Should I perform a preemptive battery change?

I don't buy warranties and think if you buy a product their warranty will cover major problems you have, but also think if someone can afford to buy a warranty and it gives them "peace of mind" then it's worth it to them. The real question isn't the cost of the warranty, but what cost is having "peace of mind". Someone might think paying for a warranty is worth every cent, while I would beg to differ, but at the end of the day it's their money.

 

No. I live in extreme conditions and put my truck thru the extremes Weather-wise. Average car batter only lasts 3years or so.

 

Well said. I agree entirely.

 

Many replace the entire vehicle every 2 - 3 years..

 

Have you ever considered the wrap/insulation someone posted here? I have seen it before and sounds like a good way to regulate the extreme temperatures.

http://www.streetsideauto.com/p/dei...edium=adword&gclid=CJTz3aCe1s4CFcZahgodZwwMsw

 

I'm over that phase

 

I have not, but will take a look at it. I just bought a pelfreybilt battery cage, so it can hold up to a group 31m battery. Should hold up longer

 

Shit I'm from Houston anything over 3 is a blessing

 

I replaced the factory battery in my 2006 in 2014, so I got 7-8 yrs without treating it any different than most folks. One thing, they like to give up without warning . . so I would wait until October or so and change it before the really nasty cold.

 

Yeah, I was hoping to buy a fresh battery and not one that has been sitting awhile, so waiting till fall would be my choice too.

 

I'm looking at placing a high quality AGM battery in the cab. Not all AGM batteries are created equal. Only a "Valve Regulated" AGM will not out-gas. Optimas BTW are NOT Valve Regulated. Some Deka and Lifeline batteries are for example the Deka 8A31DT or the Lifeline GPL-31 MT

 

I have a 2010 and had to replace my oem battery in April 2013, then had to replace that one in May 2015.... Short trips and extreme Houston heat won't let me get more than 2-3 years out of batteries

 

Have you ever considered a trickle charger and maybe wrapping your battery to lessen the heat transfer?

 

Nah too much trouble

 

Were you able to get the first replacement under warranty or did you pay for both of your replacements and may I ask what brand of battery you are using?

 

I just went to oreillys for the first battery and autozone for the second battery. At the time I was about an hour away from a dealer so I didn't feel like spending 2 hours driving for $100 battery.

 

If it's a sealed battery with no vent caps, you can lay the battery sideways or even upside down. Some cars mount the battery in the trunk for better weight distribution. Porsche Cayene has it under the driver's seat.

 

I know they make batteries specifically for the Northeastern part of the country, with extra CCA for colder climates. I wonder if they make batteries for the high temperatures in the south western part of the country, maybe designed with extra thermal insulation or other feature just for that climate?

 

lol...only on TacomaWorld can a guy ask "should I replace my battery?", a yes or no question, and get over 100 replies in 8 hours.

EDIT: oh yeah, the answer is yes.

 

Let it sit for 1 day without trickle charging then look at the voltage. If under say 12.6 I would change it. Batteries perform worse in cold but degrade in heat (hot engine bay). It may die in the winter.