How long have your factory batteries lasted?

[Diesel Thunder]

Replaced both this week on the '05. 78K and some slow starts with rough idle when the grids kicked on were cause for concern. It was interesting, I was worried about injector issues because of the terrible rough idle when the truck turned over slow and the grids kicked on. The passenger side also had some corrosion issues. Replaced with 2 Diehard Platinums... poor starter lights up faster than ever! No more rough idle at start with grids.

Cheers.

 

[Blakers]

Replaced both this week on the '05. 78K and some slow starts with rough idle when the grids kicked on were cause for concern. It was interesting, I was worried about injector issues because of the terrible rough idle when the truck turned over slow and the grids kicked on. The passenger side also had some corrosion issues. Replaced with 2 Diehard Platinums... poor starter lights up faster than ever! No more rough idle at start with grids.



Cheers.

I long for the days when a diesel engine didn't care what the battery was doing once it was running. Who ever heard of a diesel that needed an electrical system to run?

 

[Wiredawg]

My wife's '03 has the original batteries in it w/ 126,000 miles and still going.



Wiredawg

 

[Buddy's Ram]

04. 5 with 150,000 on the clock. Factory originals still going strong!

Winters usually aren't bad in bama, but we were in the teens for more than a week this year.

 

[zippinbye]

6 yrs.

1/04 build in Las Vegas heat, not a hint of any problem. Didn't read all the posts in this thread, but I've heard many recommendations for the Sears gel batteries ... on sale much cheaper than Optimas, and reputed to be made on the same line?

 

[JMetzger]

I said in an earlier post that I thought I was going to need new batteries. I had them load tested Fri & they tested ok. I guess I will keep running them. The person who tested them could not believe that they were the original batteries.

 

[johnnyboy_10138]

Well my batts are dead, 118k on the clock, I tried to have a Tacoma jump me, after about 10 minutes of the tacoma sitting there trying to jump me, the engine would turn over, but no go. Time to buy some new batteries.

 

[JLandry]

Well my batts are dead, 118k on the clock, I tried to have a Tacoma jump me, after about 10 minutes of the tacoma sitting there trying to jump me, the engine would turn over, but no go. Time to buy some new batteries.

Might be worth having your batteries load tested. Maybe you have bad starter contacts.



John L.

 

[johnnyboy_10138]

Yeah, i plan on taking it in to autozone to test it on thursday. I only get to drive my truck on the weekends and for about the last 2 months it only starts on its on power about half the time. A quick jump has always got it started up until now. If my batteries werent dead, they probably are now.



Thanks for the reply.

 

[captgac]

mine lasted 9 1/2 years

 

[TRLRTRSH]

Replaced the originals yesterday. Here in the Arizona desert where temps in the summer can reach 120, batteries don't last much more that two or three years from what I've been told (the RV batteries tend to bear that out, I've replaced them twice) The truck sure starts nice with new batteries though

 

[Newf Limo]

I think I may have some sort of record here. My Ram batteries lasted 7 years, but I just looked under the hood of my wifes 2001 Dakota and realized I have never changed out that battery! It lived in Los Angeles for 2 years (106 degree days) and has been through 7 Maine winters (-20*F)! She has a 160,000 miles on her truck and it is our primary vehicle. Also, the battery terminals ate absolutely clean as a whistle. I have never cleaned them.

 

[NNethers]

Mine lasted about 4. 5 years..... until one day the battery on the passenger side decided to blow up and spew what was left of it's internals all over my engine compartment while towing home from a weekend at Pismo. Thankfully it just stained the underside of the hood, exhaust manifold, turbo and some other items and ate thru some plastic wire loom.



next day I went down and got some SEALED AGM batteries (red top optima flavor) and haven't looked back. If I had to do it again I'd probably have gone with some Orbital batteries... more coin but the best battery out there IMHO.

 

[rjones]

94k so far on mine

 

[rashwor]

5 yrs.

Got 5 years out of my 2005 Mopar batteries.

 

[JordanB]

Well I started this thread and now I can chime in. Batteries lasted a bit less than 4 years and 70,000 miles. They had been getting weaker all winter long and I was hoping to get through the spring and possibly the summer but I left the truck outside last Friday night. Tried to start it the next morning... rurr... rurr... click-click-click-click. Cleaned the terminals (were already clean, though) and barely got it jumped with my dad's Lexus... poor little Toyota. At least it didn't drive off uncontrollably! ; )
Drove to Autozone and picked up a pair of the yellow top Duralasts for about $235. Changed the batteries in the parking lot and went on down the road. Thanks for all of the replies. It's been fun reading. Looks like I brought up the lower end of the totem pole for battery life!

 

[Bill Weber]

Just replaced mine. 6 1/2 yrs. Sounded like i was starting on less than 1 batt. Both showed 12. 5 volts and had the green balls showing. All cables and connections were clean. Must have had a cell in each battery that couldn't handle the starting load. 6 1/2 years ain't bad. Found a good deal on some Optima's. Really turns over now.



Bill

 

[Jason Griebel]

My 99 still has the original batterys in it and still starting fine Almost 11 years now.



Had a block 53 it's pretty bad when you have to replace the motor before the batterys.

 

[RNewberry]

84000 on the '05 with OEM Batteries - no signs of diminished capacity as of yet.

 

[seafish]

60k on my 2005... also starting strong... knock wood!!!