How long is the battery life? When should I change it?

[avisynth]

I got a lesabre 2000 limited 2 months ago.
I don't know when the previous owner change the battery. I only find the manufactory date of the battery is 2002. Now the mileage is 89,000 miles. Do you have any idea when I should change my battery?

thanks

[GringoPete]

Originally Posted by avisynth

I got a lesabre 2000 limited 2 months ago.
I don't know when the previous owner change the battery. I only find the manufactory date of the battery is 2002. Now the mileage is 89,000 miles. Do you have any idea when I should change my battery?

thanks

What kind of battery is it? I bought my 98 custom 4 years ago and i have never changed the battery. It's a Die Hard Silver Edition. One time i left my ehadlights on by mistake for an hour and for sure i thought the car wouldnt start.....low and behold....she started right up. My next battery will be the same....or maybe even a gold edition.

[big white bufflo]

i think the battery life depends on the condition of the charge system and how many time the battery has been discharged i have an auto zone batt in my 92 belive it or not its 9 years old and still strong butt i have never had any trouble with the charge system

[Hapynzap]

This post made me think of the battery in my 2002 which went dead this summer when the car sat for a couple weeks. With winter coming I figure I will replace the original now with an OEM like replacement from Carquest for $96.62

[dpalomaki]

Battery technology improves over time, so what was true 10 years ago may not apply today.

I figure about 5 years as typical for an OEM battery, depending on the details of the service/use. Anything beyond 5 years is getting my money's worth. After 5 years, at any indication of a battery issue I would replace it, especially with winter approaching.

For after market, will depend in part on the specific battery, and the warranty term is a good indication. Expect it to last until what you would get from the warranty is not worth the effort/cost to get it.

[polarzak]

The battery in our 2000 LeSabre lasted 10 years. We bought it in the fall 99, my wife took it over in 06, and we traded it this May, still with the same battery. The battery in my 06 Lucerne was replaced last year. It lasted exactly TWO years.

[dpalomaki]

Consider any life beyond the full replacement warranty period good service. I would expect the factory original battery to last about 5 years in normal service. Some last longer, and some fail sooner.

If your battery is beyond about 5 years old, and you live where there is real winter, replace it at the first sign it is getting tired, or it goes to a deep discharge, such as when light were left on.

[012620]

I would check for a date code on top of the battery and then go to the website of the battery manufacture and find out how the age of the battery. This might give you some idea about replacing the battery. As far to replace before the winter sets in who knows. I have read that the hot summer months are also hard on car battery. Just like anything else on your car when do you replace the item? Same with brakes do you only replace when pads completely wear out or do you do preventive maitance. If you are not sure get a battery tester or have someone test your battery. I don't think I would personally trust a battery to last a long time after the warranty. Some things we need to be pro active with on our cars.

[dpalomaki]

The issue with winter is the cold. Cold effects the rate of chemical reactions. Thus a cold battery has substantially less cranking power. A battery that is just a bit weak in summer may be unable to crank the same car at winter temperatures

[Rasp]

I get triple A and pray I make it through another winter season.

Seriously though, Batteries are tough to gage. I personally change them when they go. I have never bought a battery before it went.

We live in a time of technology. If the battery goes I have a cell phone to call AAA or CAA as its called here in Canada.

Your brand new battery could easily go soon after you buy it. You really have no guarantee that it will last. That really goes for any part in a car.

Best advice if your worried is get some type of road side assistance membership.

[dpalomaki]

Just replace the original battery in my 2004. Battery test at AdvanceAuto said bad cell. Lasted about 5.5 years. That is as long as any original battery has lasted in my past cars including Toyota, VW, a couple Chevys, Saturn, and several Buicks.

The bad news, it is a vented battery that sits under rear seat. For safetyit needs vent ports that are connected to vent lines. That translates to NO reasonable priced replacement battery offered at COSTCO, SAMS etc.