorted taking out my Costco batteries. I took them back yesterday and got a full replacement plus some extra cash. It turned out they were a bit cheaper and I actually made a few dollars as well.

 

[navyjoe]

Thought I'd bring this thread back with an update, the Costco batteries I purchased last year proved to be a good investment. My AC clutch shorted taking out my Costco batteries. I took them back yesterday and got a full replacement plus some extra cash. It turned out they were a bit cheaper and I actually made a few dollars as well.

Sounds like you won on that one! I'm a little curious though why didnt the shorted clutch trip the overload? Also when you turn off ign. It should also stop that current draw. Any chance your alternator is low on output?

 

[RVTRKN]

I had all the same questions in my head, once I got the AC portion done, I fully expected to be replacing something on the charging system. The only thing I can think of why nothing went on the charging system was, it was actually over charging the batteries because the short on the AC clutch was drawing so much power. It is a 220amp alternator. When I noticed it was a problem, it had been running for about 20min plus. I was moving the truck around to make room for the new Tacoma I bought and figured it would be good to bring it up to full temperature. When I got back to the truck sitting there idling, I noticed a bad smell coming from under the hood. When I opened the hood it was smoking, I thought I blew the alternator. The next time I went to open the truck it was dead and the batteries wouldn't even take a charge after charging overnight.

It could still show its ugly head, but so far it's working just fine.

 

[navyjoe]

I had all the same questions in my head, once I got the AC portion done, I fully expected to be replacing something on the charging system. The only thing I can think of why nothing went on the charging system was, it was actually over charging the batteries because the short on the AC clutch was drawing so much power. It is a 220amp alternator. When I noticed it was a problem, it had been running for about 20min plus. I was moving the truck around to make room for the new Tacoma I bought and figured it would be good to bring it up to full temperature. When I got back to the truck sitting there idling, I noticed a bad smell coming from under the hood. When I opened the hood it was smoking, I thought I blew the alternator. The next time I went to open the truck it was dead and the batteries wouldn't even take a charge after charging overnight.

It could still show its ugly head, but so far it's working just fine.

Sounds like you nailed it! Real bummer though to loose your batteries that way. I did not see which year your truck is but if the clutch uses a fuse it may be oversized. My 06 has a TIPM and it won't allow more than 3 amps before it turns off the compressor. Normal current draw is about 1.5 amp I believe.

 

[RVTRKN]

It's the 07 C&C in sig.

 

[diesel_driver]

2004 Ram 3500 4x4, Auto, Short Bed, purchased in October 2003. 140,000 miles on the clock. I'm still running the factory batteries. Still turns over and starts quickly. It was always garaged up until 15 months ago. Our winters are fairly mild, freezing temps for a couple of months out of the year, and maybe a couple of weeks of 100 degree days during the summer.

I do want to replace them soon, just because they must be getting tired by now!

 

[WalterJ]

OEM's lasted 'till 11/2011; 188K miles $260, Sears Die Hard; then 2nd replacement 2/2015, 250K miles, $270, NAPA; or

OEM's went 7Y-4M
Die Hard's went 3Y-3M
NAPA's have 1Y-8M

We're in SE Wisconsin & "Clyde" is basically our daily driver.

 

[KCJackson1]

Ten years away from TDR, but always browsed the forums and decided to pop back in.

I'm in a unique situation with my 05, in that after being well-used early, it's been semi-retired for quite a while. First three years, I was averaging over 18K a year, with my 70-mile round trip commute to work. But after a job change, I've been working full-time from home for the last 8 1/2 years, so the truck is strictly a leisure vehicle, but at this point, it's long since paid off and owes me nothing. After 57,000 on its third birthday in March 2008, it's now at a mere 72,000.

The factory batteries lasted from delivery in March 2005 until August 2014. While they still worked, I was noticing a little hesitation and longer cranking that prior winter, so when a sale came along, I gabbed a pair of DieHard Gold 880 CCA group 65s - about $110 each at the time. I could've gone for the DieHard Platinum AGM 930 CCAs (which were rebranded Odyssey units), but I figured with my light usage now, that was unnecessary overkill. The Gold 880s have 140 minutes of reserve, and a 3 year free replacement warranty with an additional 5 years of prorated warranty. First start after the swap was swift, and has been ever since.

 

[airbus320]

My 2006 battery's lasted 10 years, 4 months. just replaced with the battery's from Costco at $186. The truck start much fast now.