Life of original battery - Page 3

Pavilion · #31 (**permalink**) 06-28-2007, 06:01 PM

My experience is batteries have no predetermined life span. I have had new batteries expire in as little as 23 months, and on a 1996 4Runner, the battery was still fine when I sold it in 2004. And the vehicle was used and garaged in the hot central valley of California.

RobXS · #32 (**permalink**) 06-28-2007, 08:39 PM

Batteries two biggest enemies are extreme heat and cold. Batteries in cars that are in the south and the north will see the shortest life spans. They actually make batteries based on climates. If you get a battery in the north and move to Florida, chances are it will fail prematurely.

FYI, Interstates and Die Hard golds (there was a period of time that they were made by AC Delco) are both made by Johnson Controls. There really are only 3 battery companies in the US. Johnson Control, AC Delco, and Exide. They make pretty much every battery you will find. I personally would never buy an Exide made battery.

LifeTech · #33 (**permalink**) 06-29-2007, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pavilion

My experience is batteries have no predetermined life span. I have had new batteries expire in as little as 23 months, and on a 1996 4Runner, the battery was still fine when I sold it in 2004. And the vehicle was used and garaged in the hot central valley of California.

Re. the Panasonic OE batteries, They are warranted for 3 years 36K only because it is part of the whole vehicle warranty which includes all the vehicle components. Toyota needs the OE battery to last at least 3 years to cover their butts. And for the most part the OE batts. do good in this regard.

Unless yu get the dealer to honor the warranty for the battery,(free) I would not purchase any Toyota Dealer Replacement battery. They are not the OE batteries. They are domestic produced and traditionally don't last for crap. I.E Toyota TRUE START Batteries. Stay away, unless it is given free of charge.

Gebo · #34 (**permalink**) 07-11-2007, 06:47 AM

I guess I'm "lucky" cause I only purchase the Toyota 84 month batteries and have yet for one of the 3 I've purchased to fail. Now I must add that the longest one running is in my '98 LS 400 and it was installed in 2002.

TRSMAN · #35 (**permalink**) 07-20-2007, 06:47 PM

01 Highlander replaced at 89,000 miles 2 weeks ago. Original battery.

Ricola · #36 (**permalink**) 09-29-2007, 03:20 PM

Our 2004 LTD OEM Panasonic battery latest 3 years 52k miles and failed without warning. Jumped OK and replaced with a Costco battery.
Same thing happened with our 1988 Toyota truck bought new, after 3 years the battery went.
Don't see anything great about a Panasonic battery.

LifeTech · #37 (**permalink**) 09-30-2007, 01:37 PM

I guess yu are one of the chosen few. With bad luck.

Most of these Panasonics are workhorses with little complaints. Most honest Dealers will admit this too.

And although they are labled Maintenance free, the Panasonics, if they are checked and serviced and filled with distilled water as needed and most importantly NEVER DEEP cycled, they will go better than 5+ years.

But, I always reccommend a new battery every 5 years anyway for peace of mind.

Everyone, has different driving habits and vehicles are used in different climates. Hot weather is a battery's nemesis in my opinion and I feel Sealed Cell TRUE Maintenance Free type designs are better than open cell(refillable) batteries in hot regions.

BTW, automotive batteries are regionally designed for either Hot climate areas or Cold climate areas depending where yu purchase your battery or vehicle when it is new.
Say, yu buy a replacement battery in Southern Texas on your summer vacation trip, but yu live in the northern States (cold region, that battery will not last as long as it should and vice versa; if yu purchased a battery in the Northeast cold region and yu live year round in southern states, that battery will also fail prematurely. Battery MFRs. build them like this. And I experienced this first hand years past. It all has to do with Cold cranking Amp Capacity designed with specific anticipated ambient temp. conditions .

I could go on and on about battery technology....

Enough blab from me.

LT

bepperb · #38 (**permalink**) 01-23-2008, 10:00 AM

I still have the original Panasonic in my 04. Still started at -10f (-23c) Sunday with no problems at all, though I use synthetic oil which I find helps the starting at these temps. Hope to get another two years, but after five or six years and it's not worth the worry.

LifeTech · #39 (**permalink**) 01-23-2008, 07:56 PM

Synthetic Oil reduces the CCA's (Cold cranking Amps) load required of a battery when cold starting an engine in single digit temp environments.

Just one of the many benefits of SYN.

LT

MattJB · #40 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 10:00 AM

Our '01 HL has 135K miles and the OEM Panasonic battery. I'm religious about watching electrolyte level, using distilled water, never overfilling, keeping terminals clean, and running a trickle charger (yes, the kind used for motorcycles) when the HL is not run regularly. I should mention that until recently we used the HL for trips, that is, turn the engine on, drive 300+ miles, and turn the engine off. Then repeat. That helps with battery longevity. One day I'll change to either an Interstate or an Optima. I'm still researching the Optima and am interested in it primarily for longevity and the usually very cold-weather starts (-20F) in Northern VT and Canada where Mobil 1 helps, too. If we remove the added expense of the Optima from the discussion, does anyone have any take on the Optima for this application?

LifeTech · #41 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 03:47 PM

MattJB,
7+ years on a Panasonic...I believe yu set the record on this OE battery.

I always said they are great batteries.

And yu know how to care and feed it too. That is the secret.

From what I have gathered on the Optima's, they were well known as deep cycle batteries originally and loved to get depleted and charged. That was the original intended design. Used in this fashion they are very dependable.

Double check your selection and make sure yu don't get this design. They make for all types of applications. A cars battery doesn't get deep cycled for the most part and yu may run into problems if yu try using a deep cycle type battery( as used in RV's and Boats) in a car/truck as it's primary starting battery.

Verify what I'm saying here as true. Do some research first. Optimas are very expensive. Their construction is second to none. But, overpriced if yu ask me. At least for use in a car as a primary battery.
Personally I like a top of the line Interstate. My only preference is Interstate since I cannot find a Factory Installed OE Panasonic Battery anymore when yu need to replace the original one.

LT

MattJB · #42 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LifeTech

From what I have gathered on the Optima's, they were well known as deep cycle batteries originally and loved to get depleted and charged. That was the original intended design. Used in this fashion they are very dependable.

Yes, LT, you are right on the money regarding deep cycle design of the original Optima. Although it appears the red top design would work as an SLI (starting, lights, ignition) battery, the yellow-top design is more of the deep cycle design you mentioned. And, no, I don't have a plasma screen in my HL. Honest.

Here's the Optima URL for interested readers: Truck & SUV: Find Your Optima

After more research here's the AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery I'll end up with... The DieHard Platinum series. Expensive? Yep. Warranty? A 4-year free replacement/100-month prorated limited warranty. Yep, that's better than all the rest. The DieHard Platinum is a compressed, flat plate design, unlike the spiral design of the Optima. Reviewers in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and other warmer climes love the Platinum because with their heat the warranty can't be beat, and owners of big-block collector cars rave about them because of the 135 minutes of reserve capacity and 880 CCA measured at zero degrees F. Hey, that might not be all that bad for starting and thawing my HL at sub-zero temperatures either. So I went to the store with my handy meter. It tested at 12.89 volts at the store. Oh, and that consumer group we hear so much about just gave it a 91/100 rating - their highest of any battery they tested. Here's the URL:
Buy Craftsman Tools | Fitness Equipment | Kenmore Home Appliances | Lawn & Garden Equipment | Sears.com - Where It All Begins
Type "DieHard Platinum" on the search line and happy reading to you.
Hmmmm. Just maybe.... I think I've found my next battery. Now I just have to wait until my '01 OEM battery is laid to rest.
MattJB

CoyoteAZ · #43 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 01:56 PM

Just thought I'd share. 01 Tundra 4x4 -- OEM battery is getting replaced today. It still works fine, however it's started to leak acid.

Truck has about 90k on it... in the past year and a half I've put 25k miles on it.

LifeTech · #44 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattJB

Yes, LT, you are right on the money regarding deep cycle design of the original Optima. Although it appears the red top design would work as an SLI (starting, lights, ignition) battery, the yellow-top design is more of the deep cycle design you mentioned. And, no, I don't have a plasma screen in my HL. Honest.

Here's the Optima URL for interested readers: Truck & SUV: Find Your Optima

After more research here's the AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery I'll end up with... The DieHard Platinum series. Expensive? Yep. Warranty? A 4-year free replacement/100-month prorated limited warranty. Yep, that's better than all the rest. The DieHard Platinum is a compressed, flat plate design, unlike the spiral design of the Optima. Reviewers in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and other warmer climes love the Platinum because with their heat the warranty can't be beat, and owners of big-block collector cars rave about them because of the 135 minutes of reserve capacity and 880 CCA measured at zero degrees F. Hey, that might not be all that bad for starting and thawing my HL at sub-zero temperatures either. So I went to the store with my handy meter. It tested at 12.89 volts at the store. Oh, and that consumer group we hear so much about just gave it a 91/100 rating - their highest of any battery they tested. Here's the URL:
Buy Craftsman Tools | Fitness Equipment | Kenmore Home Appliances | Lawn & Garden Equipment | Sears.com - Where It All Begins
Type "DieHard Platinum" on the search line and happy reading to you.
Hmmmm. Just maybe.... I think I've found my next battery. Now I just have to wait until my '01 OEM battery is laid to rest.
MattJB

Just found this.

Die Hard Platinum problems: - FSC Forum

Food for thought Regarding the Diehard Platinum.

I never buy any universal type battery that employs BOTH top mounts AND side mounts in ONE package. Many problems. The universal design is a way to make a one size fits all battery cheaply. This Diehard Platinum is very expensive too at $189.

If my car has top mounts, then I want top mounts ONLY on my battery. I don't need or want side mounts there too. They are a liability waiting to happen. The same holds true if yu have a OE side mount batt. and now yu have a new batt. with two additinal top mounts posts when yu don't need them there.

Also, I never buy a battery thats older than 3-4 months sitting on the shelf. Check the date code. I always check the voltage before I buy. Some older stock gets dishcharged far below 12.5-12.8. I don't want this from a new battery. This will be a problem battery down the road or not last as long as it should. Always buy from fresh stock... a place that sells alot of batteries in your Group size. Most TOYS I believe are Group 35 (Top Mount) + on left side.

AGM batts like the Optima's Red Top($141), dollar for dollar don't have the higher CCA's that standard LA batts have by design.

BTW, The Diehard Plat. and Optima Red top are not as similar.

I like my Interstate batts...
LT

cnold · #45 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008, 10:29 PM

As always, our moderator is correct. Some but not all Die Hard and Interstate batteries are made by Johnson Controls. The following is a partial list of batteries made by JC:

Motorcraft®
Sears Die Hard Gold
Auto Zone (Duralast Gold)
Eveready
Everstart (Wal-Mart
Interstate Mega-Tron
Toyota (TrueStart)
Mitsubishi (Diamond Car Care)
Mazda
Advance Auto (Autocraft Titanium)
Costco (Kirkland Signature)
Pep Boys (ProStart & Energizer)
Johnson also makes the Optima brand

The Delco battery that came in my 2001 Tacoma lasted over sever years. The Johnson Controls made battery that came in my '05 Tundra lasted three years. That would not be remarkable except that it was the first of five Toyota OEM batteries that didn't live to the ripe old age of seven years. The other three were Land Cruisers that came with Japanese made batteries.