Starting batteries (that won't start)

[grafy82]

Well, as the weather started cooling up a bit, I knew it wouldn't be too far off. The starter battery in the 80 series had been sluggish for the past couple of months. I had always kept the demi water topped up,  I tried a dose of inox (which I had already done on purchase of the battery as well) and multiple long charges on the multi stage  house charger but this morning it finally died. Purchased on the 26/4/11, it gave me just over 3 years.
    I always liked the idea of being able to maintain and top up the water on the battery, but this morning while looking through the shop I found a Supercharge silver series maintenance free jobbie at a great price and 30 months replacement warranty, so took this option.
    They say that these days you're lucky to get 2 years from a battery, but then you here reports from some that say they got 8 years from their last one. So what are Swaggers experiences when it comes to starting batteries. Have I just ballsed-up buying a maintenance free type. What life do you get and what, if any, maintenance do you do to delay the inevitable?

[muzza01]

2 years??? You can shove that.
3 years. That's crap
4 years not happy
5 years mmmm
6 years happy
7 years over the moon
8 years really???

[Landyline]

Got 5 years for the Corolla's original battery and the same for the Supercharge in the Discovery. Both of those cars are gone now.
Pajero has 1 year but when it fails I was thinking an Optima yellow top as it only has the one battery.

The Supercharge is now running an electric fence on solar. Don't think it would reliably start a car though.

[Mace]

Three years battery life in southern climates would be the average.

[grafy82]

Yep, my uncle got 8 years out of a battery in his 80 series after he put a large square head funnel just up under the bullbar and a flexible hose running up to the battery tray to direct constant, cool air to it. Then the old neighbour next door (who always likes to have a laugh at me when I'm under the bonnet) leans over the fence and said he got 8years out of the little battery in his Charade. Makes me jealous.

[lino6]

I got 2 Marshall batteries in 08, 1 for the diesel Rodeo and 1 for the petrol Rodeo. When we traded the Petrol in on the DMax I took it out an put a 60 dollar KMart special in it to trade. The battery then went into the tractor that gets SFA use. That died this year so got a good run out of it considering the last nearly 4 years of use. The one in the diesel Rodeo is still going great.

[Hairs]

The battery that was in the cruiser when I bought it lasted 8 years(Previous owner has all records of work done), 3 years of those I got out of it, the next 2 batteries didn't even last two years each.
This century has lasted over 2 years now 
 

[Patr80l]

I had my 80 Series for 14 years from new and replaced the starting battery only once.   I cant remember exactly when that was but it was well into the second half of that time period.   The auxiliary battery was a different matter.   It was replaced every couple of years, but it would frequently be run flat (<10V) as I kept the fridge running all the time.

[fuji]

10 years on the Prado, so japanese batteries are okay.

[grafy82]

Well it would seem that the original battery in the cruiser was the best judging by the responses so far. The battery that my uncle got 8 years out of was also the original that came with his 80 series. I can just imagine Mr. Toyota, "genuine battery, yes we can get those in. That'll be $726.00 please".

[ATC]

Well it would seem that the original battery in the cruiser was the best judging by the responses so far. The battery that my uncle got 8 years out of was also the original that came with his 80 series. I can just imagine Mr. Toyota, "genuine battery, yes we can get those in. That'll be $726.00 please".

+GST

[Coiled]

I generally get at least 5 years out of my batteries. All I do is every 3-6 months set them up on one of my Ctek Chargers for a few days and otherwise use as normal.

The longest is current batteries currently in service is my motorbike (2008 Yamaha) and still on its original battery.

[Garfish]

Well it would seem that the original battery in the cruiser was the best judging by the responses so far. The battery that my uncle got 8 years out of was also the original that came with his 80 series. I can just imagine Mr. Toyota, "genuine battery, yes we can get those in. That'll be $726.00 please".

And only $150 to fit

[Hews]

2 years??? You can shove that.
3 years. That's crap
4 years not happy
5 years mmmm
6 years happy
7 years over the moon
8 years really???

X 2

Would hope for at least 5 years but depends how you treat them. If you discharge it too often(or flatten battery) won't last long. Wifes Land Rover still on original battery - 6 n half years. Prado is up to 3 years.

Worst I've ever had was 2.5 years from a falcon ute - but I drained it a few time using the stereo while camping