How long do batteries last sitting on the floor in the garage?

[Mtpisgah]

Soon after I bought my 2021 JTM, I had a Genesis system installed. I have had the OEM batteries stored in my climate controlled garage for ~2.5 years. I have charged them a few times during that time, but not regularly.

The batteries in my wife's 2018 JLR are dying and I would like to put the JTM batteries in it. Do you think the JTM batteries would still be good? I will probably take them to Batteries Plus (or similar) to have them checked before installing them, but need to know if it is even worth the effort.

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[Lunentucker]

Depends on whether you actually want a divorce or not.

 

[Bluefalcon]

Hit or miss... some will hold a charge some won't. I don't know about batteries plus but Auto Zone or O'Reilly auto does it for free.

 

[Mtpisgah]

Hit or miss... some will hold a charge some won't. I don't know about batteries plus but Auto Zone or O'Reilly auto does it for free.

Batteries Plus does it for free too, and there is one 100-yards from my office. I will try it before buying new batteries. If they are not good, I will do the aux delete and replace the main battery.
Thanks.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It depends on their rate of self-discharge and how much impact your lack of care for them has had on their lives and capacity.
All batteries self-discharge. AGM less, but......... still happens.
So sitting around on a shelf, floor or on your dining room table, they'll self-discharge.
How low they go before you decide you should charge them back up has a lot to do with their remaining life and capacity. The more then are "cycled" - let to get down low like in the lower 12s or worse, and then charged again, the shorter life they have, and the more their capacity drops.
Cold slows self-discharge (and also slows charging)
Heat isn't good for batteries in general, but if it was climate controlled meaning staying in the 60s or 70s, then that shouldn't be an issue.
If the FLOOR got cold, then the batteries did to some extent. But the floor by itself isn't an issue, the temperature is.
I would fully charge the with a good AGM charger (if it's not capable of AGM, doesn't have such a setting, etc., it's not ideal) and have them tested. But charge them with an AGM capable charger, let it run through all phases of charging until it stops - don't stop it until done, go from there.
Since the rate of self-discharge on AGM is lower, and they had no parasitic load on them, you may be fine. IMO, it's worth it. If it was my batteries, I'd sure try it.

 

[Mtpisgah]

Thanks for the detailed response @ShadowsPapa . I will check to see if my charger is AGM capable, I never knew there was a difference. I usually just connect it and wait until the lights stop blinking.

The batteries sit on top of 2x4s just to make them easier to pick up, so the temp is probably better than sitting directly on the concrete. I keep the garage set to 65F during the summer and a little cooler during the winter.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thanks for the detailed response @ShadowsPapa . I will check to see if my charger is AGM capable, I never knew there was a difference. I usually just connect it and wait until the lights stop blinking.

The batteries sit on top of 2x4s just to make them easier to pick up, so the temp is probably better than sitting directly on the concrete. I keep the garage set to 65F during the summer and a little cooler during the winter.

Those temperatures should be fine. Some say the ideal is 50 to 60 so you are right in there.

 

[Hootbro]

I would follow what @ShadowsPapa said and put them on a AGM charger and put them in if they pass and hold a charge.

 

[WILDHOBO]

It depends on whether the floor is lava.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It depends on whether the floor is lava.

Could get rather slippery..........

 

[WILDHOBO]

Could get rather slippery..........

Solid.

 

[Empty Pockets]

If it were my wife I’d buy her new batteries. Maybe that’s why she’s put up with me for 40 years.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

With care - meaning keeping them charged, I'd bet on another 2 to 3 years. His have been in storage, not subjected to the vibrations, jolts and smacks and HEAT the batteries in our Jeeps take every day. You don't know how long some of the batteries at a parts store have been on the shelf.
Besides, he's having them tested - hopefully the person testing knows how and they use a decent device for testing and get beyond the fast test. As long as the capacity is still there, internal resistance is where it should be.......

My wife knows if anything goes wrong with a vehicle, a phone call and I take care of it. (worst case, hook onto trailer and go get it. I keep the trailer always on the ready anyway. )

 

[Mtpisgah]

If it were my wife I’d buy her new batteries. Maybe that’s why she’s put up with me for 40 years.

We have only been married for 23 years, but it is going well so far. I am confident we will make it to 40 years, with or without new batteries. I take care of her and her vehicles and she always gets whatever she wants. Knowing I have the batteries set aside, she would rather I try them rather than spend money on a new set if not necessary. And it is not the cost, it is simply using what we have.
Plus, she works 1.5 miles from home and could walk home if needed. And it is a manual so she could push start if really needed.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

We have only been married for 23 years, but it is going well so far. I am confident we will make it to 40 years, with or without new batteries. I take care of her and her vehicles and she always gets whatever she wants. Knowing I have the batteries set aside, she would rather I try them rather than spend money on a new set if not necessary. And it is not the cost, it is simply using what we have.
Plus, she works 1.5 miles from home and could walk home if needed. And it is a manual so she could push start if really needed.

A high school friend had a 60s Mustang he used to park in such a way it was always facing a straight, down-hill area. Starter was bad and for weeks, he'd push the car from the side, get it moving and hop in and drop it in gear and start it.

My son bought a car clear over into Illinois, a good 4 hours away if not more. On his way back to home in Iowa, the thing killed a rod bearing. We were all shocked because the car had spotless maintenance and the old fellow who owned it had every single piece of paper relating to that car from the day it was built, all service records. The glove box was packed with paperwork and it was a clean car. I was out of reach at work - I think likely at a field office setting up some new equipment and I can't recall how, but the message ended up with my neighbor that my son and wife were stranded in IL.
My neighbor brought his truck over, hooked onto my trailer, drove into IL and picked up the car and my son and his wife and brought them back here. It was clear into after dark before they got back.
He never would let me pay him back for the huge favor.

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