Extreme temperatures, frequent short trips, and general everyday use could shorten the life of your battery to two to three years. If your car battery dies quickly, even after a jumpstart, it might be time for a new one.
Normally, a typical car battery will last between two and five years, and some experts recommend that you replace it every four years to avoid any unwanted problems. In addition, try to never let your battery become completely discharged – even one complete discharge can shorten battery life.
As for your spare vehicle's spare battery: a new, unused car battery can often sit unused for two to four years and still work—as long as it's properly stored and maintained. For maximum shelf life, be sure to: Store the battery upright. Keep it in a dry, well-ventilated area.
Older or Corroded Batteries
If your battery is 3 or more years old, it will likely need a replacement to avoid repeated failure. While you may be able to get it going with a jump-start, the catalyst for its initial failure is still threatening the lifespan of your battery.
Car batteries generally last between three to five years, depending on your climate and how many accessories rely on your car battery. If your car battery begins to die, you can often look for warning signs to prevent getting stranded. Summer heat is brutal on batteries, and winter weather is even worse.
Car batteries have a finite lifespan
Batteries gradually deteriorate until they can no longer provide enough power to start an engine. This wear time could take three to five years and a vehicle's usage pattern is one factor contributing to the rate at which a battery will age.
Some cars will get up to five or six years out of their battery, while others will need a new one after only two years. In general, your car will usually need a new battery after three to four years. Replacing your car battery is another part of routine maintenance.
Extreme temperatures, frequent short trips, and general everyday use could shorten the life of your battery to two to three years. If your car battery dies quickly, even after a jumpstart, it might be time for a new one.
Even though 80 percent of the capacity remains when a car battery dips to around 10.5 volts, the battery is considered to be fully discharged because taking the cycle any deeper will cause irreversible damage to the plates through excessive sulfation.
If you know your car battery is relatively new and has been kept in good condition, it can probably sit unused for about two weeks before it goes flat. If you've left your car unused for over two weeks, it's quite likely you'll need professional assistance.
If your engine won't turn over or takes far longer than usual, it's time to grab the jumper cables and attempt a jump-start. If your engine starts and stays running but won't start again later, it's likely a battery problem. If your vehicle immediately stalls, it's probably a bad alternator.
Factors that can shorten its life include an extended period of partial or full discharge, vibration from not being properly secured, under- or overcharging, extreme temperatures, water loss, electrolyte contamination and corrosion on terminals.
Check the voltage
Carefully remove the covers on the battery terminals and connect the positive side of the voltmeter to the positive (red) terminal first. Then connect the negative side of the voltmeter to the negative (black) terminal. Now, check your reading. A healthy battery should read between 12.4V and 12.7V.
Bad Battery Symptoms
If the cranking of the engine is sluggish, like your vehicle is harder to start on cold mornings, it starts inconsistently, or there's no sound and interior lights when you try to start, suspect a failing battery, a loose or corroded connection or electrical draw.
If your battery is over 4 years old we'd advise replacing it with a new one. You may find you're able to temporarily recharge a battery this old, however it's likely to lose its charge again very soon. Older batteries do deteriorate over time and naturally lose their ability to hold a charge.
Contrary to its purpose, an alternator can drain a battery. It's rare, but it's possible. A draw on the battery only occurs if there's a problem with either a component in the alternator itself or connections to it.
THREE TO FIVE, WITH GOOD BEHAVIOR. Battery manufacturers suggest the average lifespan of an auto battery falls anywhere between three and five years — and for good reason.
Why Your Car Battery Keeps Dying. While car batteries slowly die over time, high heat, brutal cold, excessive use of vehicle accessories (after-market equipment), and other mechanical issues can shorten the life of even the toughest battery.
“Electrical devices or lights left running, a defective charging system or alternator, and extreme weather are some common reasons but maybe it's just time to get a new battery.”
There are some reasons a car battery may not hold a charge. The most common cause is that the battery is old and needs to be replaced. Another possibility is that the battery has been damaged by heat or cold. If you think your car battery is not holding a charge, it is vital to take action.
If a battery is completely dead but has been revived by a jump start, there are ways to fully recharge your battery. The first is, as mentioned, by driving around. If that does not seem to work, however, car battery chargers can regenerate all of the charge into a battery.