When Should You Replace Your Vehicle's Battery?
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
- On this community episode of Saturday Mechanic Ben and Russ tackle the question of when you should replace your vehicle's battery.
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Batteries are generally discrete failure modes. They work one day. They're dead the next. This is because they're getting their charging capacity from a chemical reaction. Once the chemical reaction ends, dead. Also, the primary point of a car battery is to start the car. Once started, your battery pretty much just sits there absorbing charge while your engine provides power to all the electronics. This is another reason why you might not notice any signs of failure if you aren't actually testing the battery.
Oh, and a dead battery probably won't fry the electronics. It kind of sounds like the mechanics are trying to scare her into doing the right thing (at least that's my feeling considering her "everything works fine" comments).
superjawes A battery low on charge won’t damage any electronics but a battery that’s overcharged can. If you notice your alternator is charging the battery way over 15 volts then that’s not good
but if a battery's failing, shudnt u get a warning sign IN ADVANCE on the dash? Also, since the battery absorbs charge once the ignition kicks in, shudnt this absorbed-chg keep the battery perpetually charged? pls advise.
My oem battery failed in 3 years
My OEM battery last 6 and half years. Car battery is like AA battery. It constantly on, keeping electronics, headlight, air conditioning working when needed. Over time, car battery lose voltage. There is currently no warning system on dashboard. Change car battery when it’s 5 years and keep those self jump starter handy just in case.
Autozone Tests your battery for Free.
I live in a climate where the temperatures range from -30 to +30 (Celsius of course) and my battery has been running trouble-free for over 5 years now. I have a family member who has been running the same battery for 11 years now under the same massive temperature differences between winter and summer. I really don't buy into the changing your battery as preventative maintenance. I say wait until it dies, if it even does die!
Some OEM batteries are bad from the get go and some last forever. just really depends. The tester does a pretty accurate job on telling you overall battery health.
6 years!!!! That's a long life for a battery. Here in California 3 1/2 to 4 years
Exactly!!!
I've only had one battery give a warning it was getting weak. one day it turned over slow but still started. I drove straight to Big Box store and purchased a new one. The difference was immediately apparent.
Hello Ben and Russ! I was on the used car and i finally got a car! I got a Chevy Cavalier manual.
If you were to test this theory by connecting and reconnecting the voltage to a running engine (with computer etc. attached) , you will cause a failure somewhere in the system eventually. There aren't just memories in computers , there are "controllers" , which rely upon the memory stored. But , if the memory keeps updating or being reset etc. this can damage the controller - in turn , this disconnects other computer relied upon sensors etc. Yes you can damage your computer with a bad battery
this method doesnt work with the volts-they are not the ones starting the car its the cold cranking amps which do that job.
i've had a battery on 12V on a cold ass winter -20C-but it did not start...
took it in my house-took the battery from one car i had in my garage-put it in the car which did not start
and it ran.
before even thinking about charging the 12V battery-i put it back in the car when it was warm inside my house for 10 hours.
next morning it was still around -18C. the car started
but then it drained-i bought a charger when my car was running because i thought well even if it doesnt start i will charge it somewhere...
turns out my cheap battery charged displays battery life and it had 1 bar out of 3 health bars.
so even a simple 25$ dollar charger can 100% confirm the cause of why the hell doesnt the car start at -18C
Lol my parents had their original BMW battery that was 10 years old. It was time to change it out once the car kept saying the trunk was open and the interior lights wouldnt come on.
Mine is 7 years old still running as she said. The other day the mechanics suggested to replace it.still thinking about how to save that 150 bucks lol
Me too. I think she might have crossed over the line and can be labeled as rude. I feel sorry for the service advisor who has to deal with her. Geez lady, just change your battery and be done with it.
Yeah, i don’t see where she was rude. You might’ve been a little over sensitive 9 years ago. Nothing wrong with wanting to get a second opinion on something you don’t know about and that’s all she did.
As the battery ages it does funny stuff to the car....including the dash, dim lights, headlights, flickering of the odometer, etc. These are harmless but an indication that the battery is at the end of its life. It would be smart to change it then before it leaves you stranded somewhere. The idea that its starting fine is not a reason not to change it. Everything has a life and you can get lucky by getting longer than normal life out of it. But be safe and smart and change it. It's a really easy job and you can save yourself a few bucks by doing it yourself.
Mohammed Rahman, + You are exactly correct Bro, they will start doing funny things, Save yourself that HEADACHE - -, ALSO, have them check out the Charging System (ALTERNATOR), as well...
I have triple AAA roadside assistance so I'm never worried.
@@senorculo6216 you can still be late to work
Just replaced mine yesterday's on a Mazda cx 5, initially 6 years old battery.
Was struggling to start at first, mainly 2 sec after keeping the start button down
Today the clock on my 14 Silverado changed time all by itself. The radio did some strange things too. I'm getting my battery checked.
As suggested , batteries are only "good" for approx. 5-7 years - because what's most important is the condition of the inner plates , which make up each cell , and each cell's fluid mixture. Being say : 7 years old , the plates will be corroded (less charge hold) , the mixture will be deluted (via adding distilled or other water) , and further damage to the battery will have been occurring in the latter years because the voltage regulator and alternator cannot function at peak while it's worn.
Good question / good answers 👍🏽
but 168 for 6 years of a battery, thats sounds like a pretty awesome trade off. Batteries down where i live last about 2-3 years max because of pretty cold winters and very hot summers. And the batteries that i purchase are name brand batteries.
I've got a 2007 Pontiac G5 (going on 6 years old) with the original battery. I can't imagine changing it any time soon.
ever had to rechg it?
@@ivornworrell Wow, old thread! I sold the car after 8 years and don't recall ever having to change the battery. I did get it checked on my 60,000 mile service. I have a 2009 Pontiac G8 that does need a new battery every few years, but that's because it sits still most winters and just slowly drains away.
This lady is crazy!! I would never let my battery go 6 years before replacing it. My car Toyota Corolla will be 3 years old next March and i will replace it then. I am 66 years old and i had rather be safe than sorry.
sandra hudgins good theory. Wish you'd give me your old one though. I would run that another 3 or 4
If you are the type of person who will sit in your car and listen to the radio , leave the lights on for any abnormal period - or this sort of thing , your battery will need to be replaced much earlier. And you will find out how good your battery is , when and if you give someone else's car a boost (while their battery is dead or faulty). Yours will start having problems about a week or so later. This isn't because of errors in boosting , it is because your battery was further worn by it.
Just changed my battery in my 2012 Ford Fiesta, 8 years old and to be fair it was still going just fine, however recently noticed some sluggish starts, and winter is coming, also its my daily, so for the sake of £70, just replaced it!
That Ferguson guy is talking as if the lady knows what he's talking about. But I like how they use metaphors to try to help her understand. It sure helped me lol
I changed my battery after 6 years and it’s like my truck is on steroids. Quick start up and no more flickering LEDs.
"Me and my buddy Rus"
My buddy Rus and I . . .
Allesandro Volta invented the "battery" , hense the term "voltage" was derived from that invention. He places 2 different types of metal side by side , and introduced a mixture of 36% sulphuric acid and 64% water between them. Due to the chemical reaction between the 2 different types of plates , a voltage is created. So... when the plates are corroded to a point where there is hardly any area undamaged or worn , you can see this will cause a problem. Even though you measure , or it works.
Good episode idea
I've got an AGM battery that is 9-1/2 years old and last week took 1 second to crank and start my car at -10F.....Maybe next winter.
My BMW battery is going on 15 years......
hey ,if anyone else is searching for recondition lead acid batteries try Battery Recovery Tactics ( battery.RecoveryTactics.com ) ? Ive heard some amazing things about it and my partner got amazing results with it.
wow, & i thought the avg. life-span of a battery was about 3-yrs! whether or not u run the car, bcz the battery discharges current even when the engine's off.i wonder what brand of battery YOU hav?
Change it
but as soon as the engine is running, you would always have at least 13V if the alternator is good.
Car batteries are usually a source of many electronics problems within any vehicle due to the fact that they are comprised of (6) 2 volt cells connected together inside the casings. If any cell , or more importantly - if all of the cell's plates are corroded , you can lose proper voltage of any kind (0) - plus this is exactly what causes a no-recharge or holding of a charge condition/s. Very much so they can do damage to the memories of computer components because of a "shutting off condition"
My Ac delco battery read 10.78 when I took my vehicle in to the shop I was told it had a dead cell so I had replaced with a Champion Battery my question is are Champion Battery any good? My car is an 2018 Chevrolet Impala Premier 3.6l V6
Mine died in the first year O_o ( '08 Taurus); outside temperatures are typically between 25 - 45 degrees Celsius.
My battery is 4 years old, but I noticed is leaking acid from top, is that normal or should I replace it now?
Keeps running good
I went to autozone today and was shocked that the batteries cost 100-120 for my accord. I bought a new off a guy for 60. My battery started acting funny lately. Month ago, I left the lights on for less than two min and the battery couldn't start the car. Today, I went to start my car and the alarm went on by itself when I tried to start so I decided to change my batt. The batt was dated 2006. That's not bad.
I will change my battery whenever I get tired of push starting it or if I forget my jumper cables :).
well whaddabout if the battery just wont take the current nomore from the jumpercable?
Great video guys..
This helped, thanks.
I have a leather interior any recommendations for maintaining the leather and its color, its light grayish white.
Sears Die Hard Platinum. Best battery you can buy, and the same price the dealership is charging you. I just wait until it dies. How do you know how much life you're really going to get out of it?
Saturday Mechanic was released on Saturday then a few months later...friday. then a few months later thursday...
She says the dealer says there is alot of things wrong with a Toyota? It should go 200,000 miles with very little problems. My 94 Corolla is fine at 210,000 miles. Only repars are what any car needs. It can be 30 below zero and it starts right up always. I do replace my battery at 5 years and new one is about $100. I change my oil at 4,000 miles and have used synthetic oil.
When I get a new Alternator should I get a new battery as well?
Dallas Webb Still waiting for that answer after a year?
Dallas Webb, If the battery was fully charged before starting the vehicle with the new alternator, it should be fine. However, I would have the battery load tested. The alternator may have reduced the life of the battery depending on how long it has not been providing a proper charge output. Be sure to load test the battery to be on the safe side.
fwh79 At last someone has answered their question,i hope the car hasn't being lying up that long.
Paul Dunne- Yeah me too! It seems like sooner or later every questions gets an answer on CZcams. This one was definitely a bit later though!
My 96 Chevy impala ss had original Acdelco battery from 96 boy it finally died on April of 2012 amazing all those years it lasted
in the summer highs exceed 110-120 dgrees then add underhood temps, batteries just don't last that long in californias imperial valley desert.
Step one, do NOT go to one of those quick oil change places
In Phoenix our Batteries last about two years
Batteries are unpredictable wear parts some good, some bad it all depends on usage and manufacturing. Being CHEAP will cost a lot in long run. And I am not saying pay astromical amount to dealer there are many places that can test them and change them if it's a bad battery to new one at reasonable prices. Better to change a battery than destroy the alternator, starter or other wear and tear. Factory Toyota battery lasted me 10 years, it still works and starts even in very cold weather however now there are gremlins signs, computers acting up, central locking system, e power steering and many other signs. That's pushing it to the limits. All this started to happen after I left the car without turning off interior lights and car was left parked for a like a week. Once battery drains completely it will have a toll on a battery that goes for almost all batteries. Store sold batteries will not last long because they were made so that every couple of years people keep replacing/buying them, mostly overpriced junk batteries that don't last long. Nowadays battery prices are outrageous as everything else these days compared to people's earnings.
I let my battteries die before replacing them. last one was really old and dying for ages. Just kept jumps, and finally a battery booster pack.
I got my 2013 ford f150 in 2013 its now 2018 i done have issues yet but should i change it this year?
I would change after 4 or 5 yrs I have a Silverado 2013 I believe its still has its original battery, but God willing iam goin to buy a new one this spring or summer for sure, not taking any chances to get standed somewhere, best to be safe than sorry, you'll be glad you did. it happened to me once with a nice care I had and batter was few to several yrs old and it falied on me, it was the battery, just be on the safe side, good luck.
Its called upselling..
how about gel batteries?
a bad battery CAN damage your alternator, that's what happened to me. I've since educated myself on my car's electrical and charging system but at the time i really did not know. my battery was even presumably tested during all my oil changes and other maintenance and was not warned about needing a replacement..it was 5 year old original car battery..thinking back there was definitely plenty of warning just by how the car was starting and acting but that's what i get for being ignorant, had i replaced it before the failure i may not have burned out my alternator- i was told my failing battery eventually burned out my alternator. looking up common problems with my 2011 dodge avenger others have mentioned the alternator so maybe it was destined to fail anyways.
can i charge and discharge the battery at the same given time using an alternator/generator ???????
you do that every time you drive-
Have you driven it much at all ?
I notice my headlights going dim to bright as I'm driving my car and the engine idols up and down as I stop. Do I need a new battery
Ken Jackson Probably your alternator
my battery was tested and read 50% . . . the guy said I needed another one straight away.
My Intrepid is À 2002 and still has the original battery...
I dislike videos with Russ in. At first he was quite funny, but now, especially in these Q + As, he just interupts and takes over, in my opinion. I think one presenter alone is needed for all but the most advanced work/video.
There are some transmissions that require more than 10.5 volts. If the transmission doesn't have this voltage, you will be stuck with reverse and first gear. Besides that I have a road side service with my car insurance, so I would rather run a battery down to nothing before replacing it.
Why not spend that kind of money on an Optima? That being said, some cars have their battery buried in the engine bay, requiring removal of other parts to FOM. So, since I dont own a Yaris, who knows if 168$ is "reasonable"? If anyone here has a Yaris, I'm curious as to where the battery is located...
Just buy a highly rated battery and install it yourself or have your husband/son/whatever do it. Save $100
sirdiealot53 bit pointless over power battery won’t make much difference as the computer will only take the max amps needed
Where do you guys get these people? I can't imagine them being from CZcams, they seem way too educated.
and those are the words of a true rookie.
160 bucks for a yaris battery, unless it is a start/stop one, is a ripoff. A battery of that size should cost no more than 80 bucks and it takes 10 minutes to replace it.
She drives a lot! Hers is an 07 and it already has more miles than my 99...
easy. when it dont start. you then drive to the car parts store. and replace it, oops. you cant drive... ahahahah. you are doomed
It's my daily driver, so yes.
my 2001 Mercedes e-class wagon is still on the original OEM VARTA high-capacity battery. That's nearly 13 years and 155k miles. I know its original because it says 10/2000 on it. A 5 year old OEM battery should not need replacement, unless the Germans do a better job then the Japanese. (actually my battery was made in Spain)
you sir, are the one that doesn't understand the situation.
1. she is at a "Car DEALER" and sure pricing is on the higher end there.
2. you have no idea what kind of warranty comes with the battery she will be getting, so $168 for a good battery, with a good warranty, and with labor to install the new battery, all included in that price might no be that bad of a deal.
Hmm
"sir" is CAB DRIVER with couple cars,couple battery,2-car dealers and couple hundreds miles behind me and belive me i really understand the situation.in this case labor to install is 100$ for 5-10min job!!!
When should you replace your mechanic?
I would not change a battery that was starting the car. I swapped a battery in my truck it was 12 years old. Factory original. That being said I just swapped one that was getting weak that was 6.5 yrs. Don't throw away good batteries
Okay. But when being idle over the weekend makes it weak at starting come Monday, you've got a possible battery issue. Sure, test for high drainage current and alternator problems. But if these are ruled out you should got to replace the old battery. Personally, my cars always sounded better after a battery change and I think trying to start on a weak battery won't do a starter motor, fuel system or spark plugs much good. I regret recently nursing a 12 year old battery (only 50,000 miles) through another year of torment. Another thing of course is the *brand of battery* that you choose. Here in Europe I always go with a Varta battery. (The automotive battery part of Varta AG is now owned by US company Johnson Controls, a company that knows a good bit about electrical automotive components) The only time a Varta battery lets me down is when I ask far too much of it.
the best results that i've had was by using the Magic Mender Wizard (just google it) definately the best info i've followed.
Tell her to go to Auto Zone,Advance,O Reilleys,etc.,and let them test the battery,and then pay half that price for a new battery with as good as,if not better warranty than the stealerships battery will have,plus they will give her less grief,less headache if their battery ever does have any issues unlike the stealerships deny,deny,deny,blame the customer......
What a cheap fuck just put a fresh battery in the car treat your cAr right and it loves you back!
I agree she should change battery but shop around for better price.
Hey guys, Im guessing here, but the $168 comes from the battery and the labor. They probably have minimum one hour charge at probably $65 and up an hour. Sure if your a little mechanically inclined, let the battery die, but I doubt this lady wants to pop the hood and change a battery. Or even jump start a car.
I literally just changed my battery in my ten year old truck for the first time yesterday...
ever had 2rechg it during the 10yrs warranty?
168 dollars for a tiny Toyota Yaris battery?? Your Dealer is RIPPING you OFF...as they often do!! Pay half that at a trustworthy garage.
$168 is too much for a battery go to Costco, Walmart, or something like that. $168 for an AGM battery is a good price (ie OPtima)
lightningsmokerXx Plus install it your self it’s so easy and save some money on labor
160 for a battery for a yaris. Lmfao
So you're telling me you should wait 'till there's a problem and you're stranded somewhere with a car that won't start?
*
While I do think the lady in the video is probably being "taken" a bit by her stealership...waiting until there's a "problem" is not the correct approach to maintenance on your vehicle.
Does she have roadside assistance? Then don't worry about it--keep driving until the battery craps out.
You know...I bought 2 remanufactured Interstate batteries for my 7.3 diesel for $55.00 each and they are awesome for the price! I am a junk yard rat now...LOL!
when it will not hold a charge.
What??? I remember the old days when you let the battery die before you replace it.
She seems like she'd drive a fucking terrible Yaris.
or drive a manual
Wow, they are getting ridiculous life out of their batteries. My original Nissan battery died at five years. Very hot climate. Left me stranded, knew it was going just before - thought I had one more day - NOT.
Mine is 14 years old and still working fine (car starts every time).
That $250.00 battery you buy it each and every year.
she needs to go to autozone
She should learn how to change the battery herself. It will save her money in the long run.
You're
@willdatrill2007 Thats epic hahaha :D
OMG OH NO she asked about her radio 'IM NOT GONNA GO THEREEEEE!' geeeze.. guy has never owned a modern radio obviously...
Toyota owners are spoiled...Not used to anything going wrong. My Avalon is bulletproof.
"Let me just ask you a question..."
the guy with the glasses its fockin rude and should be fired !
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