Should I replace a 10 year old car battery?

David28

I have an 11 reg Hyundia i10 which I keep in my garage overnight and a few weeks ago due to my grandson not shutting a door properly an interior light was left on until the battery went flat.
I managed to jump start it then went my 2 miles to get some shopping, made my wife do the shopping while I sat outside with the engine running then when I got home I put the car in the garage and put the battery on a charger overnight and the next day it started OK.
Someone, there's always someone, says that as the battery is now 10 years old I should replace it but I never have problems with the car starting because I keep it in the garage, I've still got a 10 year old can of de-icer.
At the moment my weekly mileage is about 10 miles but I've been charging the battery once a week and never  had any bother starting the car.
So should I replace the battery or not?

marlot

If it failed to start, how much would you be inconvenienced?

If not very much, you could take a chance.

If it were me, I'd change it.  Batteries are not expensive, especially if you order online (eg. Tayna) and change it yourself.  You might even get £5 for the old one if you have a generous scrapyard nearby.

AdrianC

There is no definite maximum age to a battery.
They rarely fail absolutely and completely - as they age, their capacity drops off, until it becomes inadequate. Remember, all the time a car is parked, switched off, power is being consumed - memories in ECUs and stereo, alarm, remote locking receiver.

But one thing they really don't like... being flattened. That's a great way to cause the capacity to drop off sharply.

If you need to charge the battery weekly, I'd suggest that's a great indication that the capacity is seriously borderline. If weekly charging becomes inadequate, will you simply charge more often? Every five days? Three days? Overnight? At what point will you agree that the battery's knackered...?

A new battery for an i10 is about £50.

Mickey666

AdrianC said:

There is no definite maximum age to a battery.
They rarely fail absolutely and completely - as they age, their capacity drops off, until it becomes inadequate. Remember, all the time a car is parked, switched off, power is being consumed - memories in ECUs and stereo, alarm, remote locking receiver.

But one thing they really don't like... being flattened. That's a great way to cause the capacity to drop off sharply.

If you need to charge the battery weekly, I'd suggest that's a great indication that the capacity is seriously borderline. If weekly charging becomes inadequate, will you simply charge more often? Every five days? Three days? Overnight? At what point will you agree that the battery's knackered...?

A new battery for an i10 is about £50.

I'd dispute that.  I've had a fair few batteries that have failed completely and suddenly, typically just one of the cells but it knackers the whole battery.

But I do agree with you about changing the battery.  No one can be sensibly upset about having to replace a battery after ten and this one is clearly on the way out if it needs regular charging. 

I'm probably biased because I hate unreliable cars with a vengeance and wouldn't put up with the uncertainly of a dodgy battery . . . . especially for £50 over 10 years!

m0bov

I've found they just let go. Why risk it? I change at 5 years 

Grumpy_chap

David28 said:

never  had any bother 

If you never had any bother, why spend the money unnecessarily?
Once you get back to normal level of miles (rather than lockdown miles), I doubt this battery will need any charging at all.

greyteam1959

If it fails replace it if not leave it alone.

Carrot007

IME it it starts to go from will not start the car to claiming fully charged in 10 minutes (and will start the car). Then that is the time to change it.

Happened to me recently.

Many places (wilcomotorsave it they are around you (and yours is decent) come to mind(other exist)) will do a battery health check for you (it requires equipment costing more than you would want to spend!)(read reviews first and ignore the obviously insane!).

cymruchris

greyteam1959 said:

If it fails replace it if not leave it alone.

That.....

Belenus

I'm in two minds over this as I have a not dissimilar situation with a 6 year old battery in a BMW Series1 that, due to lack of use in lockdown, has recently twice indicated a low battery warning and needed charging.

David, I won't hijack your thread with my situation so I will just suggest that you consider how much a failed battery away from home would cost you and inconvenience you compared to spending £50 on a new battery now. Sod's law says the car will fail to start far away from home in the dark and rain with nobody else around to help you. And your mobile phone battery will also be dead.

After ten years and at circa £50 I would spend the money soon but it is your decision. At worst you are spending £50 a bit earlier than you might but it is probably the last battery you will have to buy for that car unless you keep it for another 7 to 10 years.

Korkyb

I also think it depends on how long you plan to keep the car.

- If you think you might change in the next year or so then keep the one you have & cross your fingers.

- If you are going to keep it for a few years then change the battery - you will probably have to change in in a year or 2 anyway so why not do it now & get the benefit of your hard earned £50 for a few years longer.


I had a similar dilemma with regards to both my young daughters cars. Cars were between 8 & 10 years old & batteries went flat a couple of times.

I replaced both batteries - the thought of the hassle involved (for me) if they did get stuck / unable to start just didn't compare to the £47 cost of a new battery.


Obviously their safety played a part in my decision making too