12V Battery's Life Expectancy

Thank you so much. Appreciate the tip!

 

Another great, tip. Thank you!

 

My 2012 Camry still has the original factory battery after 10 1/2 years. Car is garage kept and with battery in the trunk it really never gets very hot. I check it often and it’s just now starting to degrade. Most importantly it has never been discharged after leaving lights on etc.
I plan on replacing this year with another “original” Toyota brand battery. Don’t skimp on electrical components…like buying after market or 3rd party products.
They may work at the start, but won’t last long!

 

9 year old 12v battery?...I purchased a 2004 Gen 2 Prius in Feb '21 w/ only about 62k miles on it. I have been driving it just about daily since then. It appears that the 12v battery has a date code of "130917W" which to my understanding means it was manufactured in 09/17/2013. Using the self-diagnostic test via the Prius diagnostic screen / signs inputs it still reads 12.7. The guy I bought it from was the 2nd owner, and he got the car with only 19k miles on it just a few years earlier. Also kind of a "car guy" so it may be entirely possible that he either refreshed the battery himself and/or had it done somewhere. Otherwise, I have a 12v battery that is greater than 9 years old and still working fine. I do however plan to replace it soon as I often drive through 50-70 mile stretches of places you would not want to be stranded in, and sometimes even further.

 

My first battery died after 8+ years. The 2nd one is only 7y old. There is no clear cut for how long 12v battary last.
If we drive regularly and it never drops below 12V, the lead battery is happy. Sulphation starts at around 12V and definitely below 11.8 V and it is irreversible. The capacity lost is permanent even if it is just 1 time.
The key is never let the battery drop too low and it may last more than 10y. No need to waste money, $150 is not cheap. For precaution, just get a $60 junp starter eith Li battery and charge it at 50% to extend the Li battery life not 100%.

 

I'm almost convinced by this "past me". Still, since both me and my wife retired, the last 6~7 years, and then with COVID, our car use has dropped. Currently only about 3K kms per year. At first I'd be looking for excuses to drive, to "keep the battery up". Then started thinking about it; didn't make a lot of sense.

So instead, having the car in a garage with 120 volt AC, I got serious about charging regimen, went with an appropriate smart charger, and wired in the quick-connect harness supplied with the charger. Now our car will often sit for a week or more, and the charger is always on during the downtimes. When we do drive I try to consolidate driving chores, get the most out of it, and get it fully warmed up.

So anyway, last battery install for me was September of 2015, still testing like new.

 

Yes, a quick connect for people who rarely drive is the best solution. Mendel trick on the fuse box is great but I do not have a gut to do it yet because I still drive it daily. I wire the quick connect to the battery in the trunk instead and the trunk still can be close meanwhile charging. Fortunately I have outlet on both corners in the garage. I found the voltage after full charge after surface charge is removed is about 12.8V and without external charging, I often find 12.3-12.5 V after 30 minutes drive.

 

Back in the day, when I had my "toy" cars sitting in the garage, I kept the battery on a trickle charger. But, in all my years of driving, I replaced the 12v battery at the 5 year mark. Did this with my 2015 Prius. The two times I didn't nearly ruined my marriage. Lesson learned.

 

I have a tacklife jump starter that always works for any cars and full size truck. I charge it at 70% and only need recharge every other year from 50 to 70%. Changing 12V battery every year will not guarantee that you may need jump stater either.
So, getting $70 good jump starter is the best solution and never worry that my 7 or 9 years old auxiliary battery die at any time.
I think it can last more than 10y if we drive regularly and park in garage.

 

An AGM battery is different than a regular acid battery, they charge differently.

 

I am talking about the. Jump starter Li battery, charged to 70% only for make it last long. Not 100%. Any Lead base battery is happy when at 100% full charge as long as possible

 

I think 7 years is the max I got on the OEM battery. Of course, leaving a door ajar killed it overnight.

 

On prius, i always get at least 8 years, 200k miles in FL and I have no garage. Now I have a garage and the battery is still really good even after 7 years. The voltage never drop below 11.7V in ACC mode.