Car battery life - How long did your battery last?

shuvc · 23rd February 2006, 12:49

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 · 23rd February 2006, 13:01

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 · 23rd February 2006, 13:32

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

Buffetfan · 24th February 2006, 02:53

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 · 24th February 2006, 03:07

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 · 24th February 2006, 03:32

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

My WagonR - OEM 23 months. Replacement: 3 years, 4 months and still running. WOW!

My 800 - OEM 2 years. Replacement: 2.5 years. Second replacement running.

My old 800 - OEM little less than 2 years. Replacement: 2.5 years. Next replacement: the buyer knows.

I got some memory, eh?

Anyways, OEMs always die early.

nitrous · 24th February 2006, 14:55

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

speedsatya · 24th February 2006, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitrous

the battery life was normally 3 yrs.

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

SLK · 24th February 2006, 17:12

Quote:

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 · 25th February 2006, 13:00

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 · 25th February 2006, 22:57

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 · 26th February 2006, 22:49

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

kpzen · 26th February 2006, 22:53

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 · 1st March 2006, 06:51

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 · 1st March 2006, 10:04

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...

23rd February 2006, 12:49	#1
shuvc Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kolkata Posts: 2,911 Thanked: 360 Times View My Garage	Car battery life - How long did your battery last? 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 ?
	() Thanks

23rd February 2006, 13:01	#2
supremeBaleno Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chennai / Kochi Posts: 5,676 Thanked: 2,919 Times View My Garage	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.
	(1) Thanks

23rd February 2006, 13:32	#3
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,964 Thanked: 333 Times View My Garage	In all the cars i've used, the battery life was normally 3 yrs.
	() Thanks

24th February 2006, 02:53	#4
Buffetfan Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,130 Thanked: 216 Times	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
	() Thanks

24th February 2006, 03:07	#5
ritik123 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: United States Posts: 123 Thanked: 4 Times	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.
	() Thanks

24th February 2006, 03:32	#6
SLK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Nomad Posts: 1,807 Thanked: 1,425 Times	OK, interesting! My Alto Vxi - OEM Battery 2 days! Replaced under warranty, but leaked (spoiled the interiors of the bonnet) - 1.5+years. Replacement: 2 years and running. My WagonR - OEM 23 months. Replacement: 3 years, 4 months and still running. WOW! My 800 - OEM 2 years. Replacement: 2.5 years. Second replacement running. My old 800 - OEM little less than 2 years. Replacement: 2.5 years. Next replacement: the buyer knows. I got some memory, eh? Anyways, OEMs always die early. Last edited by Aditya : 26th April 2020 at 08:21. Reason: Dotty post corrected
	(1) Thanks

24th February 2006, 14:55	#7
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,964 Thanked: 333 Times View My Garage	OT: SLK, u guys must be a Maruti family. What next a Baleno??
	() Thanks

25th February 2006, 13:00	#10
filcord BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: goa Posts: 997 Thanked: 68 Times	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.
	() Thanks

25th February 2006, 22:57	#11
deepu021 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1 Thanked: 0 Times	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.
	() Thanks

26th February 2006, 22:49	#12
kb100 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangy Boy! Posts: 1,556 Thanked: 23 Times	The Best Battery?? Hi All... lets poll your views... which one is the best battery available inthe market today?
	() Thanks

26th February 2006, 22:53	#13
kpzen Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Faridabad Posts: 5,608 Thanked: 1,884 Times View My Garage	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...
	() Thanks

1st March 2006, 06:51	#14
zzzehar BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Gurugram Posts: 278 Thanked: 74 Times	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.
	() Thanks

1st March 2006, 10:04	#15
sonicboom Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 1 Thanked: 0 Times	Awesome OEM battery. 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...
	() Thanks