Jeep Wrangler battery life.

[garyb1st]

Ours is 6 years old. Should I replace now or wait until it quits? We carry two portable jump starters so not concerned about starting if it fails while out in the boonies. I'm curious what others do that pull a toad.

 

[LarsMac]

Well, as long as it's working, ...

In my experiences, they always wait until the first really cold snap of the fall to give up the ghost.

 

[garyb1st]

Agree based on the first half of my life in Minnesota. But since I've been in California, that doesn't work.

 

[LarsMac]

A lot depends on how big a PIA it is to swap your battery.

I'd say, the best to to swap it is just before the first time you have to jump it.

 

[Kirk]

Ours is 6 years old. Should I replace now or wait until it quits?

I would take it to a reputable battery seller and ask them to load test it. That will tell you a lot and most dealers are quite good about that.

O'Reilly Auto Parts: Offers free battery testing and charging services. They can test batteries in or out of the vehicle and provide recycling services for used batteries.

AutoZone: Provides free battery testing and charging services, along with a Check Engine light service to identify problems.

Batteries Plus: Offers free battery testing at most locations, including car batteries, boat batteries, and more.

Firestone Complete Auto Care: Provides battery testing and replacement services, ensuring your vehicle's battery is in good condition.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Thing about testing batteries is if you pluck it out to get it tested it's as much work as replacing it. Few batteries more than 5 years old will test 'good'. But, if it starts the car, how 'fair' is good enough? I just changed out the battery in DW's car at 8 years. It's not driven much and sits a lot on float charge. I know DW's way to fix a dead battery is to change the rest of the car around it so I didn't wait for it to fail. 8 years is a pretty good run. On my truck I'll run it until I start having to park on hills so I can bump start. 7 years for that one. As much as I like running them for all they're worth I'll be the first to say there's diminishing return after 5 years and certainly 6. The longer you push it the less of an operating issue it takes to leave you stranded. Full agreement that it's easier to change at your convenience than while on a trip.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[garyb1st]

it's easier to change at your convenience than while on a trip.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

That's what I was thinking and the reason I thought I'd just pick one up and keep it in the Jeep until it fails.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

The only reason to push your luck is to save the money on a new one. Once you spend the money there's no economy or advantage to keep running the old one. The clock starts running on batteries from the day they're made, so saving them for later doesn't work.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[John From Detroit]

I carry a Lithium jump start box.. Used it a few times (on other folks cars) Works.,

My Jeep Grand Cherokee... . The battery is under the passenger seat. Tons of fun to replace. (not)

 

[Derby6]

I’d wait til it dies. Or at least fails you or shows signs of losing it. Easily could have some years of life left.
I definitely would not buy and haul one around. Just sitting for months or years in heat and/or cold will not do the new battery any favors—not to mention any warranty will be useless.
Parts and battery stores nationwide.
Having 2 portable jump starters is your ace in the hole / piece of mind.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

A 12v starting battery typically works until it doesn't. No warning. You have a jump starter, so the only question is where & when does the inconvenience occur. And the timing of that trip to the store to get it replaced. If you are mostly in or close to town and seldom have other demands on your time, may as well wait til it decides it is done. But if there is a fair chance the sudden death will occur at a very convenient place or time, or if you have to interrupt a busy schedule to go to the battery store, I'd change it soon. I'm retired and seldom take road trips, so I'd wait. But you need to decide for YOUR life situation.

It looks like quality Jeep Wrangler batteries run around $200 or so. At 6 years, that's about $$2.80/month. If you stretch it out to 7 years, it's about $2.40/month, but either way you pay the $200+ replacement cost. So for practical purposes, there are no savings to extending the life. Just a few dollars over many years.

 

[garyb1st]

We're traveling so there will be times when we're not close to a store. The plan is to be in Wisconsin late May and that's when I plan to buy a battery at a local Costco. They sell Interstate brands and I've had good luck with them. We carry two lithium portable jump starters in the Jeep. Two weeks ago, my neighbor couldn't get his Cadillac started. It's a large Caddy used as a Limo. That was a few hours after he got home. I tried to start it with the smaller starter. Nothing. Then I connected the larger starter and the Caddy turned over immediately.

 

[Fyrflie]

Since you’re in California, don’t change it if you are close to getting a smog check done. I replaced mine because a load test suggested that I should and I failed my smog test two weeks later. Which cost me another $60 test fee because I had to complete the drive cycle to reset the computer to pass the test. California sucks. So to pass a test designed to reduce smog, you have to drive your vehicle, which produces more smog, to pass the test. Make it make sense.

 

[DonTom]

and I failed my smog test two weeks

Being "not ready" is not the same as failing. Failing is a much bigger hassle than a retest.

BTW, it's not just CA, but also two counties in NV and I am in one of them. Washoe County (Reno area). The other county is Clark County (Las Vegas area).

I cannot speak for other areas, but in Reno, I can get a smog test in a motorhome and pass after the battery is disconnected just before. I can also pass the smog test (motorhomes only) with the check engine light on full of all types of problem codes.

For motorhomes in Reno, they check a "motorhome" box on the smog report. This means they check from the tailpipe ONLY. They only connect to the OBD2 port to get the RPM readings. No such thing as "not ready" in this case. And the check engine light is ignored.

Cars/pickup trucks are done the opposite way and you will then be "not ready" if the battery is disconnected and if the check engine light is on, do not bother with the smog check until it is fixed. The MIL on for ANY reason is an automatic failure.

IMO, the way they check motorhomes is less hassle than the way they do it for cars. But for my one ICE pickup truck, I have a "ready or not" tester which is very handy to let me know I am ready to be smogged.

BTW, it takes a lot more than miles to get a car "ready". Certain conditions must be met. Best to check on the web for your type of car for how to get "ready" after a battery replacement or disconnect.

-Don- Kingston Campground, NV

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[garyb1st]

Fyrflie, just renewed the registration but I'll keep that in mind.

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

I replace my auto/truck batteries every five years.
I replace my motorcycle batteries every 2 years.

This has worked fro the last 25 years or so…

 

[DonTom]

I replace my motorcycle batteries every 2 years.

The stock battery in my 2013 Triumph Trophy SE lasted more than seven years, almost made it to eight.

My six ICE bikes are all on a battery maintainer when not used for more than a couple of days, such as right now,

Why are you replacing it every two years? Do you keep it on a battery maintainer?

-Don- Kingston Campground, NV

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

The stock battery in my 2013 Triumph Trophy SE lasted more than seven years, almost made it to eight.

My six ICE bikes are all on a battery maintainer when not used for more than a couple of days, such as right now,

Why are you replacing it every two years? Do you keep it on a battery maintainer?

-Don- Kingston Campground, NV

I do keep them on a tender unless I’m traveling and can’t get to a plug.
On 3 of my last 5 bikes, I had a “no start” issue shortly after the 2 year mark. I hear stories all the time about batteries lasting 5-8 years, but I’ve never actually known anyone that will state that in person with a modern computer controlled, fuel injected touring bike.
If your batteries last 5 years, good for you. Personally, I am not going to push-start a 950lb Indian Roadmaster, so I change the battery every 2 years.