How long have your factory batteries lasted?

[Wiredawg]

Batteries on my wife's 03 are starting to sound a little weak when starting. Will probably got to Advance Auto Parts and replaced next week. Not bad though getting over 7 years.



The batteries on my '02 also lasted over 7 years. I think the secret is pry off the caps and fill w/ distilled water. Maint free batteries don't retain water any better... they just don't let you add water.



Wiredawg

 

[HOBrian]

Mine will be 8 years old in May!

Just replaced them today. The neg. post on the drivers side was corroded and leaked down the side of the battery. Not a bad run for a set of batteries!!

 

[Barry]

Took delivery of my '06 in march of that year. Just turned 200K with the OEM batteries... ... .

 

[JBonpua]

Mine lasted a little over 4 years and 30K miles till one battery will not take a charge and boiled the other. I replaced both with Yellow Optimas as I got a good deal on them ($240 for the pair).

 

[fritzimax]

Original batteries since October 2002, with 62,000 miles.

 

[dkoldno7]

Batteries

Hello,my 2001 131,000 miles,my2002 73,000 miles have the same batteries they came with. Alaska cold winters and all.

 

[Ross]

My 2006 MC was built in June 2006, has 105,000 miles and the batteries are still good.



So... . 4 years, 5 months and counting...

 

[yunk]

My 2003 built in January with 96000 miles stiil has the original batteries (but I'm sure I'm jinxed now)

 

[SuperSteeler]

Built January 04, bought it in May 2004. 100,800 miles and still going.

 

[BGlidewell]

I don't want to know how long they lasted. Replace at a minimum every 5 years. Goofy stuff starts happening when batteries get weak and I'm now too old to be amused by that.

 

[Lorenz]

My batteries were giving up the ghost in the 03 at 130k miles. They didn't turn over the starter like they used to. Green eyes on the battery were both so faint I had to look hard to see them. I had them load tested individually and they were both down to <500 cca, after a good charge.



I did a lot of research and came across Desulfating Chargers. Battery Minder has a Patent on the technology. I needed a solar charger for the RV so I decided why not. A simple cheap 1-2a Battery Minder would do the same thing. Remember, "Battery Minder", not "Battery Tender" if you go shopping for one.



They really worked. I'm now 17,000 more miles down the road on the same batteries a year later, and the truck turned over like it was new. The green eyes came back to their like new brightness. I'm thoroughly impressed with the product.



Automotive Battery Chargers | Battery Chargers by BatteryMINDers.com

 

[Lorenz]

I used the same solar panel and Battery Minder to condition some trolling motor batteries I have on the boat. I just ran a jumper cable from the RV battery to the boat batteries and left them for a couple of days. Both of them had gotten down to 11. 3 volt, not as bad as the truck, but I could tell they had started to form crystals on the lead plates.

 

[RideSlow2004]

07. 5, 34,000 miles, batteries seem to be getting weak. Battery Tender on if not being driven regularly. After it starts, the 'Electronic Throttle Control' dash light comes on, until the next start

 

[RCMerrill]

I have an 06 & my batterys gave no warning I was driving my truck & the amp meter on my truck was giong crazy up & down. by the time i got home it was on hi charge & the batterys were boiling. i took it to the dealer i thought my alternator. fried my batterys

&it was still under worrenty. thay said there was nothing wrong with the charging system.

thay replaced my batterys & for $438. 00it was fixed i could have saved at least $200. 00 & fixed it my self.

 

[MChessick]

My 03 was built in December of 02 and I still have the original batteries after many New England winters and 211k miles later.



Pitcru

 

[MillerR]

All original still in my '03. 8+ years and 135k miles. Haven't noticed any issues...

 

[Bater]

OEM Batteries Replaced at 34 Months, 61000 miles

Today I replaced both batteries in my '08 3500 6. 7L, 61000 miles, truck is about 34 months old. I bought two Interstate C65-XHDs at the regional warehouse so they would be fresh. While it's nice to have the engine spin over quickly again, it's a shame I had to go out of pocket due to such a short factory battery life.



Background:



For about the last eight months I had been having problems with the batteries going flat if the truck sat for more than a few days. When last I manually charged the OEM batteries I noticed one was pretty weak, even after careful charging. This afternoon when I pulled them out of the truck that battery was pretty much toast. I suspect it had been drawing down the other battery for some time. (Had been through the truck's current draw fuse by fuse with an ammeter after one of the times the batteries went flat, did not find anything awry. )



Oh I should mention that I put a solar charger on the dash for the last few months, but it was probably only of psychological benefit!

 

[MJMcCrady]

2002 still original

2002 with 207,000 miles and still running the original batteries...

 

[CRuth]

Just replaced mine. Made it eight years but after leaving the freezer on overnight I had to jump it with the Jeep. I forgot just how fast it turns over with fresh batteries.

 

[madmanmanick]

I changed out my stock batteries on my 01 in Jan 2010 and my truck had 100,000 miles on it. Could have waited a lot longer cause they were still holding good charge, but had battery acid coming out of one of the terminals on the passenger side battery.