We all realize that most OEM batteries last approx 2 years and have added the replacement as part of our normal maintenance cycles.

Well, this year I skipped it. DOH!!! Yes, my procrastination left me stranded in an abandoned parking lot after I pulled over to take a phone call (as I am wont to do) when I rolled down the windows and shut off the car to enjoy my call with a pleasant Florida evening. After the call I was greeted with the ever not so enchanting song I call "solenoid without enough current in D-Minor.) I thought it took a bit to start after dropping my bride at the airport earlier in the day but as the noise in the "tunnel" was so loud I couldn't be sure. It did, however, rekindle my promise to go and get a Red Top for installation over the Holiday weekend.

Of course, 75 miles from home, no tools, I just couldn't go to the local parts store so, after AAA came and provided the jump, I went to the nearest Sears store for a new battery. I arrived about 5 mins before closing and was greeted with a "come on in and we'll get that replaced for you!"

Unfortunately, they had no Red Tops in stock that would fit so I settled for the DieHard Platinum. I've had great results with them in the past so I'm not too disappointed (although I really wanted to try the Red Top!)

Now comes the fun part of reprogramming the windows, radio, seats and the assorted sundries I've become accustomed to over the last two years. DOH!! Additionally, the ECU seems to have reverted back to the factory defaults so there will be some time before it "re-learns" my driving style and my shift points/mileage get to "my norms." Granted, the reprogramming would still have to be done if I had done it during a maintenance cycle, but at least I would have been home and prepared to do it!

 

damn, 24mo passes to quick

 

24 months, is that your timeline living in florida, my 06 the battery lasted 3 years and 65k of which it had a pretty hard life, long commute but on the job it saw 10-20 startups a day.

Now Im wondering if I should just gets a diehard

 

When replacing the battery, they leave the car running so the alternator still powers the vehicle not erasing any presets in the memory.

 

I thought reading somewhere in the Service Manual to NOT leave the Max running when replacing the battery. It is supposedly hard on some of the electronics.

 

Heat is hard on batteries, and although I don't quite have the number of cycles you do, I am over 99K now. We've seen that these 7th Gens do generate quite a bit of heat on their own as well, so I wasn't surprised too much at all...just irritated with myself for not following my own "schedule!"

 

Too true. I would never turn my baby over to someone who would attempt such a stunt. The battery is the primary filter capacitor in our charging systems and given the amount of electronics in our 7th Gens, I shudder at the thought of unfiltered voltage coursing through those circuits.

 

idk...i've always known that's the way to do it without erasing any memory.

maybe they use these:

 

I think I would rather go through the inconvenience of re-programming for an hour or so, than the problems of replacing electronic components that start to go flaky or intermittent because of changing my battery. Besides re-programming will give you a chance to re-visit some of the options or features that you forgot you have.

 

Leaving the engine running while changing the battery seems like a bad idea, but instead, shut the engine off. Find a temporary battery and connect it up with jumper cables. You might tape them on just in case. then carefully remove and replace the car battery. Remove the jumper cables, and the car has never lost power. The key is to fined a good place the connect the + cable so you can still remove it.

 

Not a bad idea! Seems like a most reasonable approach and one I will certainly keep in mind.

 

LtLeary, yours died off old age and of natural causes. My car has sat in the garage for two weeks and the battery is dead. This is the second time this has happened to this car this year. I gave it a boost which was not an easy task since I dont have a booster back I had to take the battery out of my Honda and use it with cables to jump it. In my case I think the remote start alarm is causing this drain since it has happened to both cars and the dealer confirmed on the other that it was in their opinion the alarm. In summary I thankful it was not a major issue for each of us. Happy holidays.

 

Sounds like you need a battery tender, my Z sits in my garage for weeks if not months at a time same with my ATV's and I have battery tenders for all of them.

 

I need a new car! This was my first new car purchase for myself and it has...............

 

Funny you posted this LtLeary, I just replaced mine a few months ago. Darn heat just kills them here.

 

That is what make me such a dolt...we all know that, yet I have to wait until I'm stuck before I take action!

 

2 years!? Wow I didn't know there was even a battery changing schedule

But as for saving the memory in the car when removing the battery, there is this little battery thing you can plug into the cigarette lighter to keep your car "alive" while you change its heart.

I think keeping the car running while changing the battery is kind of... risky to say the least.

 

Ah yes, I forgot about the "memory saver" devices. That sounds like the "proper" way to go. Thanks for joggin' our memory.

 

The battery in my 2011 has an 84 month pro-rated warranty. The 2006 I traded for it was still on its original battery.

 

Us Southern Boys don't get much more out of our batteries with all the heat!!! OEMs just don't last too long down here so I've made it a "rule" to replace before failure (There I go breaking another rule!!!!)