How long do batteries last?

[1200mk]

I was in Vegas this past weekend and as I was gonna go home my car wouldnt start. I had to get it jumped and was off on my way... 20 minutes into it, i turned on my headlights and my entire electrical system gets all crazy (my spedo and rpm gauge was jumping up and down). So i pull over and tow my car to get a new battery. They tested the alt and they said it is ok. So should I have any more worries? and did my battery die because of the heat?

my car is only 2 years old w/ 25k mi.

[1200mk]

and how do i fix the problem with my sunroof?

it opens and closes fine but it doesnt close or open automatically anymore (when u hold onto the button).

[Phi]

The life a batt. varies depending on many factors (ie. brand, climate, charging cycle, vibrations etc). A quality batt. in normal operating conditions should last ~4yrs give or take. In your case, 2yrs snds kinda premature. Fyi, a bad alternator can kill a fresh batt too so make sure you confirm that the dead batt. isn't a sign of other problems.

[Keep]

THe lifetime of a battery (under nominal conditions) is based on the distance between the plates and the base of the case.

Every charge/discharge of the cells emit sediment which collects on the base of the case. Over time, the sediment will get high enough to short a cell out, and then the batterie fails.

SO speaking in ideal conditions, the maker of the batterie KNOWS how many chare/discharge cycles will be undergone before failure.

A good indication is the batteries warranty, which is derived from a mean, average, and standard deviation for that model of battery.

If that doesn't give you the answer you need, and you just simply want numbers. It's almost impossible because each vendor makes their product to different standards.

But in all my days working autoparts where I live (lots of climate change), I can say that 3-5 years is typical (7-10 years on drycell)

[1200mk]

interesting.... does the fact that i am running a 600watt (rms)amp play a big roll in battery failure as well?

[Delay_FTB]

Its seems to me that down here in Arizona (PHX) you're pretty lucky if your battery lasts two years or more. However, I just had to replace the stock battery on my 99 Camry, after I had it in AZ for a year. Before that it was in Oklahoma. On top of that, I drained it a time or two, so that surely didn't help matters. But 4 years in OK + 1 year in AZ + it dying a couple times = New battery.

[touringcamry]

Other than the colored window on the top, is there any way to tell if my battery is starting to go bad? I've never had a battery related problem AFAIK, except when my mom was using it to make many short trips and drained it.

My Camry still has the original battery and it's been in there for over 5 and 1/2 years. The indicator still shows good. I have moved from a climate where is was about 50-70 deg F (10 C - 22 C) year round to a climate where it varies from 30 F to 125 F (0 C to 52 C)

[bronzemaxell]

Originally Posted by 1200mk

and how do i fix the problem with my sunroof?

it opens and closes fine but it doesnt close or open automatically anymore (when u hold onto the button).

push and hold the tilt botton until the glass tilt all way, and retract a little bit to recalibrate the position.

[1200mk]

Originally Posted by touringcamry

Other than the colored window on the top, is there any way to tell if my battery is starting to go bad? I've never had a battery related problem AFAIK, except when my mom was using it to make many short trips and drained it.

My Camry still has the original battery and it's been in there for over 5 and 1/2 years. The indicator still shows good. I have moved from a climate where is was about 50-70 deg F (10 C - 22 C) year round to a climate where it varies from 30 F to 125 F (0 C to 52 C)

wow 5 and 1/2 years?! I would have taken the battery back to the dealer but i was stranded and wanted to go home.

[Keep]

Originally Posted by 1200mk

interesting.... does the fact that i am running a 600watt (rms)amp play a big roll in battery failure as well?

Hardly.

The purpose of the battery is to start your engine so that the alternator can take over.
Once your engine is running, you car strereo as well as everything else in the vehicle is running off the alternator.


Now, there are ALWAYS exceptions, such as when the drain on the system gets soo much that the alternator output drops below 12.6 volts, then the battery keeps everything stable while the alternator catches up (it's very rare, but possible with a large stereo, all the lights on, winch.. etc..)

But for your application (as well as 99% of the rest of us), no worries

[mandyfig]

Exemplary study on the battery and charging system!

[1200mk]

so... there might be a problem with my alternator? or is that not a possibility? we tested the car after the car started and took the negative off. The car was still running fine.

[Delay_FTB]

Your amp might be a problem if it isn't grounded or hooked up properly. It could draw from the batt. if you're just sitting in the car without it started or in the acc. position or whatever. But like the man said, I highly doubt that would be the case.

[1200mk]

Originally Posted by Delay_FTB

Your amp might be a problem if it isn't grounded or hooked up properly. It could draw from the batt. if you're just sitting in the car without it started or in the acc. position or whatever. But like the man said, I highly doubt that would be the case.

so if i had a bad ground for the amp there is a possibility that current is being drawn even when my car is turned off?

[skewe]

it depends.

mine is still original for the 2000 LE.
about to die soon though.

So 5 yrs and going. it's a panasonic