OEM batteries? What is cycle-life? When to replace?

habitTrail · **Joined:** Sat Jul 16, 2005 11:56 am **Posts:** 46

I bought the Liberty new in April of 2003. I have had it now for 4.5 years. I only have 30k miles on the clock if that makes any difference.

The battery sight glass still shows green. I thought when I bought the Jeep new, that it would come with a 3 year battery. It must be something else though. I passed the 3 year mark a year and a half ago.

So, when would you replace a battery? When it nears the end of its cycle-life or at the first hint of trouble? I've got a feeling that rather than hint of trouble, it just will not crank one day. But, I don't know what the cycle-life of the original equipment battery is.

Divide 30k miles by 4.5 years and you might see why I'm worried.

OTOH, maybe I have an evil battery that just will not die. :shock:

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2007 2:19 am

not sure. My moms 02 intrepid still has the original battery on it, has 46kms on it now and still no problems.

Usually its only 3-4 years and they die out.

IceColeNH · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2007 7:22 am

Mine just died at 150,000 miles after 4 years and 9 months.

Black_Dog · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2007 10:35 am

My OEM battery crapped out after only 36,194 miles and less than 2½ years.

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

I just replaced my 03s battery and it was working fine too. No corrosion on the terminals, plenty of power for starting and accessories. I just didn't want it to decide that this winter would be a good time to die, middle of the night, deserted highway, etc. It might have made it another winter, maybe not though. Peace of mind was the issue for me.

DryBones · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2007 11:44 am

just replaced my wifes 02 battery this summer at about 78k. one day it was fine the next completely dead.

SavageUrge · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2007 1:02 pm

I have the original battery in my '03 with almost 74,000 miles on it. It still starts strong within 1 second of the first turn of the key. It hasn't gotten very cold here yet, but I'm not anticipating having to change it for at least another year.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2007 1:18 pm

Typically a lead acid battery is trouble free for the first 4 1/2 years. After that it's anyones guess on when they will fail.

hooperswish · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2007 1:19 pm

With the manual we can push start!! :lol:

USPLibby · **Joined:** Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:29 am **Posts:** 377

My stock battery only lasted 3 years/36 months. Luckily I had the replacement Optima in my back seat when it went dead.

Maximum Carnage · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2007 4:05 pm

After 5 years my OEM went out last fall.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2007 4:18 pm

My stock battery is still going strong. Its in another Jeep thats not driven as much, which is probably why its still going.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:21 pm

Maximum Carnage wrote:

After 5 years my OEM went out last fall.

Five years!? That is rare. Congrats! I hope mine last that long. I just hit three years on mine with no problems *knocking on my head (wood)*

:lol:

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2007 8:15 pm

Almost 4 yrs, 80K miles. BUT, worked fine 1 day the next wouldn't crank. Tested bad, nothing left on. Glad it died now and not during the winter.
If the manufacturer warannties it for 3 years, ya gotta figure there's a reason! :roll:

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2007 8:25 pm

My 03 with 100K on it now kinda starts with a small delay over the last week or so. some days I notice it goes to start then quickly shuts off, but the when I try it again it fires up quick. I did notice my little green light on the battery is no longer any color and has plenty of build up on the terminals.

I think it is time to replace it before winter sets in

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 22, 2007 11:26 pm

just replaced mine in an '02 this summer

Rush345 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 2:23 am

I have an 02 Sport I'm pretty sure it was the original battery with 96,500 on the clock. A far as warning none, zilch,nada.
No warning what so ever parked it for a couple days and walked out one evening no clicking or any thing else it then grunted a couple times and finally started. Then I had to keep the RPM's up while I drove it down the street, came to a stop sign and died again. Couple of more grunts then started running once again got it on the highway and put about 30 miles on it everything seemed OK. But since it gave no warning next day Advanced Auto Parts. Couldn't afford the Optima but bought their Titanium top end house brand battery 750 Cold Cranking Amps . Now I am ready for winter.

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 2:36 am

i'll use my 60% discount to get myself an optima :twisted:

detroit_doc · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 2:01 pm

I've got an '03 with 48k on the clock. The battery was fine but I decided to throw an optima in it a couple weeks ago. I figured I got over 4 years of service out of the original. I just consider it preventative maintenance rather than get stranded somewhere in the middle of winter.

I don't know if it's true or not but I've also heard that when a battery starts performing poorly at the end of it's life that it's really hard on your alternator. The 160 amp alternator in my renegade is not cheap which is another reason I figured I'd just go ahead and take care of it now.

jeepgirl0385 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 2:08 pm

Mine still has the original with 50,000 miles (2003). So far so good.

What is this green sight glass people are talking about? Where would I find it?

OEM batteries? What is cycle-life? When to replace?

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