Battery tested okay, but it’s almost 5 years old. Would you replace it before a long trip?
Posted by kovucosplay@reddit | Autos | View on Reddit | 3 comments
I have a 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE with a little over 82k miles. It still starts fine most days, but the battery is close to 5 years old and I’ve got a few longer summer trips coming up.
I had it checked at a local shop, and they said it was still okay, but they showed me the battery health, CCA, and charging system results instead of just saying “good” or “bad.” That made me realize those numbers are actually more useful than just waiting for slow starts.
Battery prices are all over the place too. Regular replacements seem to be around $120-$220, while AGM options can be closer to $190-$300 depending on brand and store.
After seeing the shop’s test results, I started thinking about getting a simple tester like the bt100 to keep at home. I don’t need anything too advanced, but checking voltage, CCA, battery health, and charging before a trip sounds pretty useful.
For a 5-year-old battery that still passes, would you replace it before a road trip, keep using it, or just carry a jump starter?
GarThor_TMK@reddit
I have a battery that's going on 7 years I think. My regular shop keeps wanting to replace it, but AAA keeps saying it's good to keep using.
It hasn't actually failed me yet, and my AAA membership is good and up to date... so... 🤷
Emergency_Pudding@reddit
In my opinion a good test is a good test. It’s not a bad idea to replace it, but I would think it unlikely to fail during a long trip with lots of interstate miles. I would find it more likely to fail during day to day driving where you are shutting down and starting up more frequently.
That said, sometimes Murphy’s law isn’t anything to mess with.
Blindbatts@reddit
I would carry a jump starter even with a brand new battery.