GM-midsize-guy Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 My 2008 Buick LaCrosse CX with a 3800 V6 has its original battery. It is approaching 7 years as OEM. The driver information center mostly gives me a reading of 14.2 to 14.4 volts, which is good. So here's the question. After passing the 7 year mark, and even if it's giving good voltage readings, would you just replace it prior to a long distance interstate trip / possible relocation? One could argue that the long road trip will keep it charged and it shouldn't fail en route. One could also argue that it's better to just do it once you've hit 7+ years to avoid surprises. On my last car, another W body, the original battery went for about 8 years and 2 months ... and then KAPUT. What would you do? Also, would you just go to the dealership when they have a coupon or a special and get the AC-Delco battery with the most cold cranking amps for that model? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94 olds vert Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 I have had batteries fail out of no where and at 7 years old you are pushing your luck, but then again that battery could last 3 days or 3 more years you don't really know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Over the past 35 years or so I've been driving, my experience is you'll most likely discover a problem on a cold day--say temps below 40 degrees. I'd go ahead and replace it, out of an abundance of caution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drummer Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 I ended up changing the battery on my 06 grand prix gxp this year because my car would start slowly when I would start my car on every cold start and my voltage was around the same as yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertISaar Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 voltage while running is much more a function of the charging system rather than the battery... at 7 years, i would expect that a lot of batteries would have failed by the 5 year mark going off of what i see locally. i would have replaced it 2 years before then. if you really want to know, there are battery testers that basically use the battery to power a heater grid for a short period of time to see how many amps it will still put out, i would say that if you fall below the 300 amp range, prepare to replace the battery much sooner than later. you can also carry around a fully charged jumper pack if you really want to scrub out the last couple of start cycles that the battery will give. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Fury Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 In your case, I would buy a new battery and put it in the trunk until the old battery straight up dies. That way, 5 minute change out anywhere, and I'm good to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imp558 Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Over the past 35 years or so I've been driving, my experience is you'll most likely discover a problem on a cold day--say temps below 40 degrees. I'd go ahead and replace it, out of an abundance of caution. X2, if one of mine has an iffy battery going into winter I replace it. Of course you may not see the cold temps that we do here either, which may account for your good fortune with them. Alternatively you could carry a bunch of coconuts and sticks so in an emergency you could fashion that thing the Professor used to generate power on Gilligan's Island... but a new battery may be more efficient in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaPrix Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 It's getting colder so its that time when any problems on your car will start to show itself. I think a long road trip you'll be fine getting there, however I'd change it before winter sets in. Save yourself a headache, cause we all know when your battery dies it will be somewhere painfully inconvenient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM-midsize-guy Posted September 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 X2, if one of mine has an iffy battery going into winter I replace it. Of course you may not see the cold temps that we do here either, which may account for your good fortune with them.Alternatively you could carry a bunch of coconuts and sticks so in an emergency you could fashion that thing the Professor used to generate power on Gilligan's Island... but a new battery may be more efficient in the end. No, not too terribly cold here. The Gilligan's Island comment is funny. I think I will go ahead and replace it soon. Thanks for all the input supporting that decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schurkey Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 if you really want to know, there are battery testers that basically use the battery to power a heater grid for a short period of time to see how many amps it will still put out, i would say that if you fall below the 300 amp range, prepare to replace the battery much sooner than later. Fully charge battery, then allow it to stabilize for an hour or more. Battery voltage should be 12.6--12.7. Find whatever the CCA rating of the battery is. Divide the CCA by 2. Use the load tester to pull that many amps from the battery for fifteen seconds. Note the starting and ending voltage, and also the battery temperature. Assume a 650 CCA battery. Use load tester to pull 650/2=325 amps for fifteen seconds. Ending battery voltage should be at least 9.6 at 70 degrees F., higher is better, and actual specs depend on the beginning temperature of the battery. First Guess: A seven-year-old battery will be nowhere near it's original capacity. Time to replace. http://ccs.dogpile.com/ClickHandler.ashx?ld=20140918&app=1&c=info.dogpl&s=dogpile&rc=info.dogpl&dc=&euip=208.107.117.108&pvaid=bf69553f28b24104a09bb4f0a3871a40&dt=Desktop&fct.uid=bfb576802f304f5898dacf1d40c00f1c&en=0WEFU%2fZhSoQrR2QhC9ngyiLWjD1jFApuD%2bA8y%2fAiIz1wW%2fgzy%2bNk0g%3d%3d&du=www.mcicoach.com%2ffyiFromMci%2fmaintMatters%2f1110.pdf&ru=http%3a%2f%2fwww.mcicoach.com%2ffyiFromMci%2fmaintMatters%2f1110.pdf&ap=9&coi=771&cop=main-title&npp=9&p=0&pp=0&ep=9&mid=9&hash=B99A3AFBF3D06E4BF28E93AFB1C0BA64 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartbeat1991 Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 It's a battery. If it dies while on your trip, it's easy to replace and they are readily available all over the place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Batteries can fail any time at any age. Since you're worried enough about it to make a post, I'd say go ahead and replace it. Although I personally tend to throw caution to the wind and just replace stuff when they're bad, not just because they're just old. That's about as wild as my wild side gets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick2500 Posted September 24, 2014 Report Share Posted September 24, 2014 My 01 Hyundai Accent had the factory battery in it when I got it in 2012. Sent from A Galaxy Far Far Away........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sl3196 Posted September 28, 2014 Report Share Posted September 28, 2014 Still on the original battery from "08 on the G8, I'll replace it when it is dead haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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