Battery replacement - do you wait until it does not work?

[DonCamote]

Guys,

Question naman on your battery replacement - do you wait until the battery stops working before replacing it? or replace na kayo in a fixed duration (say around the expiration of warranty)?

Is there a way to determine if a battery is nearing replacement? Most of my previous replacements have no prior symptoms - car just does not start anymore.

Thanks in advance

[Mile2]

If you are using maintenance free battery, there's no way to determine physically the condition of your plates. They just really die out without symptom even if was still under warranty per my experience.

I had last month a 6 year old Outlast Battery (MF) that I had replaced even if it was still very strong because I don't want it to just die on me while I parked some places.

[meledson]

Most cars are not equiped with volt meter and ammeter so there is no way to verify that the battery is dying.

Once the batteryis nearing it's end of warranty or you feel that is is about to die on you, you can go to any battery shop to have the battery diagnosed. They have a device that will place a "fixed load" on the battery and measure the voltage. The voltage reading will tell if the battery is good, about to die, or dead.

An old school way to get the charge level of each cell. They have a big syringe that has a glass tube in side. the tube floats on the electrolyte (that was sucked from the battery) and indicates the level of charge of a cell. This is a way to check which cell are good or bad.

During my 35K PMS, I was informed by toyota shaw that my battery voltage is low. It will have to be replaced soon. Since one start andar na makina, sabi ko wag na muna. (walang budget pa) less than 3 months after, umaga, ayaw na mag start. at least nasa garahe lang ako ng nagyari ito.

[Picard]

It really depends. Some car batteries last up to 5-7 years, some 2 years lang talaga. Kaya mahirap sabihin kung kailan dapat replace. But afaik, 2 years ang standard life expectancy ng battery lalo na yung mga maintenance free. Mas nagtatagal yung mga low maintenance batteries (distilled water-refillable)...i think.

If you live where a battery dealer is accessible, sulitin mo na yung battery mo hanggang mamatay. Otherwise, it may be more practical to have it replaced in a fixed duration, sayang nga lang kung malakas pa ang battery.

Pwede kang pumunta sa suking auto battery dealer para ipacheck ang battery mo kung ok pa ang charge/discharge cycles.

[HardCharger]

Based on experience, you can pretty much tell if your battery is going south on you. (multiple cranks to start as opposed to just one click start, weaker headlights, etc.)

When you start to notice these symptoms, you can either have your battery checked to see how long it's still got or you can just get yourself a new one if you can afford it.

Better safe than sorry right?

[ghosthunter]

You can have the battery tested at your battery's dealer before the warranty expires (like a month before). It might sound like a hassle, it is actually not. It might also save your ass from getting stranded on the side of the road.

[_Qwerty_]

yung battery ko.. mga 1 month bago ko pinalitan.. napapansin ko, napapadalas na ako maglagay nang distilled water, parang mabilis na matuyo yung water.. tapos 2 weeks bago ko palitan.. naka experience na ako nang hard starting.. then finally nung nagpa PMS ako sa casa.. ayaw na nya mag start talaga.. so yun nagpadeliver na ako nang bagong battery..

stock battery lasted me 15 months only.. hindi maintenance free yun.. hopefully tong motolite gold will last me more than that... at least i dont have to worry for the next 21 months.. kasi under warranty naman..

[The Big Ticket]

yung battery ko.. mga 1 month bago ko pinalitan.. napapansin ko, napapadalas na ako maglagay nang distilled water, parang mabilis na matuyo yung water.. tapos 2 weeks bago ko palitan.. naka experience na ako nang hard starting.. then finally nung nagpa PMS ako sa casa.. ayaw na nya mag start talaga.. so yun nagpadeliver na ako nang bagong battery..

stock battery lasted me 15 months only.. hindi maintenance free yun.. hopefully tong motolite gold will last me more than that... at least i dont have to worry for the next 21 months.. kasi under warranty naman..

why distilled water? i've always known it as battery solution

[XTO]

my XTO's stock motolite excel is still working since nov. '01. really.

these previous threads could help


http://tsikot.yehey.com/forums/showt...hlight=battery

http://tsikot.yehey.com/forums/showt...hlight=battery

http://tsikot.yehey.com/forums/showt...hlight=battery

[oj88]

Since I am in Metro Manila 99% of the time, I'll just wait for it to conk out, or at least wait for tell tale signs of it dying. Gives me reason to avail the roadside assistance available to me through the comprehensive insurance. :D