OEM car battery life - How long did your OE battery last?

[shuvc]

I had been to a MUL-dealer-customer meet and there was a pretty frustrated aged man with a strange experience.
His Q was something like this:
He has had 3 cars till date over a span of a decade. All of them M800's bought new. I think he said that battery warranty was for 1 year.
In each of the 3 cases, the OEM battery died after 1.5 years. For all 3 cars he replaced the battery with exactly the same model and make as the OEM battery. In the first 2 cars they ran for 3 years. In the 3rd, it was still running fine in the second year. Obviously he could not claim replacement under warranty.
His Q. Does MUL give sub-standard batteries in new cars ?
MUL officials were at a loss to explain this.

My Q. While this was one person's experience with MUL and M800, has anyone faced this with any other car/manufacturer ?

[supremeBaleno]

With our two M800s we never had any problems with the battery for 2-3 years.
And I do not think MUL is to blame here. I guess the dealers and service centres (some of them atleast) replace your battery with older ones when you give it for service.
One way to avoid this is to check the battery (for new-ness) on taking delivery of your new car, make a note of the serial number, and compare every time you get it back after service.
I have a strong doubt that they played around with my Baleno battery. But since I did not do the above precaution, can't fight it out with them.

[nitrous]

In all the cars i've used, the battery life was normally 3 yrs.

[Buffetfan]

2.2 years for the original Exide in my uno...the replacement Amaron has already lasted 3.5 years and is showing no signs of tiring down...gues Amaron are the best batteries in town

[ritik123]

The exide battery in my omni lasted for as long as i had the vehilcle, 5 years.

Exide in my baleno is dead after 22 months. Of course the car is lying idle for the last 6 months with my dad starting the engine for 5 mins once a week. now the battery is totally dead.

[SLK]

OK .... interesting
My Alto Vxi.... OEM Battery 2 days!!..... Replaced under warranty but leaked (spoiled the interiors of the bonnet) 1.5+years..... Replacement.... 2yrs and running.

My WagonR... OEM 23 months..... Replacement... 3 year 4 months... still running WOW!

My 800... OEM 2yrs... Replacement 2.5years..... Second replacement running.

My old 800... OEM little less than 2 yrs.... replacement 2.5yrs.... next replacement ... the buyer knows.

I got some memory, eh?

Anyways.... OEMs always die early.

[nitrous]

OT:
SLK, u guys must be a Maruti family.
What next a Baleno??

[speedsatya]

Originally Posted by nitrous

the battery life was normally 3 yrs.

even my OEM batteries lasted for 3-3.5 years ...

[SLK]

Originally Posted by nitrous

SLK, u guys must be a Maruti family.
What next a Baleno??

Oh yeah!... There was one more but bought it second hand in 80s... so no OEM battery there!

Baleno!... Well I don't mind!

[filcord]

Had a Santro Nov '99. OEM Exide Battery lasted till August 2004, had done 55,000 km by then. On my Ford Escort diesel, new Ford battery installed at 65,000 kms in Dec 2002, was as good as new when I sold the car at 113,000kms in October 2005.

If your alternator is in good nick, you check the battery regularly for water, clean the terminals and apply petroleum jelly every three months, and do not have any monster sound system sucking up the juice, your battery should last around 4 years easy.

[deepu021]

My Zen Di - OEM for 2.5 years (Installed Hi performance Music System, Central Locking, AC & Elec Pow Steering also consumes battery) and 85000 kms. The replacement is now runnong for the last 6 months.. too early to comment on the same.

[kb100]

Hi All... lets poll your views... which one is the best battery available inthe market today?

[kpzen]

Even my OEM battery lasted for 3.5+ years....Thanks to my dads frequent checks i guess...At the moment Standard Farukhawa from Exide are the best...

[zzzehar]

The OEM battery in My Matiz SG lasted for 4+ years. I just changed the battery to ACDelco (GM Motors) maintenance free. I had the option to go either for Amaron (Rs 2000) or ACDelco (Rs 1950) with the same time span of warranty. Both the batteries looked exactly the same except the stickers on them.
While I still thinking a punjabi Dood living abroad came along and asked for a battery for his car and as soon as he came to know that this particular dealer keeps ACDelco, he bought it happily saying that these last a lifetime back in US. Well ! that was enough of inspiration for me. I bought ACDelco.

[sonicboom]

My WagonR Lxi(Nov 2001) came with an Exide Freedom. And the battery rerally lasted. The battery gave way just last week(18th Feb 2006). It lasted a cool 4.25 years. thats a very good duration owing the fact that my car has run just abt 43000km. Of course the regular checkups were done. I think if u regularly drive ur car and check the acid level it should last atleast 4 years. Very satisfied. Replaced with the same battery..... Exide rules...