Mike H. II Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 Five years ago my 5 year-old factory original battery (group 48 600CCA) failed without warning. I never had any problems or warning, never left lights on or ran it down, it just went to 10V an hour after I had just used the car. Strange, but oh well. I bought another factory battery from the dealer (I'm an OEM stickler), then later read many stories about how these batteries suddenly fail at a young age for a well cared for battery.Today, my second five-year-old battery suddenly failed without warning. I went to restart the car after stopping for 10 minutes and it's flat dead, unable to even click the starter solenoid, measuring 10V. Yes, I carry a multimeter with me.I had heard about their reputation too late after I had bought another one so I took especially good care of it. I actually opened the vent caps a few times a year to verify the levels were good, and I never once ran it down. The car is driven daily and kept in a garage. It suddenly dying was a huge nuisance, but not a big deal - I was near home, during daytime, nice weather, so I took a couple hours personal time and bought another battery.All I'm getting at here is if anybody out there, especially in cold areas, has a Volvo brand battery in their car about 5 years old - consider replacing it at your convience sometime soon. Sunday night in the snow would have been a very different situation. Its the only 2 times my 850 ever failed to start or drive in over 10 years./end rant.Mike H. II '93 854GLT '03 Honda Odyssey EX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenn850 Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 That is about an average life you can get out of these batteries. I always bought Autozone battery and lasted about 5-6 years (Duralast $54). The last ime one let me down was in the carwash next to Autozone!! :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsat Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 I don't think I would complain about a battery lasting 5 years. That is right in the average life of a typical battery.If you are buying it at the dealer then you are paying a higher price for an average battery.To me the Dealer is great when a car is under warranty and they are paying for it. As soon as it is out of warranty then I do the work myself or take it to a reputable shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike H. II Posted November 19, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 Its not so much the age as the way they fail. No sluggish starting or fading away at all - just a sudden total deadness.And I've always gotten a lot more life out of my other batteries than 5 years. I'm surprised thats pretty normal.Mike H. II '93 854GLT '03 Honda Odyssey EX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DashingDaryl Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 I call that Superior engineering; when you can design a 60 Month Battery that lasts exactly 5 years. From what you say in your email, it sounds like it has a timer on it and then stops exactly at the 5 year limit.I'm just kidding of course. I live in Hot as Heck Arizona, and our batteries (Expensive or Cheap) only last 2 years Max. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeachRat Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 I call that Superior engineering; when you can design a 60 Month Battery that lasts exactly 5 years. From what you say in your email, it sounds like it has a timer on it and then stops exactly at the 5 year limit.I'm just kidding of course. I live in Hot as Heck Arizona, and our batteries (Expensive or Cheap) only last 2 years Max.←I'll vouch for that, 5 years isn't bad. I do agree it sucks to have it go on you while you're at work or shopping or whatever. I have an optima battery (one of the six-pack style) and I like it a lot, but I think they cost a bit more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAzOR Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 Have you checked the charging system? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike H. II Posted November 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2004 The charging seems fine, about 14V, the battery usually sits about 12.7V at rest until the moment it craps out with some sort of internal short. Its a strong cranking battery until sudden death, whereas I've had maybe the previous 6 batteries in my life fade away with gradually less capacity after 8+ years.The new spiral cells seem like the ticket but they haven't made them in Group 47 or 48 that I could find.Mike H. II '93 854GLT '03 Honda Odyssey EX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_R Posted November 20, 2004 Report Share Posted November 20, 2004 Most of my batteries seem to die without warning these days. My wife pulled into the Post Office. 2 mins later, nothing. Dead battery. 5 years is good, just get a decent AutoZone/Pep Boys/Kragen/DieHard and hope for the best. Maybe one of those with the extra cell for dead battery starting. I forget what they're called right now but they have a switch on them that connects the extra cell so you can get one or 2 extra starts. -Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nebor Posted November 20, 2004 Report Share Posted November 20, 2004 5 years is great for a battery. I don't know why you'd expect more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bay13 Posted November 20, 2004 Report Share Posted November 20, 2004 The new spiral cells seem like the ticket but they haven't made them in Group 47 or 48 that I could find.I have an Optima red, bought at CostCo $100. I think it's 720CCA. Front to back fit is OK, left to right the Red top is a bit short, I just made a hold down to keep it in snug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdiedrich Posted November 20, 2004 Report Share Posted November 20, 2004 It must be the heavier load on newer cars and all the electro gizmos. The 85 244 went 11 years and 10 months before failure. Several of us had a contest and maybe the Volvos just steped it up a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike H. II Posted November 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2004 It really wasn't a gripe thread about a 5 year life, although I've had much better luck before the last 2 batteries. Its just the "sudden death" 10 minutes after a normal use that caught me by surprise again. Looks like I have a new preventative maintenance item now. My replacement was an Exide group 47 600CCA with a 2-year free replacement warranty and 7 year pro-rated warranty for only $39. In a hurry - no time to shop around but wow that's cheap. I think they know the spiral cells are on the way. There's one in my future in a couple years.I also noticed that the only other guy that had a battery more than five years is in the same neck of the woods as me. Could be something about central PA weather.Mike H. II '93 854GLT '03 Honda Odyssey EX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sp5368 Posted November 21, 2004 Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 Well I took your advice and replaced my battery today it was the original factory battery eight years on it and didn't want to be stranded somewhere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike H. II Posted November 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 I may have unfairly singled out the Volvo battery, but from the sounds of it after eight years it served you well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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