So, I go bush for a month with the family for a month, leaving the Aero in the drive for a month. We get back late yesterday after 6500km across 3 states, and would you believe it...the thing actually starts, first time. A but grumpy, yes, a bit of black over richness out the back, but it ran well enough and impressed me no end. Fantastic!
We have left one of our two for an extended period, sometimes in the cold and damp and they have always started. I think the batteries are quite well overspecified for less Nordic regions.
My previous 9-5 had a long spell when it was only run about monthly and it always started first time; I never worried about it really. Wouldn't most modern cars start ok after that sort of spell?
Nope. Many seem to have slight current drawing away that will flatten a battery inside a few weeks. Impressed that the 9-3 cranked so fast and this one is parked outside in the drive, uncovered.
Seemed there was a bit of fuel leaking form the injectors, making it run poorly for a few minutes. But it cleared up and the tyres smoothed out their flatspots after a few hours. All good.
I've had a few issues with the car in the last two weeks. First, it wouldn't lock with the remote (fixed by disconnecting). Then it wouldn't start after not moving it over the Easter break. The battery was flat so I gave it a good charge to get it going.
Popped into Halfords yesterday for a test and the battery was pushing some 350 amps and 12.6 volts (remember I'd given it a full charge). The thing is, the chap said something was drawing current with the engine off and doors closed and that concerned me a bit. But you know, theres always some fan chuntering or some whirring after the engine is turned off.
The old battery was only 3 years old but I bought a new battery anyway as it always seems to be the first port of call after electrical gremlins.
Question is - how long should the batteries last? I only make short journeys and always drive with the lights on.
Modern batteries seem to die suddenly and not recover.
If you think you have a drain on the battery, you need a good ammeter that can take the current. Connect the ammeter in the circuit and see the current passing. If it's too high, pull fuses until you find the circuit that is using the current.
My 9-3 was sat at heathrow Airport for the whole of November whilst I worked in Cairo. Came back and it fired 1st time; spluttered a bit though.
A 9-3 should last over a month without being started. However, I did once have a car with a mysterious current drain that only started after the car had been turned off for about 24 hours. It turned out that the car had a tracker in it and the built in battery was faulty and lasted 24 hours until it acted as a parasite on the cars battery and flattened it within a day or two. If you have a mysterious power drain then have a good look for trackers inside the car!
Smurkenstein, if you get 3 years out of a battery you have done well. You really want to see over 13.3V across the terminals on a 9-3 at idle when running if things are good. Pop in a new battery and unload the alternator a bit. The car will run better all up too.
That's a very short life for a battery. My wife's 9-3 Vector is nearly 14 years old, and it had one battery change.
My car is coming up to 8 years old and has had one battery change after 5 years.
Maybe it's due to moe het in Australia?
We're on the second battery in our 2003 MY 9-5 and have just replaced the original battery in my 2000 MY Astra 2.0 Di - and to be honest the only problem was that it was a bit slow to start when cold. Neither of our cars have the luxury of a garage either. Obviously 2000 was a good year for batteries!
Whats a garage Colly?? Never had one in 31 years of marriage - would love one but would be hiding in there all the while doing some important stuff ???
The word on the street, from the RACV boys is that 3 years is about average down here. I make a point of deep cycle charging our batteries once everynow and then and have been able to prolong past four years. But that's pushing it. Maybe it is the heat or something, but in winter they seem to just fall over on cold mornings. Now we have the Calcium coated batteries in both our cars I am hoping for more than 3. The cars crank well on startup now and the lights seem a bit brighter. Here's hoping.
I got about 4 years out of my original battery in my 09 convertible. It was my intention when the battery failed to replace it with an AGM battery but the damn thing died whilst my wife was getting fuel so had to get the auto club out.
If you want long life out of a battery I would recommend an Optima AGM fully sealed battery. They can be mounted any which way you like, I have had the same battery in my race car for nearly 4 years and it's left for a couple of months at a time and never needs charging and gets a lot of use over a race weekend. Look at about $300 for a yellow top though.
My 9-5 was on it's second battery when sold last year at 12 yrs old.
All 3 of out april 2008 93ss dervs are on the originals.
My 1993 CS Aero is on it's 3rd battery.
wifes 1999 pugeot had one before we sold it 2 yrs ago.
judging by that, i'd say 7yrs+ a battery is normal for me
Yeah, I reckon 5-7 must be about average on a 9-5. I replace at 5 cos I'm risk-averse and since they always let go without warning at the most inconvenient times, generally midwinter!
I've owned 3 Saabs each for 3-5 years, & I have only had to change a battery once.
On the other hand, our (mostly garaged & sadly rarely driven!) Nissan Figaro has been through 3 in 12 years.........after the second, I use an "Oxford Maximiser" to help maintain it, & that seems to help. I would think a car regularly used on more than just a 'short' journey should have a good battery for some time....
4-7 years seems to be the most common age when replaced, there's a reason most battery warranties are 3 years....