Battery - when to change it?

[IK13]

2005 V6 Sport 4wd with 90K. Last time I was at the dealer they tested the battery and listed 491 actual cold crank amps. I'm the second owner of the car, but given the fact, that the battery is Panasonic (which is oem, but I'm told the dealers don't sell), I believe it's the original. What I'm not sure whether to believe is the dealer test, but that's another story.

Assuming the battery does only produce 491. How bad really is that?
I've always changed batteries after I've experienced a problem. To this day, I've had none, the car had always started, without any trouble or hesitation. If it wasn't for a vacation trip up the mountain later this week, I wouldn't give it a second thought.

While on that note - the manual talks about color indicators to judge the battery health. Where the heck are they? Anyone care to post a picture?

 

[t4r4life]

honestly on a long trip its always good to bring a starter pack fully charged that way even if your truck battery dies you'll always have back up, and its great just to have when you are out on the road to help others.

 

[cfranck1]

The battery new was probably 600CCA, so 491 isn't too bad. But being 6 years old, and if your worried about it, just change the battery out. For the $100.00+ it's cheap insurance. Plus if you live in a cold climate you, that first cold morning you go try to start it, it might not start.

If it is an original battery then it might not have an eye but
check out picture for the eye (black round thing next to positive terminal).

The problem with the eye is it only tells a small portion of the battery state.
The eye is only one of the battery acid compartments. A car battery has 6 compartments. If you look at the eye and its green, then that compartment is good but you can't tell the conditions of the other ones.

 

[IanB]

If you haven't ever had problems with it, then it's still good IMO. I might throw a charger on it overnight before you leave on your trip, just to top it up as sometimes city driving with lots of starts, and short trips doesn't allow it to get charged back up. On the other hand, your highway trip will likely accomplish the same thing.

 

[fourwd1]

Those Panasonic batteries are especially good. The best way to check it is to test the electrolyte of each cell with a hydrometer.

 

[IK13]

Indeed they are. I didn't change the battery after all, and had zero problems on the trip. The weather was really cold for the first 3 days with the nights going bellow 20F, then it warmed up quite a bit for the rest of the vacation.

 

[Presta24]

i have a 03 v8 with 107k on it, and just changed the original battery like 6mo ago

 

[cztheman64]

ive got an 87 4runner, and the battery is still good but the sticker on it says replace by 06-2008.
i probably wont replace it till it just totally dies... lol

 

[KB084RUNNER]

Those Panasonic batteries are especially good. The best way to check it is to test the electrolyte of each cell with a hydrometer.

+1 I had one in a Honda CRV last 8 years until the car was totalled.

 

[SigSense]

The original battery in my Tacoma lasted seven years, even then I would have kept it if not for lots of cold weather excursions. Now using a Optima Red Top, still good, but only three years old. If you need confidence, and the CCA is not where it should be, then get another. Ensure you look at the manufacture date on the new one, as they sometimes sit on the shelf for a few months.

 

[ClockWork]

The color indicator is in the sight window when looking at the top of the battery.

 

[IK13]

...came back across this thread while I was looking for something else...
Just wanted to mention - that original Panasonic battery I asked about - lasted over 10 years after all! Pretty darn amazing!

 

[ran]

I went ahead and changed my 2007 battery today with the True Start 84. No problems with it, could have gone further.

 

[<<<<]

I had Panasonic for 7 years in past without issues but problem with any lead acid battery is that often times those fail suddenly. I replaced my perfectly good 2013 Lead Acid Panasonic this year with AGM Northstar because this is far superior technology.

 

[yella]

If its not broken, dont fix it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SodiumFlouride]

Most batteries last about five years.

What kills them deader than dead is being left with no charge, as that makes the lead compounds insoluble.

Temperature extremes cold to hot and back can buckle the plates which makes the paste fall off them and short out the plates.

Vibration also makes the paste fall off.

Eventually they all die. Some in as little as three years.