I have about 100,600 miles on the original Nissan battery. I'm not sure if I should replace it and be cautious or use it til it dies. How long have you all lasted with yours? My girlfriends Father has a 94 Q45t and that original battery lasted over 130k miles.
Junior Member
What year is the vehicle? I think you have to pay attention to the number of years rather than the mileage. A good battery will last 4+ years.
You could always swing by the dealer and have them do a specific gravity test with a hydrometer it take about 10 minutes......
You could always swing by the dealer and have them do a specific gravity test with a hydrometer it take about 10 minutes......
Senior Member
It looks like its getting old.
The problem with old batteries is that when the chemical reactions take place during charging the lead builds back up on the plates slightly, and you can imagine what happens after years of cycles of this. Sometimes plates short out, sometimes the electrolyte gets diluted. A good thing to do is to disconnect the battery and take a voltage reading across the terminals (disconnecting is important so you don't have things like the ECU and the Alarm system feeding off the battery while taking a reading). The battery should read at a voltage of 12.6V, any lower like 10.5 or subtracting any multiple of 2.1 (the voltage of each individual cell) and you have a dead battery cell, but if the voltage is significantly lower at all, replace the battery. Another test to check your battery out is to get a battery electrolyte tester. Pop open the caps on the battery and check each one of the 6 cells. Also look inside to make sure the cell plates have liquid completely submerging the plates.
The problem with old batteries is that when the chemical reactions take place during charging the lead builds back up on the plates slightly, and you can imagine what happens after years of cycles of this. Sometimes plates short out, sometimes the electrolyte gets diluted. A good thing to do is to disconnect the battery and take a voltage reading across the terminals (disconnecting is important so you don't have things like the ECU and the Alarm system feeding off the battery while taking a reading). The battery should read at a voltage of 12.6V, any lower like 10.5 or subtracting any multiple of 2.1 (the voltage of each individual cell) and you have a dead battery cell, but if the voltage is significantly lower at all, replace the battery. Another test to check your battery out is to get a battery electrolyte tester. Pop open the caps on the battery and check each one of the 6 cells. Also look inside to make sure the cell plates have liquid completely submerging the plates.
Member who somehow became The President of The SE-L Club
You can't measure a batter by the mileage on it! 
Age and cycles are what kill it over time. Betteries that short cycle, short hops, lots of starts will fail faster then betteries that have longer cycles, or fewer starts per day.
Example - Your momma who drives to Shop Rite 5 minutes away 2x/day will kill a bettery pretty quick.
Your daddy who drives 45 miles to and from work each day could have a better that lasts 6 or 7 years.
Grandmas car that sits in the garage for long periods of time is going to eat batteries quick too.
The thugs on the corner playing loud rap music don't give a rats a$$ how long their $175 dollar battery will last as long as their music sounds good.
Age and cycles are what kill it over time. Betteries that short cycle, short hops, lots of starts will fail faster then betteries that have longer cycles, or fewer starts per day.Example - Your momma who drives to Shop Rite 5 minutes away 2x/day will kill a bettery pretty quick.
Your daddy who drives 45 miles to and from work each day could have a better that lasts 6 or 7 years.
Grandmas car that sits in the garage for long periods of time is going to eat batteries quick too.
The thugs on the corner playing loud rap music don't give a rats a$$ how long their $175 dollar battery will last as long as their music sounds good.
140k miles, 6 years, mine's still goin and goin!!!!
I'm going to get a Yellow top very soon... costco seems to be selling optima battery @ some good prices.
I'm going to get a Yellow top very soon... costco seems to be selling optima battery @ some good prices.
Senior Member
yeah, I'd have a spare battery on hand. Cuz one day, mine just died out of the blue. No reason at all, just wouldn't start up without a jump.
Junior Member
Quote:
Originally posted by MacGyver265
It looks like its getting old.
The problem with old batteries is that when the chemical reactions take place during charging the lead builds back up on the plates slightly, and you can imagine what happens after years of cycles of this. Sometimes plates short out, sometimes the electrolyte gets diluted. A good thing to do is to disconnect the battery and take a voltage reading across the terminals (disconnecting is important so you don't have things like the ECU and the Alarm system feeding off the battery while taking a reading). The battery should read at a voltage of 12.6V, any lower like 10.5 or subtracting any multiple of 2.1 (the voltage of each individual cell) and you have a dead battery cell, but if the voltage is significantly lower at all, replace the battery. Another test to check your battery out is to get a battery electrolyte tester. Pop open the caps on the battery and check each one of the 6 cells. Also look inside to make sure the cell plates have liquid completely submerging the plates.
I dont think you cant really measure the voltage using your method. Even a pertty old battery will read around 13 volts, simply because there is no load on the battery. Just for the heck of it one time I tried to measure a battery that was probably 8 years old that was laying around the shop. The thing was in terrible shape, corroded terminals, could barely even read the sticker on the thing. A time bomb waiting to happen, haha. Anyway after using the multimeter to get a voltage, it turned out the damn thing read almost 12 volts. I was in disbelief. But then again voltage to a multimeter with a high impedance (i.e. pulling negligable current) is a heck of a lot different than the voltage/high current the battery has to source out under a ignition load. Generally only a starter/alternator rebuilder shop is going to have the equipment necessary to "fake" the load....Originally posted by MacGyver265
It looks like its getting old.
The problem with old batteries is that when the chemical reactions take place during charging the lead builds back up on the plates slightly, and you can imagine what happens after years of cycles of this. Sometimes plates short out, sometimes the electrolyte gets diluted. A good thing to do is to disconnect the battery and take a voltage reading across the terminals (disconnecting is important so you don't have things like the ECU and the Alarm system feeding off the battery while taking a reading). The battery should read at a voltage of 12.6V, any lower like 10.5 or subtracting any multiple of 2.1 (the voltage of each individual cell) and you have a dead battery cell, but if the voltage is significantly lower at all, replace the battery. Another test to check your battery out is to get a battery electrolyte tester. Pop open the caps on the battery and check each one of the 6 cells. Also look inside to make sure the cell plates have liquid completely submerging the plates.
Senior Member
Actually you can try and get as technical as you want, but the answer is still pretty elemental.....use it until it dies. There is absolutely no reason to get a new battery because the battery being replaced is "old" or has "high" mileage. Unless you are a frail young lady, deliver human organs, or make a lot of midnight runs there is no reason to be worried about your battery totally leaving you stranded (unless it gets shorted and blows up
). The battery will start acting weak and unreliable long before going totally dead.
). The battery will start acting weak and unreliable long before going totally dead.
Senior Member
Check the fluid level in your battery. When my OEM battery died it was half full! If the fluid level is low, I would suggest changing it now so you don't get stuck in the middle of no-where like me.
Senior Member
Quote:
Originally posted by Pappa Grande
Check the fluid level in your battery. When my OEM battery died it was half full! If the fluid level is low, I would suggest changing it now so you don't get stuck in the middle of no-where like me.
As I explained, you will not get "stranded" unless you ignore the obvious signs of problems or you blow the battery up. How did you get stranded? A battery will be obviously weak and start showing signs of discharge long before it looses enough charge to start the car. If you ignore the signs, you will get stranded, but only if you don't do anything about it.Originally posted by Pappa Grande
Check the fluid level in your battery. When my OEM battery died it was half full! If the fluid level is low, I would suggest changing it now so you don't get stuck in the middle of no-where like me.
Senior Member
Quote:
Originally posted by Pappa Grande
Check the fluid level in your battery. When my OEM battery died it was half full! If the fluid level is low, I would suggest changing it now so you don't get stuck in the middle of no-where like me.
You don't have to change the fluid, just make sure its full.Originally posted by Pappa Grande
Check the fluid level in your battery. When my OEM battery died it was half full! If the fluid level is low, I would suggest changing it now so you don't get stuck in the middle of no-where like me.
Re: Over 100k miles on original battery? How far can I take it?
Use it til you start having starting issues. I'm surprised it's lasted this long, as OEM batteries are typically only good for 4 years or so. Still, there's no reason to replace a perfectly fine battery.
If you want to know how well it's doing, get a voltmeter and measure the V across the poles when the car is off and after it's been started. Should be between 14.1-14.7. If it's good when running but low out-of-spec when off then the battery may be going south.
You could go ahead and replace it now for piece of mind, but I personally would use it until it started crapping out. It's your call.
If you want to know how well it's doing, get a voltmeter and measure the V across the poles when the car is off and after it's been started. Should be between 14.1-14.7. If it's good when running but low out-of-spec when off then the battery may be going south.
You could go ahead and replace it now for piece of mind, but I personally would use it until it started crapping out. It's your call.
Quote:
Originally posted by Bernie Lomax
I have about 100,600 miles on the original Nissan battery. I'm not sure if I should replace it and be cautious or use it til it dies. How long have you all lasted with yours? My girlfriends Father has a 94 Q45t and that original battery lasted over 130k miles.
Originally posted by Bernie Lomax
I have about 100,600 miles on the original Nissan battery. I'm not sure if I should replace it and be cautious or use it til it dies. How long have you all lasted with yours? My girlfriends Father has a 94 Q45t and that original battery lasted over 130k miles.
Quote:
Originally posted by njmaxseltd
You can't measure a batter by the mileage on it! Age and cycles are what kill it over time. Betteries that short cycle, short hops, lots of starts will fail faster then betteries that have longer cycles, or fewer starts per day.
Example - Your momma who drives to Shop Rite 5 minutes away 2x/day will kill a bettery pretty quick.
Your daddy who drives 45 miles to and from work each day could have a better that lasts 6 or 7 years.
Grandmas car that sits in the garage for long periods of time is going to eat batteries quick too.
The thugs on the corner playing loud rap music don't give a rats a$$ how long their $175 dollar battery will last as long as their music sounds good.
Not to mention cold winter states like MI, that can also kill a battery Originally posted by njmaxseltd
You can't measure a batter by the mileage on it!
Age and cycles are what kill it over time. Betteries that short cycle, short hops, lots of starts will fail faster then betteries that have longer cycles, or fewer starts per day.Example - Your momma who drives to Shop Rite 5 minutes away 2x/day will kill a bettery pretty quick.
Your daddy who drives 45 miles to and from work each day could have a better that lasts 6 or 7 years.
Grandmas car that sits in the garage for long periods of time is going to eat batteries quick too.
The thugs on the corner playing loud rap music don't give a rats a$$ how long their $175 dollar battery will last as long as their music sounds good.
Junior Member
Does NOTHING. The battery is not under a load condition. Even a crappy old battery will read 13 volts.......
Senior Member
Just one more voice to the chorus -- I replaced my battery at around 110,000 miles. I waited until it was getting pretty bad. I won't make that mistake again. When I put in a fresh battery, I couldn't get over how damned quick the engine started. Definitely worth the $75!