I have the factory battery in my 04.....last 2 years have been using a Battery Tender.....wondering if I should replace it or wait till it gives me trouble.

 

I would guess it couldn't be much longer. But take it somewhere for a load test and see what they say.

 

I think you're battery is on borrowed time. Down here you are lucky to get 3 years on one.

 

My original in my 04 died this spring.

Sounds like yours is at the end of its borrowed time!

 

I routinely get 3+years out of a battery--many makes and many models over 50+ years. Your battery is near the end of its natural life; but you might get another year or so.

 

Sounds like I'm in the minority, but I'd never change a battery (or most other parts) that were working correctly and gave no indication of problems. If you start to see the DIC settings or memory settings default to a different setting when you start the car, the battery is getting weak. This is just my OPINION and it's worth every penny you paid for it, but I'd look for an indication that it was time for a change. You can always have it load tested for free at most auto parts places. My previous 03 battery worked great for 6 yrs until I started to see the HUD display default to oil pressure when I didn't drive it for a while.

 

test it and see how it is. If it checks out, you're good. batteries typically last in accordance to how many times they've cycled through loads. At leasst that's been my experience. Vehicles I don't drive a bunch seem to last longer than my DD does.

But with that said, I would go ahead change it out if it were me. 7 years is pushing it and it seems nowadays with our electronics when they die they die in an instant. Doesn't seem like we get the usual warnings of a dying battery like we used to.

 

I'd go ahead and replace it before it leaves you stranded.

 

Going on 7 yrs w/my red top (using CTEK 3300) but am starting to look to replace it not wanting to push my luck. Understand heat is more a foe than cold on car battery.

 

My commemorative battery in my 04 has been replaced. but my dual batteries in my 01 dodge diesel truck are original and still going strong!

 

It's a minimum of 7+ years old - I'd say you may get a bit more time out of it, but I wouldn't count on too much.

 

Lets see.....replace the battery OR drive a three or four year battery until you need to be flatbeded home or to the shop because you locked up the security system or a column lock problem. You feel lucky?

 

i still have the original battery in my 04 ce convertible also. it seems to still be going strong. of course now that i said that it will die shortly lol

 

My 98 which I purchased new as a retirement gift to myself still has the original battery in it...I honestly do not drive the car all that much (27,000 miles on her clock) BUT I do use a Battery Tender on all 6 of my Corvettes....

I just went down to my garage and fired up my old DOS based maintenance program .that I keep records of all my cars on and the last battery I purchased was in 2001 ..and it was for my 72 ...

I also use a 12v 35 Ah mobility scooter battery to power my telescope in my Slotted Domed Observatory in my backyard.. That Battery was used for over a year in a mobility scooter and charged and discharged almost every other day Its been in use in my observatory now going on 6 years ...I keep a battery tendar on it when not in use...
I'd just have it checked... ..Observatory has a dozen electrical outlets in it but I will NOT power my scope off of an AC adapter as ..my electric company is not the greatest I just do not need a voltage spike to fry the scopes electronics...

Now maybe I'm extremely lucky OR Battery Tenders prolong a batteries life

Bob G..

 

Still have the oe battery in my CE vert which is from 03.

 

Smart chargers extend battery life noticeably, but they won't make them live forever. You've gotten 6+ good years, probably not much time left.

 

Six Vettes!!! I am soooooo jealous!

 

Change it. You've got your money's worth, now you are just pushing your luck.

Okie

 

My 0.02c FWIW

You have a lead acid battery if it's the OEM battery. The last ones in the 04s were redesigned so you don't have the risk of leaking which plagued the 97-00 batteries. That was caused by a bad battery post design which cracked if it was over-torqued. The AGMs fitted to the 02/03s were prone to early failure and you obviously don't have that issue

So, I'd say it depends how difficult a roasdside failure would be for you? If you drive within easy reach of home and have AAA, maybe you could live with the risk?

Normally, the battery gives a clue when it's about to die. Things like memory settings or HUD settings start to default to factory settings as the voltage drops.

Check your battery to see how it's doing:

To check your battery voltage, do not read the DIC when the car is off. The voltmeter is designed to measure alternator output when the car is running. It will always measure an inaccurately low voltage on the battery when the car is off. Anything from 11.0-11.9 is not abnormal in this mode. With the engine on, the voltmeter should show between 13V and 14.5V. A better reading can be measured at the battery terminals. Use a digital multi meter if you can. A fully charged battery measures 12.66 V and a fully discharged battery measures 11.86 V.

To be really accurate you should, first charge the battery fully (should be OK if you're on a tender) and then remove the surface charge. Leave the battery to sit at least several hours before testing. To remove surface charge the battery must be discharged for several minutes. Using a headlight (high beam) will do the trick. After turning off the light test the battery.

State of Charge, Specific Gravity, Voltage 12V
100% 1.265 12.7
75% 1.225 12.4
50% 1.190 12.2
25% 1.155 12.0
Discharged 1.120 11.9

When you look for a replacement the shop manual quotes the GM spec for the Vette which requires a Cold Cranking Ampage (CCA) of 500A and a reserve capacity of 80 minutes

How about buying a new battery and leaving it in the garage until you need it? You already had good service from your stock battery so I agree it won't be long before you need a replacement.

 

my 2004 with 9000 miles still shows a charge of 13 to 14