Olnick Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 Put a new battery in the '95 Legacy wagon today. The old one let me down a few times in the past month. But the car cranks over and fires off so easily that even that weak old battery did the job . . . usually. Then as I was lifting it out I began to realize that I'm pretty sure it was the original battery--Johnson Controls "J5"--possible? Something makes me think that was the original equipment. Car was built in March '95 and I bought it when it was 5 years old with 60k on the odometer. If true, I'm blown away. Eleven years and 2 months! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OB99W Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 [...]Then as I was lifting it out I began to realize that I'm pretty sure it was the original battery--Johnson Controls "J5"--possible? Something makes me think that was the original equipment.[...] If true, I'm blown away. Eleven years and 2 months! I've had a car's battery last as long as 13 years. My experience is that "average" quality batteries seem more likely to perform well for a long time. The cheap ones usually last about 6 years, as do many of the "better" ones with high cold cranking amp (CCA) capacity. I suspect that the failure of the high-CCA ones is due to their having more plates, packed closer together, and if they loose some plate material the sludge formed is more likely to short out cells. Low-maintenance batteries that are kept properly filled, using distilled water, seem to fare better than no-maintenance types. Of course, a properly-functioning charging system is also important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 The best I've ever done here is 5 years on a Yuasa in my '78 Civic sedan. 2-3 is about average - in fact, I've seriously considered just putting the cars on a 2 year schedule for the cheapest battery I can find - its annoying to have them quit on you in a random manner. heat is deadly on them Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OB99W Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 [...]2-3 is about average - in fact, I've seriously considered just putting the cars on a 2 year schedule for the cheapest battery I can find - its annoying to have them quit on you in a random manner. heat is deadly on them Admittedly, my experience with about 6 years being typical life is based on a cooler climate (and good maintenance); Texas weather probably does significantly shorten battery life . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 coupla good links; http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/lifemap.jpg http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/ Carl 1 Lucky Texan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OB99W Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 Thanks for the links, Carl. I'm in the 56-month "belt", which is apparently not only how long the average battery lasts according to the map, but also how long a car is free of significant rust (read "road salt belt") . Seems that by getting closer to 72 months, I'm seeing better than average battery life, even for my area. As I said previously, for me that happens with mid-line batteries that are correctly maintained. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 Thanks for the links, Carl. I'm in the 56-month "belt", which is apparently not only how long the average battery lasts according to the map, but also how long a car is free of significant rust (read "road salt belt") . Seems that by getting closer to 72 months, I'm seeing better than average battery life, even for my area. As I said previously, for me that happens with mid-line batteries that are correctly maintained. There are a lot of links there and one mentioned that batteries sometimes get replaced when they are still good - that could 'bias' that map lower. Still, where I live, more than 3 years is pushing it and I've had them die sooner.( at least twice I've gotten the AZ 'gold'/whatever series 3 year full replacement) Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outback_97 Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 If that's the original that's pretty amazing, congrats! Mine lasted eight years, I was pretty pleased with that. http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=26228 We have a good mix of hot and cold here... it's supposed to be 97 degrees today, d'oh! Too hot IMO. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzam Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 I had 8 years on the original battery in our MY95 Legacy, still worked fine but when we turned the car over to my daughter I changed it out just for saftey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strakes Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 That's awesome to have your battery last so long. My Johnson Controls J5 battery went out on me just recently...at the 4 year mark. I think it was my car's way of telling me what she wanted for her 4 year birthday. If you have diffiiculty believing that it lasted 11 years, maybe the previous owner had only the Subaru dealer work on it and had them replace the battery with a Subaru battery when it went out just before you got it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olnick Posted June 7, 2006 Author Share Posted June 7, 2006 maybe the previous owner had only the Subaru dealer work on it and had them replace the battery with a Subaru battery when it went out just before you got it? Strakes, you're a mean little kid with a pin in your hand at my birthday party. Guess that's entirely possible. Previous owner had taken excellent care of the car for sure. A good--and unexpected--side benefit of the new battery: The car runs better! At first I thought it was just my butt dyno giving me happy readings but driving today it is definitely smoother and more responsive. What causes that, the "capacitance factor" of a stronger power source? Whatever--I like it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 Strakes, you're a mean little kid with a pin in your hand at my birthday party. Guess that's entirely possible. Previous owner had taken excellent care of the car for sure. A good--and unexpected--side benefit of the new battery: The car runs better! At first I thought it was just my butt dyno giving me happy readings but driving today it is definitely smoother and more responsive. What causes that, the "capacitance factor" of a stronger power source? Whatever--I like it! Possibly the alternator was being overworked? I dunno Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olnick Posted June 7, 2006 Author Share Posted June 7, 2006 Possibly the alternator was being overworked? That raises an interesting question, Carl. Do alternators weaken over time or are they go/no-go? Should I be saving my pennies for a new alternator? As luck would have it, my cheapo Radio Shack multimeter quit working when I grabbed it to check voltages. Guess that's life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allanmcc Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 Currently got original battery in my motorbike - 12 years / 80,000 miles and and still going. Soob on its original one at 5 years / 78,000 miles and my recently scrapped Saab did 9 years on its original and 6 years on the second all in 180,000 miles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 That raises an interesting question, Carl. Do alternators weaken over time or are they go/no-go? Should I be saving my pennies for a new alternator? As luck would have it, my cheapo Radio Shack multimeter quit working when I grabbed it to check voltages. Guess that's life! Sorry, I meant, with the old, weak battery, perhaps the alt. was under a greater load and robbing a few ponies from the engine. With the new battery, that load is reduced and maybe you can feel more 'pep' now when driving. just a guess. Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strakes Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 Strakes, you're a mean little kid with a pin in your hand at my birthday party. Actually, I was the kid with the kerosene and matches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderhound Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 Still have my original battery...8 years and 153K...recently read an article that a new battery will help the car run better and improve gas mileage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olnick Posted June 7, 2006 Author Share Posted June 7, 2006 with the old, weak battery, perhaps the alt. was under a greater load and robbing a few ponies from the engine. With the new battery, that load is reduced and maybe you can feel more 'pep' now when driving. That certainly makes sense to me, Carl. Seems to be confirmed by what powderhound read. Think I'll move to Scotland and live next door to Allanmcc in that thrifty scots climate! But I sure wouldn't live next door to Strakes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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