Replace low milage Acura's car battery?

motsco_ <motsco_.DeleteThis@interbaun.com> wrote in
news:134mpm0dnrve053@corp.supernews.com:

> Jay-n-123 wrote:
>> My Acura 3.2 TL will be 5 years old in November. It still has the
>> original car battery. I expect the car to have only 18K miles on it
>> by November. (I work at home and spend lots of time on the computer)
>>
>> Do I need to replace the battery at the 5 year mark due to the age,
>> or can I expect to get a few more years out of it due to low mileage?
>> I live in Northern NJ.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> J.
>
> ---------------------------------
>
> If you were in TEXAS, you would have already replaced it. Many battery
> shops will let you watch as they put a dynamic load (for free) on the
> battery and it will give you a good idea whether you'll get a year or
> two more... And if they are honest, they will know based on the make /
> model / age of the battery.
>
> 'Curly'
>

If he can access the cells,I'd check the electrolyte levels and top off
with distilled water. Many dead batteries are dead because the electrolyte
evaporated/boiled off,and the cell/s went dry or too low.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net
 >> Stay informed about: Replace low milage Acura's car battery? 

"Jay-n-123" <nospamever.RemoveThis@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:LfI2i.40083$145.24921@trnddc02...
> My Acura 3.2 TL will be 5 years old in November. It still has the
> original car battery. I expect the car to have only 18K miles on it by
> November. (I work at home and spend lots of time on the computer)
>
> Do I need to replace the battery at the 5 year mark due to the age, or can
> I expect to get a few more years out of it due to low mileage? I live in
> Northern NJ.
>
> Thanks,
>
> J.
>
>

I'm certainly no environmentalist, but it doesn't seem responsible to
dispose of a battery that still functions. It's not that big a deal if it
dies. They take about 15 min to swap.
MZ
 >> Stay informed about: Replace low milage Acura's car battery? 

"MZ" <martinzed@ NOSPAM gmail.com> wrote in message
news:464ba2e3$0$4055$9a566e8b@news.aliant.net...
>
> "Jay-n-123" <nospamever.RemoveThis@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:LfI2i.40083$145.24921@trnddc02...
>> My Acura 3.2 TL will be 5 years old in November. It still has the
>> original car battery. I expect the car to have only 18K miles on it by
>> November. (I work at home and spend lots of time on the computer)
>>
>> Do I need to replace the battery at the 5 year mark due to the age, or
>> can I expect to get a few more years out of it due to low mileage? I
>> live in Northern NJ.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> J.
>>
>>
>
> I'm certainly no environmentalist, but it doesn't seem responsible to
> dispose of a battery that still functions. It's not that big a deal if it
> dies. They take about 15 min to swap.
> MZ
>
>
Although - having a non-starting battery is always a frustrating situation.
The ideal time is just before it gets to that stage....

Mike

"Tighten until it strips, then back off 1/4 turn."
 >> Stay informed about: Replace low milage Acura's car battery? 

"Jay-n-123" <nospamever RemoveThis @verizon.net> wrote in
news:LfI2i.40083$145.24921@trnddc02:

> My Acura 3.2 TL will be 5 years old in November. It still has the
> original car battery. I expect the car to have only 18K miles on it
> by November. (I work at home and spend lots of time on the computer)
>
> Do I need to replace the battery at the 5 year mark due to the age, or
> can I expect to get a few more years out of it due to low mileage? I
> live in Northern NJ.
>



So long as cranking speed stays the same, you can leave the original
battery in place. Once you notice cranking getting a bit slower, then it's
time to replace.

Another sign of a failing battery is headlights that dim noticeably when
idling, and brighten noticeably when you rev the engine.



--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
 >> Stay informed about: Replace low milage Acura's car battery? 

"MZ" <martinzed@ NOSPAM gmail.com> wrote in
news:464ba2e3$0$4055$9a566e8b@news.aliant.net:

>
> "Jay-n-123" <nospamever DeleteThis @verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:LfI2i.40083$145.24921@trnddc02...
>> My Acura 3.2 TL will be 5 years old in November. It still has the
>> original car battery. I expect the car to have only 18K miles on it
>> by November. (I work at home and spend lots of time on the computer)
>>
>> Do I need to replace the battery at the 5 year mark due to the age,
>> or can I expect to get a few more years out of it due to low mileage?
>> I live in Northern NJ.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> J.
>>
>>
>
> I'm certainly no environmentalist, but it doesn't seem responsible to
> dispose of a battery that still functions. It's not that big a deal
> if it dies. They take about 15 min to swap.
> MZ
>
>

It's a big deal if it dies and leaves you stuck somewhere.
Especially in the winter.


Lead acid auto batteries are recycled,anyways.
I saw an ad in the paper recently,some place was offering money for old
auto batteries.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net
 >> Stay informed about: Replace low milage Acura's car battery? 

On Wed, 16 May 2007 18:41:47 GMT, "Jay-n-123" <nospamever.RemoveThis@verizon.net>
wrote:

>My Acura 3.2 TL will be 5 years old in November. It still has the original
>car battery. I expect the car to have only 18K miles on it by November. (I
>work at home and spend lots of time on the computer)
>
>Do I need to replace the battery at the 5 year mark due to the age, or can I
>expect to get a few more years out of it due to low mileage? I live in
>Northern NJ.
>
>Thanks,
>
>J.
>

I live in WI, but I don't think it matters where you are. Both heat &
cold place a strain on batteries.

I have a simple rule: I don't care what kind of car or battery, I
replace the battery every 4 years. I don't have it tested, because I
don't care how much longer it will last.

Battery failure increases dramatically after about 4-5 years. I don't
want the hassle of having the battery fail on the coldest/hottest day
of the year.
 >> Stay informed about: Replace low milage Acura's car battery? 

"Oldtimer" <Oldtimer.RemoveThis@home.net> wrote in message
news:3dhp43d1960c52pksb75f2hm8q66escn8a@4ax.com...
>
>
> Battery failure increases dramatically after about 4-5 years. I don't
> want the hassle of having the battery fail on the coldest/hottest day
> of the year.
>

Memories... on the hottest day recorded in Phoenix I went to my car to go
home from work. The temperature was still at its peak of 122F (50C), and
when I hit the starter there was a "pop!" A rising wisp of vapor told me
what happened to my battery

Mike
 >> Stay informed about: Replace low milage Acura's car battery? 

Jay-n-123 wrote:
> My Acura 3.2 TL will be 5 years old in November. It still has the original
> car battery. I expect the car to have only 18K miles on it by November. (I
> work at home and spend lots of time on the computer)
>
> Do I need to replace the battery at the 5 year mark due to the age, or can I
> expect to get a few more years out of it due to low mileage? I live in
> Northern NJ.
>
> Thanks,
>
> J.
>
>

No, you don't need to automatically replace the battery. How is the
car stored? If it is spending most of it's time in an attached garage
and gets driven for at least one 1/2 hour or more trip a couple times
per month the battery could last a long, long time.

Lots of variables. Personally I change out a battery when I notice
that the car isn't cranking over with it's normal vigor. I am very
sensitive to a car's sounds, and generally can hear when the starter
doesn't have it's "normal" sound.

Two things seem to kill batteries most often:

1) Heat. Hot climates are very hard on batteries.
2) Deep discharge. Take a brand new battery and leave the car lights
on for 24 hours, repeat. Do this a few times and the battery will fail
to hold a charge.

John
 >> Stay informed about: Replace low milage Acura's car battery? 

MZ wrote:

>
> I'm certainly no environmentalist, but it doesn't seem responsible to
> dispose of a battery that still functions. It's not that big a deal if it
> dies. They take about 15 min to swap.
> MZ
>
>

It all depends on the circumstances of when it dies. 3 AM on a winter
morning when trying to get home from a second shift stint at work isn't
the same thing as 10AM on a pleasant Saturday morning of relaxing at
home. When and where makes all the difference!
 >> Stay informed about: Replace low milage Acura's car battery?