When to change battery

[Pisces69]

+1 to bro pieces69. yesterday my car batt just died in the evening when i want to go out. No choice get people to jumpstart and drive to shop in lavendar to replace a new one. Most shops already closed after 8pm. Better be safe than sorry, if your car batter around 1 year old already better replace. Nowadays battery doesnt last long. CNY is coming, you dont wish to get caught in a situation car batt die and in the end spoil the whole day schedule.

 

I wud say more like average is 2 years unless yr car got heavy power draw like ICE etc.

 

Otherwise if only 1 year, maybe its time to look for a better battery suited for yr car.

 

But I know some pple battery can last much longer. Again it depends in yr usage style. Many short trips wil tend to shorten battery life.

[Wolfy3769]

my thumb of rule is if car need more than 2 time to switch on engine frequently, i will prepare to change battery liao. But always had a battery meter in my car... just in case

[Johnson28]

It's coming one year from Feb since TCM informed me to change battery. But my battery still refused to kaput! Just serviced my car yesterday at 230k and again they said "bad and replace" with reading of 79% and SOC of 12.91V.

 

Asked them to check brake pads since first change at 120K, they say still no need

 

 

if give me, i will change battery, for brake pad, they only change when its left 2mm

[I-love-singapore]

When AA came to jump start my car, I showed him the cable that I bought from NTUC. One look and he told me to throw away the cable as it won't help to jump the car.

 

On another ocassion, I had a flat battery and called my colleagues. They came with those electrical black and red cable. Fixed it to my car battery and theirs with their car engine running. After a few minutes, they told me to start me car. It works!!! Unbelievable!!! That was in the third world country.

 

tell him dont bull sh1t lah

my $10 cable already jump start many cars liao.

[Hiphiphoray]

Me too. Change every 1.5 to 2 yrs. No worries at all.

 

 

 

jump start car very troublesome. i learnt my lesson and change every 1.5-2 yrs. do not exceed 2 yrs

[Astralee]

 

tell him dont bull sh1t lah

my $10 cable already jump start many cars liao.

 

Support you. The $12 cable I buy from neighborhood shop also jumped start my friend's civic. No problem at all.

[Kb27]

Jump starting a car depends on what condition the battery is in.

 

If your battery is good, but just a little flat, a thin cable may work, if you give it enough time for the helper battery to charge the flat one, before cranking.

 

If your battery is in a poorer state, even a thick cable may have a hard time.

 

Thick cable has less resistance than thinner cable.

A large amount of current pulled by the starter motor, will heat up a thin cable, and have too much voltage drop across the length of wire, and failing to crank the engine.

[Volvobrick]

The cheap thin cables are generally OK for the smaller Japanese cars with small engines. The thick ones (I think I paid $30 or so for them years ago and ditched the skinny ones) will be needed to jump start the bigger continental cars (2.0 and above).

 

From my personal experiences.

 

[I-love-singapore]

The cheap thin cables are generally OK for the smaller Japanese cars with small engines. The thick ones (I think I paid $30 or so for them years ago and ditched the skinny ones) will be needed to jump start the bigger continental cars (2.0 and above).

 

From my personal experiences.

 

 

i able to jump start 2.5L wrx with cheapo cable.

[Topgan]

I am using Amaron batt and change it after 2yr 8 mths once the indicator changes to black instead of green.

 

It is very troublesome when the car die on you when you need it the most. Further more AA don't come on the dot and most likely have to wait at least 4 hrs. Sometime it take hours just to get a line to AA .

[Volvobrick]

Care to explain how engine capacity got to do with battery ?

 

 

 

Bigger engines have bigger (or more) cylinders, bigger crank shafts etc, causing more friction and more momentum, thus needing a bigger starter motor which operates at a higher current. The current may be up to 100A due to the low voltage of 12V (compared to typical household appliances of 10 to 13A operating at 230V). That's why the jumper cables are so much more thicker than those on our walls.

 

If you remember secondary school physics, at 100A, the small cables will heat up pretty fast and the greater resistance will reduce the actual amount of power transmitted to the starter motor itself.

 

in other words, just pay the 10-20 dollars more and have the piece of mind.

[Dumb]

 

Since yr battery alrdy so old, Im sure u hv got your moneys worth.

 

Might as well change b4 it just dies on u without much warning. CNY coming summore.

 

I can tell when I crank in morning to start car. The sound like a bit slower n straining to start.

 

Another way is when u driving at night n headlights on n u signal left/right n yr speedo n dash lights dim n bright as the flasher works. When I see this I know its time to change battery.

 

Battery abt $100 plus only. Better change since its so old n getting weak.

 

The battery of remote control key died instead

 

The A23 gp battery only $1 from a stationery shop. Last time paid $4.50 from a battery shop Now I can lock and unlock from a farther distance from the car.

[Pisces69]

 

The battery of remote control key died instead

 

The A23 gp battery only $1 from a stationery shop. Last time paid $4.50 from a battery shop Now I can lock and unlock from a farther distance from the car.

 

Hahaha. U focus on the car battery n in the end the alarm key battery failed.

 

U can see it getting weaker when the red light gets dimmer as u press the buttons.

 

I usually change when its quite dim or flickers.

 

I also buy each battery from the stationery or watch shop for abt $1-2 n change it myself.

[Kb27]

 

Hahaha. U focus on the car battery n in the end the alarm key battery failed.

 

U can see it getting weaker when the red light gets dimmer as u press the buttons.

 

I usually change when its quite dim or flickers.

 

I also buy each battery from the stationery or watch shop for abt $1-2 n change it myself.

 

Yeah, everyone should go check or replace battery in their alarm remote regularly.

Best is every year replaced. So you have less hassle. And it's only a $1+ item.

 

Recently, I also found my alarm getting weaker, then I took out the battery to measure voltage already 10V, instead of 12V.

[Dumb]

Ok I decided to change battery tomorrow instead of waiting for it to die even though I feel it could go for another month or so. AA is charging $135 for changing.

 

Since my current amaron coming 47 months, I will go for it again $100 for 45 Ah at ubi autobay where I change my radiator top plastic cover for $200 two weeks ago.

Edited January 22, 2014 by Dumb

[Pisces69]

 

Yeah, everyone should go check or replace battery in their alarm remote regularly.

Best is every year replaced. So you have less hassle. And it's only a $1+ item.

 

Recently, I also found my alarm getting weaker, then I took out the battery to measure voltage already 10V, instead of 12V.

 

I wil look at the little red light when I press the buttons. If the light is dim or flickering, I know its time to change.

Ok I decided to change battery tomorrow instead of waiting for it to die even though I feel it could go for another month or so. AA is charging $135 for changing.

 

Since my current amaron coming 47 months, I will go for it again $100 for 45 Ah at ubi autobay where I change my radiator top plastic cover for $200 two weeks ago.

 

Good decision.

[Dumb]

 

I wil look at the little red light when I press the buttons. If the light is dim or flickering, I know its time to change.

 

Good decision.

 

Battery changed liao. But no noticeable difference in cranking except confidence inceased.

[Pisces69]

 

Battery changed liao. But no noticeable difference in cranking except confidence inceased.

 

I noticed most batteries nowadays wil not give much warning ty r going to fail. Most wil give only one warning of a slow/weak crank, then next crank, it wun turn at all.

 

Long ago batteries wil give u a slow crank but u wait abt 10-15 mins n it might crank again. Then u drive for abt 30 mins n the battery becomes quite strong again for one crank but cannot hold a good strong charge.