What is causing shorter battery life?

[Mr Miami]

I read about all the battery stories here (thinking about my 2024 JTR) and I just wonder if I am lucky or if batteries simply don't last as long today. My wife had a new 2015 BMW (model 320i, the least expensive model in the US at the time) that we bought in Sept 2014. She drove it until we traded it for another BMW (X3) in 2024. We had it 9 years and it was the original battery. The car had a lot of the electronic gizmos but it was still just using the standard OEM battery. My 2015 JKU had the original battery until about 2 years ago and it finally started to slowly die after 8 years. The only caveat here is they are/were low-mileage vehicles (both under 65k) since it is only the two of us and we have 4 vehicles.

Anyway, I'm not certain if this is a question or observation but it seems batteries need replacement sooner these days. It seems contradictory to me with all of the advancements in technology. Maybe living in a warm climate (South Florida) also helps since there is not much fluctuation in the temperature compared to other places. Who knows?????

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[PuddleJumper]

cheap batteries and high electric load with minimal charging times (low mileage) recipe for cooking the AUX battery and that will ultimately drag the main down with it.

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

With the exception of the battery in my old car, which gets unhooked each time it's parked (going on 12 years now ) I've never had a battery last longer than 5 years. That's across multiple vehicles and manufacturers from the 90's, 00's, and 2010's. I believe what we're seeing is a combination of being more connected (i.e. internet forums where we hear about EVERYONE'S issues) and legitimately more cars/drivers on the road to subsequently talk about the problems they're having.

Now I'll sit back and hear about everyone who has replaced their Gladiator battery annually for the last 5 years

 

[Lost1wing]

Lack of use and more electronics that stay alive. The only way to overcome this will be to drive the vehicle or put a trickle charger on it when not in use.

My 2020 is still on the original batteries. I can go about 2 weeks letting it sit but the batteries will show 12.2vdc. So to avoid a no start or getting stranded, I keep my trickle charger on it when it is parked for more than a week. Even now, after I pull the trickle charger off, my voltage will be 12.6vdc after a few hours. I have been satisfied with my batteries but I just didn't ignore them.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I just wonder if I am lucky or if batteries simply don't last as long today.

They don't last as long. I've found that over the decades with my classic cars, lawn tractors and more.
And - a discussion at a local NAPA distribution center/parts store brought it up when one guy said "I have trouble getting batteries to last 4 years in cars today". Others there chimed in, agreeing..

The OEM battery in my 95 F250 lasted 12 years.
The OEM battery in my 2011 Silverado lasted 6 years.
The OEM battery in my JD lawn tractor went way over 7 years.
I've had Walmart batteries last over 7 years.
But this was all before about 2010.

Today, we have parasitic drains and people with Jeeps often don't drive them often enough or far enough to keep the batteries topped off.
Keeping them charged with a battery tender can help. More frequent and longer drives can, but if you can't do that, use a battery tender.
My wife didn't drive her 2018 WK2 very often or very far, batteries lasted 3 years, so I've started keeping them on a tender.

It's a combination - the batteries themselves, and the parasitic drains, and the shorter and/or infrequent drives.

 

[Janster]

There are so many reasons why batteries last - or don’t last.

From the Vehicles themselves (engineered & designed differently, use different parts, have different battery draw, etc), to how much you drive them and/or mileage, rpm’s, etc to cold versus hot temps & cold & hot weather, the amount of accessories you have and what draw they use,……type of battery used, yadda yadda yadda

In years past….. we had an Acura MDX where the battery only lasted 3 years. No warning - it just DIED. My husbands previously owned BMW (2019), we had that for 6 years and never replaced the battery. We had a 2001 Corvette that we had to keep on a trickle charger cuz we didn’t drive it enough. I’ve actually changed batteries that were still running good after 5 years because I didn’t want to be left on the side of the road in the middle of winter.

I have no idea what this JT will do……. it is what it is. When one of them dies, I’ll replace both of them at the same time.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I have 8 batteries ranging in life from 4-5 years. They're all still going strong, but I should probably start watching for deals.

 

[Rob_R]

My '05 Dodge Ram Cummins factory batteries went 7 years when I changed them just on principle. My wife's '03 Dodge Ram 5.7 went 9 years on the factory battery when I also changed it just on principle. The trucks were not daily drivers and we didn't use battery tenders. These are just examples of how it used to be. Less vehicle electronics running all of the time is the key.

Also, and I cannot verify it, I have heard that the recycled lead used in current batteries is not as pure as the virgin lead (or less recycled content) used in older batteries. I don't know if that statement is accurate as battery recycling has been around as long I can remember and I am 70. In high school, we used to take our old batteries to the junk yard for scrap money.

 

[Lost1wing]

I have 8 batteries ranging in life from 4-5 years. They're all still going strong, but I should probably start watching for deals.

Murphy says to replace all of your batteries at the same time.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Murphy says to replace all of your batteries at the same time.

I didn't even knock on wood while I typed that. I'm screwed.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Murphy says to replace all of your batteries at the same time.

At least your battery can't drop down, roll under the Jeep and then down the floor drain............

Imagine all of the 10mm sockets Murphy owns by now.

 

[Lost1wing]

I didn't even knock on wood while I typed that. I'm screwed.

I don't even want to count all of my engines with batteries. The golf cart is on set nbr 2 and they are 6 years old. 6 vehicles at the moment, two tractors, 2 trailer winch batteries and more than 4 lawnmower type batteries. My Duramax has the newest batteries and that was 4 years ago. I know exactly what you are talking about!

 

[GeneralMaximus]

My theory is, the dealer installed GPS trackers are constantly drawing power from the battery(s), even when parked.

I keep my JT on a tender whenever it’s parked for more than a few days. Before I ripped out that GPS unit, my battery tender was constantly cycling on/off. Now, it shows fully charged whenever I check it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

My theory is, the dealer installed GPS trackers are constantly drawing power from the battery(s), even when parked.

I keep my JT on a tender whenever it’s parked for more than a few days. Before I ripped out that GPS unit, my battery tender was constantly cycling on/off. Now, it shows fully charged whenever I check it.

If they were on all vehicles sold, meh, maybe.
Not all dealers install those, and, most of us have ripped them out by now if found.
(Not all dealers try to upsell you with theft recovery protection.)

I should hook one back up and measure the actual current draw - my bet, it's really miniscule....... interesting experiment.

 

[Jteakus]

Every vehicle, MC, tractor and piece of equipment I own has a tender on it. When I park it it gets plugged in. This is the only way I've been able to get a good run out of my batteries otherwise they die shortly after the warranty expires, The Optima batteries are the exception, I get 7-8 years out of them when they are kept on tender when not in use.

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