I've got 1.5 to 2 yrs. on mine... That's generally what one expects (or at least used to) from a factory battery but I thought maybe ours might be better. Wouldn't start today after sitting for 2 days. It's either the battery or all those security sensors I have active pulled it down. I'm going to charge it up and then run it through a conditioning cycle and see what that does but maybe it's time for an Optima. Anyone know the size off the top of their head before I go look? I'm thinking yellow top. [Edit] It's a Magnum if that makes a difference.
it seems that these days, with all of the load new cars put on a battery, i have only ever gotten 2 years out of a battery!!!
Yea, and it's been getting REAL cold here lately -- a couple of nights ago I think it got down to like 39*
I will hit two years on Dec 22. So far so good. Maybe I need to start investigating the Optima finally. lol
Mine craped out after 1.5 yrs the reason it lasted that long was i didnt drive the car for 10 months, and that was because of Work up, deployment, injury, and recovery
on my last car it was good for 4.5 years...that was pumping a 2000watt audio system along with the rest of the normal goodies
Not much investigation to be done. Optima is THE battery in my opinion. If you don't suck a lot of juice with the motor off then get a red top. If you do and are going to be drawing the battery down a good bit between the times it gets charged up then go yellow top. Then it's just a matter of getting the right size that fits. Generally speaking (--> my understanding, which might be BS) The main application for car batteries is high current draw (cranking) for a short amount of time and then the alternater charges it right back up. With the motor running it never really gets drawn down much. Regular car batteries don't like getting drawn way down and it decreases the life a lot when you do that. If you're going to be drawing the battery down a good ways (deep cycle) then you need a battery designed for that. Lately mine has been sitting for a few days. This in itself usually doesn't take much draw since you're just keeping a very few low draw things powered like module memory, clock, etc. but I have a bunch of active sensors for the car alarm so it will pull the battery down eventually. If you're going to be sucking the battery down a good ways (half or more?) on less than rare occassions you'll probably be better off with a yellow top (like you guys running your fans for a good while with the motor off) -- designed for both deep cycle and short term heavy draw. Deep cycle batteries are designed to be able to stand up to being drawn all the way down between charges. Optima sets the bar on completely sealed (can be used and charged in the house or mounted upside down), pratically indestructable batteries. They're AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries which means that instead of having very liquid acid sloshing around in there its packed with glass mat that's saturated with the acid (gel?). Built to withstand just about any kind of vibration and used in applications like quarry trucks and earth movers. So if you're running over the grass or curbs a lot or happen to go through the tires or bounce off the wall you won't have to worry about your battery. Very reasonably priced and should last twice as long as anything else. Amazingly enough I actually saw them in the Sears automotive department next to the DieHards last time I was in there. (I think someone on here put up their Sears company discount for everyone to use).
You are correct sir. I am NO stranger to Deep Cycle batteries (Hydraulics) nor the Optima (Car Stereo). When I said investigate, I meant which local shop should I buy from. hehe The Yellow top will be my choice since I draw the battery low sitting at the track with my fan on. dahahaha
You guys are the battery KINGS! My ride is only a year old, so hopefully I will get atleast another year out of it. :future:
Batteries are a waste of money...just trade every 12 - 18 months...I havent bought a battery in years.....:thumb:
so thats the secret...:hmm: i have only had to replace 1 battery actually...and thats because my parents left the lights on in my car one day while i was away at college hahaha
I would think you should get longer than 1 1/2-2 years bro, might be the added sensors you said. We have very mild temps here in SJ and it's a pretty good bat stock so if it's dead already it's gotta be your add on stuff. Alarm sensors is it? Didn't think crime was that bad around here bro, lol! :busted:
there was something f'd up with the software that controls my sunroof...it caused the sub in the back to keep drawing power out and eventually ran the battery all the way down till it was dead...i think it was just a charger TSB
All right... It's looking like it may be time for a replacement. I charged it up, then ran it through a de-sulfate conditioning cycle and it's saying it still needs conditioning (or maybe an open cell...). Has anyone put an optima in a Magnum? What size did you get? They don't have a direct replacement and I'm not finding any good sizes with specs as good or better than what we have. Stock says: Group size: H7-72 (which I think is H7(94R)?) 12-3/8 x 6-7/8 x 7-1/5 CCA: 730 Reserve: 140 min AH: 72 I measured the battery box and I think I could fit something as large as: L - 13.5" - 14" W - 7" H - 7.5" - 7.75" (this is where the problem is...) The commercial yellow top would be ideal except it's just too tall. CCA: 900 Reserve: 155 AH: 75
