12v Automobile Battery

[DADoES]

What's the typical service life nowadays of the subject item? I've always heard three to five years. Have there been any advances in battery technology or automobile power management that increases it?

 

[cfz2882]

I think the premium AGM batts last better,but cost almost twice as a regular flooded cell-I have an AGM in my '82 Chevy and it is still strong at about 7yrs. I'd say 3 yrs is short life,but 5 is typical. I had a Delco battery i bought in 1987 last 13 years and original Ford Motorcraft batts,1993 and 1996, each also made it to 13 years

 

[petek]

On my 2015 subie I got just shy of 5 yrs and on his 2016 subie he got over the 5 yr mark but had to have a few jump starts till he finally gave in. One of my bike batteries barely lasted two summers and the next one, from Walmart, has been good now for over 5. . I recall reading in CR years back that batteries are manufactured for different regions in the US,, southern vs northern climates but it's not really an advertised thing, heat being the biggest factor in battery failures.

 

[foraloysius]

The first battery in my Smart lasted 10 years.

 

[gizmo]

My Golf still has its original battery, now over 8 years old. The battery is a Varta AGM.

The car has start-stop technology, a few people told me when it was new that start-stop was stupid because it would wear out battery and starter motor in short time.
Well 8 yrs 140000km both still perfect... And the fuel economy is amazing, partly due to the stop-start.

 

[qsd-dan]

I've heard batteries of late don't have much of a lifespan. Unsure if it's planned obsolescence kicked into overdrive or what the deal it. It could be cost cutting but the price have batteries of gone up significantly in the last few years so that doesn't make any sense unless greed is now at an all time high in the battery industry.

The longest lasting battery I'm aware of was a buddy who put a marine battery in his truck that lasted 24 years before conking out. Since those type of batteries are designed for large swings in charging/discharging, I guess they hold up better. Not the best option if one lives in very cold weather though as they don't have the cold cranking amps of traditional auto batteries but fine in warmer climates. The longest life I got out of a 12v battery was 13 years.

 

[philcobendixduo]

I replaced the AGM battery in my 2018 Buick after 6 years just for good measure.
The car sat on the lot for 6 months before being sold which was probably bad for the battery.
In addition, I took a 3 week trip overseas in 2022 and when I returned, the battery in the Buick was dead.
After getting a jump start from AAA, the battery continued to "work" but I have found that 6 years is about as long as batteries last in my cars.
Today's cars are hard on batteries because they are always using power for various electronics.
I now have a battery tender so that if I'm not using the car for an extended time, the battery will stay "topped up".

 

[vacerator]

Aren't some automotive voltage systems 24 or even 48 volts now? Saturday I was getting Ford app alerts that my accessory powers was disabled to conserve battery life and to drive for a 25 mile round trip without A/C, or audio on to charge the battery. It worked. Too may short trips and not enough driving. New vehicle in Feb. of 2024 with only 6,500 miles now.

 

[DADoES]

I brought up the question because I recently changed the battery in my car. It was the original, 11 years 6 months to the day. It had been exhibiting some symptoms for a while, usually after a few days of non-use, such as the courtesy lights not staying on as long as usual upon exiting and the power seat occasionally being erratic. The car came up completely dead after a full week of non-use. I recharged it but it wasn't holding very well per checking the voltage over the next few days with a couple short trips to town.

It does many engine stops/restarts and has plenty of electronics, being a hybrid, but presumably the hybrid-ity also contributes to the long service life? I got a Super Start brand from O'Reilly Auto Parts instead of an OEM Motorcraft ... remains to be seen if that was a mistake in the long-term.

 

[qsd-dan]

Aren't some automotive voltage systems 24 or even 48 volts now?

I know the industry was talking about going to a 24 volt systems 30 years ago as the modern electronics were starting to tax the 12v design back then. Maybe LED lights took enough load off the design in the early 2000's. I haven't seen a 24 volt system yet nor a 24 volt battery at an automotive store but they may be on higher end vehicles.

 

[william8]

In my experience, automotive batteries last a lot longer than they used to, usually more than twice as long.

My 2009 Camry's original battery was replaced when it turned 9 years old. It was still working fine, but my wife also had a 2009 Camry, and her battery was swelling/bulging badly (yet still working!). So when I replaced hers, I did mine too, just from paranoia.

Although they were both branded "Toyota", hers was an Exide. Mine was made by Johnson Controls. The replacements will be 8 years old in a couple weeks, and are still working fine. They're Walmart "Maxx" batteries, also made by Johnson Controls. I wouldn't hesitate to buy them there again. We sold her car in July to a coworker of hers, and she got her Mom's 2019 Honda H-RV. The original 7 year old battery is still working fine on that car as well.

The most important thing when replacing a battery is to get a fresh one. They don't like to sit unused. Both the batteries we got in November 2017, had an 11/17 manufacture date sticker. They were about 2 weeks old.

 

[petek]

Good point about the date of manufacture, same with tires.

 

[johnb300m]

There’s some major issues lately with 12v batteries made after COVID times, especially in Hybrid/electric vehicles, or both.
It’s some kind of enshitification of the battery manufacturing, or the materials, or a combo of poor automobile programming.
My Jeep battery died under OEM warranty. That’s a first! And I’ve heard lots more of those happening the last few years.
I used to get a good 8yrs from batteries in the past, even in the upper Midwest tundra.
Not anymore.

 

[william8]

There’s some major issues lately with 12v batteries made after COVID times, especially in Hybrid/electric vehicles, or both.
It’s some kind of enshitification of the battery manufacturing, or the materials, or a combo of poor automobile programming.
My Jeep battery died under OEM warranty. That’s a first! And I’ve heard lots more of those happening the last few years.
I used to get a good 8yrs from batteries in the past, even in the upper Midwest tundra.
Not anymore.

Jeeps are selling incredibly slow/poor. Could it be it sat unused on the lot too long? Just a thought.

And I've never seen a 12v hybrid system battery.

 

[vacerator]

Our Ford app is again sending a low battery notice. Still under warranty. Calling for service.

 

[jamiel]

Jeeps are selling incredibly slow/poor. Could it be it sat unused on the lot too long? Just a thought.

And I've never seen a 12v hybrid system battery.

the distinction is that although the hybrid battery is high voltage, all hybrids and EVs also have a 12v battery (to save the car manufacturers having to re-engineer equipment like horns/lights/etc

 

[william8]

the distinction is that although the hybrid battery is high voltage, all hybrids and EVs also have a 12v battery (to save the car manufacturers having to re-engineer equipment like horns/lights/etc

I know, that's why I stated "hybrid system battery". He did say both.

Sitting on the lots for years.

 

[jrap330]

I brought up the question because I recently changed the battery in my car. It was the original, 11 years 6 months to the day. It had been exhibiting some symptoms for a while, usually after a few days of non-use, such as the courtesy lights not staying on as long as usual upon exiting and the power seat occasionally being erratic. The car came up completely dead after a full week of non-use. I recharged it but it wasn't holding very well per checking the voltage over the next few days with a couple short trips to town.

It does many engine stops/restarts and has plenty of electronics, being a hybrid, but presumably the hybrid-ity also contributes to the long service life? I got a Super Start brand from O'Reilly Auto Parts instead of an OEM Motorcraft ... remains to be seen if that was a mistake in the long-term.

Can you explain your thought process in waiting 11 years to replace a battery ?

 

[DADoES]

Can you explain your thought process in waiting 11 years to replace a battery ?

I took the car for years to the dealer for a yearly all-points checkup/oil change. The instances, as the years progressed, when I specifically asked about the 12v battery being the original, their response always was "It's good. Those batteries last forever in hybrids."

Original and replacement.

 

[jrap330]

Thanks, that is amazing still.

 

[DADoES]

The HV battery pack is in the trunk, behind the rear seats.

 

[maytag85]

I think one of the reasons why batteries don’t last as long is the computer and various electronics are always pulling power albeit a very small amount. After awhile, it depletes and degrades the battery.

Not sure how long batteries lasted in the 60’s and 70’s, but I’m sure it was a heck of a lot longer since there weren’t many, if any electronics at all which would drain the battery slowly. Once the key was off, power usage was zero.