7 year old batteries

[HOBrian]

My son has been experiencing battery problems for a few weeks. I've been telling him that they are trying to tell him they are tired. I even showed him this post and asked him if he wanted to do a replacement when he could pull it into the nice warm garage where my CTD lives. Nothing happened. This morning, he was outside with the battery charger in 1 degree weather trying to get it started. Doors were slamming and a few choice words were flying. I watched - from inside.

It has been very cold so foar for Dec. It was 9 degrees outside this AM and I thought to myself that it was good that I changed my Batteries because I am sure that today would have been the day!!



Did you watch from inside with a nice cup of hot coffee!!

 

[rbattelle]

I'm still running the OEMs from 2003. Low tomorrow morning is 5°F. We'll see.

Started it up yesterday afternoon at ~18°F without block heat. Man, that 15w40 is thick at that temperature!

-Ryan

 

[BSeyler]

It has been very cold so foar for Dec. It was 9 degrees outside this AM and I thought to myself that it was good that I changed my Batteries because I am sure that today would have been the day!!



Did you watch from inside with a nice cup of hot coffee!!

Yep, like a good dad should! Tonight, he pulled in with a new battery. I heated the garage up and assumed the role of adviser and supervisor as he installed it. Didn't even get my hands dirty on this one!

 

[Mark31]

My 100k 04 still has the originals---until the Interstate Battery truck's next trip to my my buddy's shop. The batteries don't spin it over as good as they used to. So I figure why put extra wear on the starter trying to get the last bit of "goodie" out of them? Mark

 

[Mhannink]

typically automotive professionals say that 5 years is the expected battery life. i always replace mine right around then before they even hickup, and ive never had a battery problem. i can use my batteries for hours running my stereo and or other electrical demands and the truck cranks and starts without a problem, without fail. personally i would change it sooner rather then later cause heaven forbid your out away from home at 4 in the morning no one around and the truck wont start. i also run interstate batteries they are pricey, but again ive never had a problem. thats just personal preference. i totally believe in an ounce of prevention equals a pound of repair.



i got it from an old otr truck driver and friend of the family. the guy owns 3 truck and trailers and 3 hay squeezes, and ive never seen or heard of him ever being on the side of the road. say a truck needed brakes, he would replace every drum, shoe, s cam, and wheel seal on all 5 axels. his newest truck is 10 years old and looks and feels brand new. he just recently rebuilt one of his squeezes from the bottom up, spent 70k and was replacing most of the parts for the first time at 30k hours on the squeez.



question for everyone, i notice right after i replace batteries the truck spins over a lot better which i expect, but it also seems to run better like its got more power or something anyone ever notice that? my only figuring on that is that the new batts are taking the load of the alternator and there for reducing the load on the engine.

 

[DBottles]

:-lafTook delivery of my 2003 2500 in early july 2003 and decided to prevent being stranded at the worst time possible with trailer. Seven and a half years. I thought was good enough. Thought the preheat cycles and the starter were a little slower. New batteries really brought things back to as new. Two new mopar batteries, hope to get another 7-8 years service. AND YES IT DOES RUN BETTER. AM GETTING 24-26 MILES PER GALLON.

 

[dkoldno7]

Hi, my 2001 and my 2002 still have oem batt. !

 

[gerry]

OEM batteries

My 01 was built in Oct 2000 I bought it in Jan 01 still starts quick but my fingers are crossed.

 

[Oasis-3]

My 01 built in late 00 and bought in mid 01 still starts like day 1 with 10 1/2 year old batteries.



Cliff

 

[MJLee]

Just FYI, (I put Costco in mine, just for the warranty):



Most auto batteries are made by just three manufacturers, Delphi, Exide, and Johnson Controls Industries. Each makes batteries sold under several different brand names. Delphi makes ACDelco and some EverStart (Wal-Mart) models. Exide makes Champion, Exide, Napa, and some EverStart batteries. Johnson Controls makes Diehard (Sears), Duralast (AutoZone), Interstate, Kirkland (Costco), Motorcraft (Ford), and some EverStarts.

 

[rscurtis]

I think you forgot one, East Penn Mfg. , also known as Deka.

 

[seafish]

I am starting to like Deka batteries alot. Aside from the fact that they have been the oem a supplier for CAT diesels, I also have 2 OLD ones my old JD350 crawler loader. The batteries are at least 10 yo, and even then the tractor and batteries came to me maintained but well used !!) Several years ago I had put the tractor away for the winter season (that means simply covering it with a trap out in the log yard); while it would definitely be my preference to put them on a trickle charger, there is no power in that yard, so it has never happened!! The next season I had a bad back and ended up not using the tractor until the following summer. In other words, the tractor sat under a tarp for 18 months. When it was time to fire it up again, I simply checked all the fluid levels and then turned the key. . it fired up on the 3rd stroke and has since been starting and running ever since, still being put a away under a tarp for 6 months of every year. I hope that I haven't jinxed myself by talking about my good fortune with these batteries, but since then, I have been buying only Deka batteries. My local parts supply store tells me that before they went with Dekas they studied warranty return rates on Interstate, Optima, Napa brand, and the Dekas were by FAR the least returned. They also use a proprietary plate design to help prevent internal shorting from sulphation.

 

[Jeremiah]

I bought my 2003 DRW 3500 in August of 2003. I still have the original factory batteries and cannot believe they have lasted this long. Now that the truck and the batteries are getting older, I am figuring it would be wise to replace them whether they need it or not. I think they call that preventive maintenance? Would it be a good idea to spend the $200+ to replace them now before winter after all this time or just wait till they start going bad and maybe end up being stranded somewhere? Gee, I think I just answered my own question. Has anyone been able to keep the original batteries much longer than 7 years?

I am beginning my 9th year with the OEMs. Nervous about it too, because the last couple of nights went below zero. But I keep the block heater plugged in, so we'll see. Sure would like to know why makes the OEMs. Can't argue with how long they last.

 

[Matt42]

Long Lived Batteries, Hot Climates, and AGM Batteries

First off, I enjoy reading about how many years people get out of OEM batteries in mild or cold climates. It makes me jealous, actually. Here in the desert southwest, where weather tends to be warm (ghastly hot, really), battery life is measured in months. If we get 24 months out of an OEM battery, it's worth celebrating and telling friends. An aftermarket flooded-cell battery will go 12 to 26 months, regardless of who made it or how long the warranty is. What you have to do is pick the place where you want to buy batteries from forevermore, and buy the first battery (or battery pair) there after OEM, and keep going back when they expire for the pro-rata replacement.



I got 13 months from the OEM batteries in my own 1996. We got 16 months out of the OEM batteries in my office's 2004. 5, but it gets parked under cover.



The worst thing is that flooded cell batteries here tend to quit with no warning. I can leave the house and all is well. As I walk out of the Safeway with 10 gallons of ice cream in July, the battery will be dead. No warning. Since I tend to go places where cell phones don't work, it's a 20 mile hike in 128F heat to get where the cell phone might work, and the extrication tow will cost $800 if anyone will respond, I wanted to buy batteries that might actually last more than 24 months and die with some dignity and warning. I also wanted AGM batteries that wouldn't corrode the battery cables and slosh acid all over the place.



So I bought a set of Optima red tops, and I got 5 years out of them! I got four more years out of them as ad-hoc deep cycle batteries on my trailer. The next set of red tops on my own truck failed quickly. The red tops, made just before the Optima factory was moved to Mexico, on the office's truck, are still in use.



This thread over at the Chrysler Minivan forum has some interesting commentary, opinions and observations on where Optima battery quality has gone. OPTIMA Batteries - Alternatives, Whatdya think? Have a look and make up your mind for yourself. I use only Deka, Odyssey or the Batteries Plus house brand of AGM non-spill battery. For me, I simply will not risk my life using Mexican-made Optima batteries any more. I know that our trucks and both my PT Cruisers were made in Mexico. That's not the issue. It's the quality. If Optima gets the quality back up, in my opinion, I'll reconsider. All this is, of course, my opinion.

 

[Matt42]

Optima Picture

It occurred to me that you have to be a member of the minivan forum to look at the pictures that show the "made in aurora colorado" embossing and the easily removed "made in mexico" stickers that are discussed. So Here is the one picture that shows both. The "made in colorado" embossing was circled in PhotoShop. The "made in mexico" sticker is the small circle in the right center of the image.

 

[Jeremiah]

Does anyone actually KNOW who made the batteries in the '03 trucks?

 

[kd5eiv]

batteries

Matt, Jerremy,

I also live in southern AZ.

My original 03 batteries are still going strong and I will not repace them untill they die.

I think the originals are made by Johnson controls. (Interstate, Costco, Sears)



Rog

 

[Jeremiah]

Thanks, kd5eiv. A trip to the local Costco store might reveal whether Johnson makes 'em. I have nothing to go on but what's in my truck now as it begins it 9th Colorado (read cold) winter on the OEM batteries. But there's nothing on the battery to tell me who makes it. It still cranks like crazy, but there's a limit to how long a battery will last.

 

[Jeremiah]

I just checked out the Johnson Controls web page and it seems they make batteries for a number of different companies, which "rebrand" them for the retail market. Not a problem, of course, but nice to know. Here they are:



* OPTIMA

* VARTA

* LTH

* HELIAR

* Private Brands

 

[Grayhackle]

I still have my original 03 batteries and the truck is starting fine with recent temps about 0.

However, I have been shopping around and Sears Platinum are $210. each. OUCH. I have not been to Costco. I have never had batteries last this long. They have been great!