5 year old battery - Time to replace?

You know.... Thinking back, I've never had to change a battery. I'll go out this morning and it won't start now. Murphy's law lol

 

As someone mentioned above, heat kills batteries. If you live somewhere that actually gets a winter (like NJ), your battery will likely last somewhere in that 5 - 7 year range without abuse. OP, I'd get it tested but you're probably nearing the end of the life of that battery. If you aren't running a winch or an amped sound system, you don't need anything special. Go to Costco or Sears, etc.. and get a battery. Search the battery threads, there are many good recomendations.

 

x2. I just had to replace mine, shy of the 5 year mark. Fortunately, it was in my driveway and I had access to a second vehicle, just in case.

 

If it aint broke, don't fix it. An intelligent owner would (should) be carrying a set of jumper cables. The cost of a good set of cables is less than the fee for a commercial jump, so the economic sense is there too. Use the battery up and when it dies, jump it and drive to an auto parts store. Seems simple enough.

 

Just got back from Autozone and had them do a battery test. It's putting out 13.4 V. Sounds like it's ok for now. I agree with what some of you guys said though. The battery doesn't owe me much after 5 years. I'll be on the lookout for a sale and scoop one up soon. It will give me peace of mind for sure. Thanks for the input guys.

Steve

 

5 yrs old and you noticed sluggish starting issues? It's a no brainer, replace it...

 

make sure your OEM battery is topped off. They say they are a "sealed unit" but the tops pop off real easy and you can fill the cells up with some distilled water and they should last a long time. This is why batteries in extreme heat die quick is the water evaporates from them.

 

Battery manufacturers getting cheaper. Old batteries had thicker plates, more acid storage etc. New batteries are sleeker but tend to go out easier.
Usually when my batteries go weaker is because they lose water from them. Simplest solution is to add distilled water until all plates are covered, and they are covered even when battery is at slight angle. Seal it up.
Shake it nicely and give slow full charge for all crystals to mix up. That way usually can get extra year or two from battery.

 

This/\

 

bought my 2007 used, but it still has a Toyota battery in it. Not sure if the prev owner (I'm 2nd owner) ever changed it out. It did act a little hard to start last winter a few times, I was expecting it not to last through the hot summer. Still kicking around. I was installing a new headlight bulb today and noticed some corrosion on the ground connector - I'll take it apart and clean it up this weekend once I work out where to connect my charger so I don't lose my radio memory.

 

I just changed the original battery from my 2009 two days ago. I had a few mornings in the past month where the truck didn't turn over right away and then this past weekend when it was right around freezing, I didn't think it was going to start. It was very slow to turn over and I didn't want to hear nothing the next time I tried, LOL. I figure 7 years was pretty good!

 

pfft. 5 years is just getting it broke in... mine when 9.5 years. it was only replaced after sitting for 8 months while frame waiting. i went with the toyota replacement battery... since.. well.. it was free.

 

Now you did it! :shocked:

 

Same exact thing just happened to me on my 2013!! The last day or so I thought it was cranking just a little bit slower. Come out of my kids basketball practice about an hour ago and click click click! Doh! Now to research what battery to get tomorrow. Ultra Gauge still shows 13.75V+- while im driving. Must not be holding the charge.