Dumb Battery Question

[zzdocxx]

Hi All,

I can't remember when I replaced the battery in my 2017 TRD Off Road.

I installed an Odyssey Extreme ODX AGM34R, I guess it was 3 or 4 years ago because it was when the original battery gave out.

No idea how or why, but I left my keys in the ignition and partly turned on, overnight, stupid!

AAA just came and jumped me so I will let it charge up for a while.

But it brought to mind a question: How long are batteries supposed to last these days? As I recall, they used to have a so many month label on them, eg. 36 months, 48 months, etc.

But I am not finding any info like that.

So what's the deal ?

Thanks ! ! !

:yo:

PS should I start a separate thread about recommended jump starters? Strangely I was just looking them up yesterday, while having a conversation with my housekeeper, because her 2012 Accord needs a jump.

 

[spartacus]

Hi All,

I can't remember when I replaced the battery in my 2017 TRD Off Road.

I installed an Odyssey Extreme ODX AGM34R, I guess it was 3 or 4 years ago because it was when the original battery gave out.

No idea how or why, but I left my keys in the ignition and partly turned on, overnight, stupid!

AAA just came and jumped me so I will let it charge up for a while.

But it brought to mind a question: How long are batteries supposed to last these days? As I recall, they used to have a so many month label on them, eg. 36 months, 48 months, etc.

But I am not finding any info like that.

So what's the deal ?

Thanks ! ! !

:yo:

PS should I start a separate thread about recommended jump starters? Strangely I was just looking them up yesterday, while having a conversation with my housekeeper, because her 2012 Accord needs a jump.

AAA and a Housekeeper! The Aristocrats, it's a joke. Optima batteries last 4 to six years and it should be fine once it's charged. AFA the Accord goes. Ask Jeeves?

 

[AuSeeker]

https://www.odysseybattery.com/wp-c...ery-general-product-limited-warranty_0523.pdf

 

[gordonp]

Hi All,

But it brought to mind a question: How long are batteries supposed to last these days? As I recall, they used to have a so many month label on them, eg. 36 months, 48 months, etc..

I had a Suzuki Grand Vitara (until 20yrs old). I put an Odyssey battery into it, and only got 2yrs of life!! Same with the warranty replacement.

Two short-lived batteries made me curious - why? I learned and decided that my stock alternator was under-charging the AGM battery. I chose to add a NOCO battery tender, selected AGM mode, and battery life sky-rocketed. Of course I had to plug it in every night, but living in Canada I enjoyed the block heater and also the interior-heater :canada:

These days, I see adding a diode is all the rage and it seems like a great idea: it will boost your charge-voltage by around 0.7V which should then be just about ideal for AGM:

[69][4K] Odyssey AGM Battery and GM DIODE Mod for higher Voltage for Proper Charge

Food for thought for you...

 

[Humble Leader]

I've always had 5+ years with toyota batteries. except for one strange instance where it lasted one year. I went offroading when it was pretty cold out (below freezing) and was splashing through some deeper water. I think some got around the battery. I got home and the battery died that night. tested it, below 12.6V. ok so I bought a new battery, took the old one out, tested it again the next day, 12.6V. ???? I didn't charge it or anything. now I have a second almost brand new battery in my garage. anyone have any ideas as to what happened - did the cold water splashing around the battery freeze it / reduce the current somehow?

 

[fkheath]

I've always had 5+ years with toyota batteries. except for one strange instance where it lasted one year. I went offroading when it was pretty cold out (below freezing) and was splashing through some deeper water. I think some got around the battery. I got home and the battery died that night. tested it, below 12.6V. ok so I bought a new battery, took the old one out, tested it again the next day, 12.6V. ???? I didn't charge it or anything. now I have a second almost brand new battery in my garage. anyone have any ideas as to what happened - did the cold water splashing around the battery freeze it / reduce the current somehow?

How much "below 12.6V" on first test? Anything over 12.0 volts would be considered OK. Perhaps the interior lights were on (doors open), the headlights were on, car in accessory mode, etc.

 

[kenwilliams0803]

My last odyssey in my Wrangler lasted me 8 years before I replaced it due to age only. It was still working ok. Fantastic batteries.

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[kenwilliams0803]

I had a Suzuki Grand Vitara (until 20yrs old). I put an Odyssey battery into it, and only got 2yrs of life!! Same with the warranty replacement.



Two short-lived batteries made me curious - why? I learned and decided that my stock alternator was under-charging the AGM battery. I chose to add a NOCO battery tender, selected AGM mode, and battery life sky-rocketed. Of course I had to plug it in every night, but living in Canada I enjoyed the block heater and also the interior-heater :canada:



These days, I see adding a diode is all the rage and it seems like a great idea: it will boost your charge-voltage by around 0.7V which should then be just about ideal for AGM:



[69][4K] Odyssey AGM Battery and GM DIODE Mod for higher Voltage for Proper Charge



Food for thought for you...

Arclight voltage booster works great for us.

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[ArthurKotb]

Batteries are affected by temperature. The lower the temp, the lower the charge will be at 100%. Anything below a 50% charge is a deep cycle and can damage the battery.

The life of a lead-acid battery is impacted by several things, starting with the quality of the battery. My '04 V8 came with a group 27 Panasonic (You can't get these in the US for some reason). I still have that battery and it still holds a 75% charge after almost 21 years, although I swapped it out after 12 years. I've had other Toyota brand batteries (Interstate) that died in 3 years or lasted 8+ (The replacement for the Panasonic in my T4R. Two batteries in 21 years.).

Batteries are either for starting or providing electrical power over a period of time, like an RV, travel trailer, bass boat trolling motor, etc. Cars need starting power; a lot of available amps for a short period (starting the engine) This is an ignition battery. Power over a long period of time is typically a low amp draw. These are deep cycle batteries.

A 'cycle' is how far down you draw a battery before recharging. A starting battery gives up a lot of power when starting but that power is almost immediately replaced by the alternator. That's a short cycle. A trolling motor battery on a bass boat will pull amps over hours without a recharge. This is a deep cycle. Deep cycle batteries are built for this. Ignition batteries aren't. They're built to provide that high-amp kick and deep cycling it will shorten its life. Let a car sit for 3 weeks at a time without starting or using a battery tender and you've deep cycled it. Sit and listen to the car stereo with a large amplifier and big speakers for a couple hours and you've deep cycled the battery.

Another thing that will shorten the life of a lead-acid battery is to let the water get low and not cover the plates. AGM batteries are completely sealed, so it's unlikely they will lose water. Non-AGM batteries, even "maintenance free" batteries, can lose water, especially if the charger isn't working properly. The charger will just boil all the water out it.

So a number of things can impact the life of a battery. One thing I've learned is to keep them charged. Boats are notorious for being battery graveyards. Owners park them in the fall and then wonder why the battery is dead in the spring. Something that impacted my wife's car was when we went on an extended vacation for 3 months. Her almost new battery was stone dead.

In my boat I added an onboard charger. It provides 3 independent 15 amp charges for the 3 batteries. I put it on a timer for 20 minutes every morning and afternoon, to simulate driving a car to-from work. On the wife's car, when we go on long trips, I put a timed charger on her battery; works wonders. I have 5 spare batteries in my garage, all on a timed charger.

Buy a quality brand battery, do the maintenance and they'll last you a long time.

 

[1000MPH]

Yeah those original Panasonics were good. I bought a $45 Topdon battery tester that has been surprisingly accurate. On the five batteries I’ve used it on, Honda, Costco or Walmart basic replacements, it’s been showing about 8-10% degradation per year. Also shows that my newest battery lost 40% charge sitting for three weeks.
Unless this tester is showing my battery is in excellent health, I’m planning on a 5 year replacement cycle from now on.

 

[ArthurKotb]

There are parasitic drains on the battery so 3 weeks and a 40% drain is high but not unusual. The radio uses power to maintain all your personal and station settings. The car itself has other drains for things it keeps track of. If possible, it's best to plug it up to a battery tender of some sort, a good one. You don't want a trickle charge. You want it to shut off completely when it reaches full charge.

I've had good luck with the Toyota brand of battery as well as Deka and Duracell (made by Deka). I have tried the big box store brands of battery and they just don't last very long.

 

[Humble Leader]

How much "below 12.6V" on first test? Anything over 12.0 volts would be considered OK. Perhaps the interior lights were on (doors open), the headlights were on, car in accessory mode, etc.

it tested at 11.3 volts and wouldn't start the vehicle. maybe a door wasn't fully closed. no idea never figured it out! I thought maybe since I found some cold frozen-ish muddy water in the battery tray that it froze and weakened the battery. when the battery warmed up it was OK

 

[ArthurKotb]

Anything below about 12.3 volts won't have enough amperage to start your car. Harbor Freight sells a battery load tester that will tell you the strength of the battery under a load. I have this one and it does a nice job, simple to use, $20.
Battery Load Tester

To test a battery to see if it will hold a charge, charge it up according to the battery charger's instructions. When turned it's off the battery will be 12.7 -> 13.1 volts DC. Let the battery sit for 2 hours, then check the voltage again. If it falls to below 12.5 it's not holding its charge and probably has 1 or more bad plates.

Taking the battery down to 11.3 is very deep cycle and most likely has severely damaged the battery. It would depend on it's quality and age to say for sure how much of an impact, but its life is definitely shortened.

When batteries are fully charged they won't freeze until it's below -76°F. A discharged battery will freeze at 32°F. Electrolyte is 25% sulfuric acid, 75% water. When fully charged those 2 mix but when discharged they don't and the water will freeze, cracking the case and damaging plates. If you attempt to charge a frozen battery it will explode and spray acid. Any water outside the battery won't have an impact on water inside the battery.

 

[johnnygraphic]

I use a Battery Tender Jr on my BMW which sits an awful lot. I also keep a battery jump starter in each car along with a tire inflator.

I’ve heard good things about the NoCo brand of battery jump starters. They’re among the more expensive ones.


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