should car battery still be replaced in 5 years if not driven frequently?
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
should car battery still be replaced in 5 years if not driven frequently?
if a car is not driven frequently, will a battery still need to be replaced in the typical 5 years even though the battery has less wear and tear than a daily driver's?
#4
Lexus Fanatic
I think the size of the battery really makes a difference, the LX battery we have is always done at the Toyota dealer in Rochester NY and they use a pretty large battery.
Perhaps the quality of the vehicle design and how it charges the battery might make a big difference as well.
#5
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (2)
What is infrequently?I have a car that gets driven maybe once a week on the weekends. The battery lasted 7 years before needing to be replaced. I would think if you drove your car less than that, you would. If you can, get a battery trickle charger. On the other hand, 5 years is pretty much within normal lifespan of a car battery anyway.
#6
Racer
Thread Starter
once or twice a week, short distance. a few miles.
I'm still using the original battery from 2007.
However, a few times the battery drained too low because of car electronics slowly draining it.
I'm still using the original battery from 2007.
However, a few times the battery drained too low because of car electronics slowly draining it.
#7
Lexus Champion
That's 8 years, not 5. Personally, after 8 years, I'd just go and get it replaced. Nothing screws up your day like a car that won't start. The last time that happened to me, I had the entire family with me, and had to wait an hour for AAA.
Trending Topics
#8
Lexus Fanatic
I always replaced batteries every 3-4 years when I drove cars that long as a preemptive measure. Batteries are cheap, why not replace them routinely to avoid being stranded somewhere?
#9
Lexus Fanatic
I personally would like to see alternator/charging and oil-pressure gauges made standard in all new vehicles by regulation, but there's no sign of that happening any time soon.
#10
Lexus Fanatic
I don't have an issue with cars not having these gauges. People have no idea what they're looking at...
#11
Lexus Fanatic
I'm not saying it's a bad idea to change the battery every 3-4 years as a precaution...it certainly isn't (and $80 or so usually won't break most people). But many batteries, if the alternator doesn't crap out, can go a lot longer than that (the longest I've seen is about 7 years). The old Sears DieHard and Exide batteries used to have a lifetime warranty on failing to hold a charge, though I think that the lifetime part on them has recently been cut back.
Last edited by mmarshall; 05-18-15 at 01:36 PM.
#12
Lexus Fanatic
I'm not worried about driving schools teaching people to read oil pressure or battery gauges...I want them to actually teach people to drive which they aren't doing now.
#13
Lexus Fanatic
Oh, I agree....they should be teaching both, like they did when I got my license. Today, for too many people,"driving" means rolling down the street while reading the newspaper, drying one's hair, using an electric razor, texting, playing video games, eating breakfast, trying to adjust the I-Drive/MMI, etc......everything but actually watching the road.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
diamondmit
GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005)
17
04-02-09 02:17 PM