When to replace the battery?

Like stated above, I drive on it till it doesn’t start anymore. Then I jump it with the above booster and take it to get replaced.

 

Every battery I've ever had die on me either just up and shit the bed, or gave me one slow warning start.

 

Thanks - making me think hard about following your suggestion. Do you buy Walmarts best or another grade ? Thanks for any reply.

 

Lots has to do with the quality of the battery. I got 14 years out of a red top optima, before they were bought by Johnson controls. Then only 3 out of a newer yellow top.

I do a starter voltage drop test to determine a batteries health. Pretty simple with a decent multimeter, google it.

When I got my Tacoma last June, the battery had a 2011 date on it, but was passing testing. Then a couple weeks ago I had the hood open, tested it, failed. So I went with a Interstate megaton plus 27f. I considered a AGM, but decided against it this time.

 

6 years. Id say you got your monies worth. My OEM battery from 2018 lasted barely two years.

 

I don’t get anything special. I just get a regular Walmart 27 series battery. Same with Costco batteries.All have lasted 5 years at which time I replace them. Long ago I’d wait for the battery to fail before I’d replace it. Every time they failed it was always at the worst possible time and a pain in the ass.

 

Replace it. Like others stated you had a good run with it.

Get a battery with a warranty (do most come with warranty?) I used to get mine from Costco they have warranty but they started dying out on me way too fast. I’d get a replacement and same thing. Finally I went to Napa 5yr warranty this battery been way better, dare I say stronger? and for me Napa is much easier and faster I hate dealing w Walmart or Costco.

 

At 6 years old and it showing signs of losing power, I'd replace it. It's time and they are cheap.

 

At 5 years I just replaced mine with a Walmart platinum. The original battery is running its second life powering lights in my garden sheds off a solar panel. If it dies its no big deal.

 

As they said it's in the window to replace it. I see you are in VA. IF you held on to it through summer it would probably work. But would definitely get it out before temps get cold again late fall/winter.

I do carry a battery jumper pack though.

 

That explains it!

 

Oh those Virginia state inspections. Ya brings back memories. My father moved our family there in the mid seventies. Being Japanese, we could have had green skin with antennae out our skulls and gotten fewer strange looks.

The final inspection on the family car, dude shorted it 1 month on our departure date. My father asked he please make it one more month, I could see it in his eyes, thinking f*** them jap*.

Regarding your battery, beyond 5 years, you got your money’s worth out of it, replace it. Or test it at least once a month until it fails.

Battery testers, lots of choices. I bought one of the 500 amp carbon pile load testers. It will test a battery, and fail everything except a brand new battery. So I only use it to test alternators. I use the starter voltage drop test with a multimeter that has peak high and low feature.

 

I replace at the first slow crank because it means I am a week from failure.

 

Sounds like everyone gets walmart or costco batteries here. I'm still on a DieHard Platinum. The first one wouldn't hold a charge after a year but the warrantied replacement has been solid since. I realize I need a new one later this year. What other brands are people going w/?

 

Don’t waste money on red top batteries. They are overpriced and no better than a basic diehard. In many cases a sub $100 battery will outlast a red top.