Batteries

How long should they last? When should I replace one?

My truck is a 07 with 34K. Coming into winter and wondering if I should go replace it?

Edit: Original battery in truck now.

 

get it tested.. if its not bad i wouldnt repalce it.. but it if shows any kind of weakness when they test it then it will probably go bad really shortly.. but its really humid down here so im not sure how the weather will differ the lifetime.. ive had one in mine for almost 3 years and never had a problem and im running 4 6 inch kc lights with it every weekend for long periods of time

 

get a new one when it dies.

 

That's what I'm trying to avoid

 

well then buy one and throw it in your back seat or something

 

Mine lasted 4.5 yrs before it started lagging on start up. So I just replaced it with a Odyssey Drycell PC-1500. Amazing battery!

 

get a optima yellow top.. youll never kill it.

 

I just feel like a 3 year battery coming into a harsher winter than the truck has ever experienced (from MD to Upstate NY) might be the need for a new battery.

But I don't know and this thread hasn't swung me to either side yet

 

2nd that on the Optima yellow-top. Those batteries just keep on kicking.. when my alternator went out in one of my cars, it was STILL running when the battery was at 6.5 Volts...

 

Ithaca is gorges!

 

I would get it tested to make sure its not lagging. I had mine two years (60k) and it died on me. Luckily I was at home. There as no warning either just up and died.

 

Hahaha... Where in NY are you?

I have a personal shirt that says... Ithaca is cold.

They make others like..
Ithaca is your mom.
Ithaca is liberal.
Ithaca is blank.

 

Check these out guys.

 

Quality certainly varies from battery to battery. For instance, I bought my '05 Tacoma used from a Chevy dealer. They did me the "favor" of putting a new AC Delco battery in there. It lasted just under 2 years before it had a dead cell. Total garbage.

Now...on my Audi, I've had the same Interstate MT-90 battery in there for 8 years. No problems. At least with the battery. (There's no such thing as a problem-free Audi.

Guess what kind of battery went in the Tacoma when the AC Delco died? Interstate. There are lots of other good brands too. But some really suck.

 

LOL!!!

 

Many people are in this phase of taco life with colder weather coming on. My '06 Taco with 50k miles still cranks well when cold (had some 5 degree F mornings here already) and is the original battery. My experience is when you hear a lag or grunting when starting in the cold after not running the vehicle for a while, it is time to replace the battery. Don't milk a weak battery though. It will get you in the end. The original OEM batteries are pretty good and should last at least three or four years.

 

Lolligaggers!! If you want that optima just go buy the damn thing and stop pretending you need excuses.

Or if you are serious , then maybe the green l.e.d. on top could tell you if its dying.

 

I've been replacing OEM batteries with Everstarts from Walmart. Inexpensive compared to others, but more importantly, replaceable anywhere there is a Walmart. When my kids went out of town, they had Everstart batteries in their vehicles and I knew they would have easy access to a warranty replacement if needed. Same with their tires. Whenever they suffered a starting problem or had a flat and called for advice, I'd tell them to go to Walmart, show their receipt and get the battery/tire replaced.

My experience with Everstarts is that they last their rated life and not much more. However, I work my truck batteries heavily in the winter with an electric hydraulic plow and weak batteries are readily noticeable. I don't see why an Everstart shouldn't last well beyond its rated life under normal use.

Save your money by purchasing the inexpensive battery with a warranty that will be usable when you're not at school, and invest your savings in AAA for the jumps starts, lock-outs and likely tow jobs that accompany the Ithaca winters and insane hillside roads. A hundred dollar battery can't pull you out out of a snow bank or slim-jim your door.

 

Wow, that's very good advice!!! I agree

 

Exactly which model did you get? Also what hold down did you use? I can't decide which one I want, but I do want more than just two terminals, so I can put some extra wires on there, such as the one from my HID's.

OP did you end up getting a new battery?