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Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:08 pm
by skregal
These batteries are sometimes hard to find. It would be
nice to know if I am pushing the limit on time.
I always end up dead in a parking lot in Nowhereville.
If you don't know or didn't own the car, please don't guess
and mess up the data.
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:36 pm
by harofreak00
I know for a fact that mine lasted 4+ years. When I bought the car in late 2005 the battery was original. I replaced the battery about 6 months later. That would make the battery about 6 years old.
I think people just don't put enough effort into finding the correct battery. They can be had at mostly any auto parts stores including: Autozone, Advance, NAPA, etc.. They might have to be special ordered. They are usually $120-150.
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:47 pm
by Pontiholic
My 00's original battery (size 79) finally died last April. So, two months shy of 8 years. Partly my fault for letting it sit for 4 months. I started it in March but only let it run for a minute to "check the battery".

Now I have a Duralast Gold.
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:48 pm
by skregal
The special order part is the problem. The last 4 batteries in my GM cars have given
me no warning when they died and have left me stranded in 3 of the 4 deaths. Ordering a
new battery is OK, but you would throw away the old battery with some good life left, if you didn't wait for it to die.
I want to find the maximum time I'm willing to risk being
stranded. Mine is almost 4 years old now.
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:50 pm
by harofreak00
If you are that worried about being stranded, just buy a new battery.
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:11 pm
by CincyGXP
X2
I think you've got a good year or two left, but go ahead and get a new one if it makes you feel better.
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:14 pm
by myfirstbonnie
Our 2000 still has the original. It hasn't left us stranded, but I plan on replacing it soon.
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:13 pm
by skregal
I'm not THAT worried about being stranded, but if you add having to leave
the car somewhere while I wait for a special order, or borrow a non-vent
battery to limp home...

well... it's not good for me because we
take this car on weekend road trips a lot.
However if the poll keeps it's trend of 100% "greater than 4 years", I may wait
one more year. We'll see what the poll numbers produce.
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 10:17 pm
by harofreak00
I would like to know whose only lasted 2 years.
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:07 am
by Archon
Mine is still the original.
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:10 am
by Hans
Archon wrote:Mine is still the original.
as is mine, however it has very limited life left in it.
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:46 am
by TenGHz
Mine was original... Just replaced it about a month ago. It was testing a tad week, and I was getting some weird starts... Replaced it and the problems are gone. It was on it's way out. It was over 7 years old already.
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:52 am
by RJGill84
harofreak00 wrote:I would like to know whose only lasted 2 years.
Yea - that sounds a bit odd.
I just replaced my original 2 months ago in my 01 - so about 8 years for me. All of a sudden it started spewing acid through the vent tubes and got SUPER hot. The fumes were rancid. Went to Wal-Mart that night, and they don't carry it. Advance Auto had it in stock, for $128 I believe it was. NO waiting.
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:12 am
by bonnevillain
fleet farm stocks them for $70
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:07 am
by 2003 SSEi
i just replaced mine, you couldnt leave the door open for more than 5 min and the battery would be dead, even after a drive
my car was a 10/02 build, battery replaced 11/08, so that is 5 years give or take
Advance Auto stocks the battery FYI, $139 and a 3 year warrenty
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:10 am
by BlackHawk99
1993 sle wrote:i just replaced mine, you couldnt leave the door open for more than 5 min and the battery would be dead, even after a drive
my car was a 10/02 build, battery replaced 11/08, so that is 5 years give or take
Advance Auto stocks the battery FYI, $139 and a 3 year warrenty
Actually, that's six years, one month.
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:34 am
by 2003 SSEi
thanks your math skills are better than mine, guess thats why your the Senior Mod
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:33 pm
by 2.3 turbocoupe
My 2005 GXP was built in 06/2004, put into service by the original buyer in 10/2005(!), and the battery died and was replaced under warrantee 10/2007. It actually started getting weak around 06/2007.
So that is about 3 years from the build date, but it was weak for a few months prior to that. Probably this was due to sitting around for over a year, therefore I didn't answer the poll because I doubt SSEIs were sitting around that long. I guess that's what happens when you try to charge 38k for a 28k car.
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 6:05 pm
by 00Beast
Mine says Feb 08 on it, so I'm assuming it replaced the original. So that makes it about 5 years, depending on the build date of my car.
Re: Poll : Life expectancy of backseat battery
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:38 pm
by Bichselmnop
I've still got the original in my 02. I had it tested today and it's still pulling what it should.