How long does a Battery last?

john432

With this cold weather starter motor is slow in turning over.
So, how long would you expect a car battery to last?

scotsbob

So many variables. I have owned many cars of different makes and models, new and used. Have kept most cars for 3 - 5 years and have never, ever, had to replace a battery. I also lived in the Highlands of Scotland for some years and it doesn't get much colder in the UK.

One tip in a manual car is to depress the clutch when starting, it reduces the load slightly.

You can buy a small gauge, from a motor accessory shop, that plugs into your cigarette lighter and it gives a readout of how your battery is charging and how healthy it is.

bungle4by4

impossible to say, but it sounds like yours is at the end of its useful life.

Joe_Horner

If it hasn't suffered real abuse and is just starting to show signs of being tired, check the electrolyte level! Just because most (all???) batteries now are sold as "sealed for life" or "maintenance free" doesn't mean they won't benefit from an occasional bit of old-style maintenance!

You may have to remove glued-on cell covers to do so, which isn't something everyone will be comfortable doing, but a bottle of deionised water is a lot cheaper than a battery, especially if you're not certain it's the battery at fault!

poppasmurf_bewdley

I've just had to replace the battery on my kids' 2000 'W' Astra. The original battery has therefore lasted eleven and a half years, which isn't bad.

rdwarr

(Length of Warranty) + (1 week) is normally a good approximation.

Harry_Flashman

Try dropping an asipirin in each cell - sounds odd, but it does rejuvenate a tired battery.

pendulum

I'd expect a car battery to last minimum of 5 years, I'd hope for 10 really.

But I think what you meant was, how long will it last now that it's only managing to turn the engine over slowly... that is anyones guess TBH. I'd guess weeks or months. Check the battery terminals for corrosion and make sure its not just a bad connection! If you only do short journeys in winter it could just be short of charge rather than failing.

pogofish

I've found about four or five years, to be the best time to change a battery in any vehicle I've had. Leave it longer and you risk being let down in cold weather. Smaller/more heavily loaded batteries on motorcycles I would change even earlier - Around three to four years.

Never trust gauges or even garage tests - I've also had batteries seem to charge fully or be passed as perfectly good, only to fail completely in a frost just a few days later.

j2009

Agree with previous poster that battery test can be a little unreliable - however I would pop along to halfords and get them to do a test (you don't have to buy the battery from them). You will at least have something else to judge whether the battery is good or not.

The main dealer told me my battery was dead with 0% health (oddly still started the car though!). Halfords told me (got it checked at two different stores) that it was fine. This was two months ago and it's still going strong and was happy enough being sat in the alps for a week.

It also saves you money on the cigarette style volt meter ones - which in my opinion are a waste of time and money.

cyclonebri1

Yep just get it changed.

I've had replacements last a year, and I've had originals still fine at 10 years old.
Just how long is a piece of string;)