Original Battery Lifespan?
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Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Nashville, TN
Original Battery Lifespan?
My 2000 still has the original battery that came in the car. It is about 4.5 years old now. I will replace it with an optima eventually, but I hate to do it before necessary. Anybody have any idea of what the typical lifespan of these batteries is?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Granada Hills CA
Originally Posted by ShoPig
My 2000 still has the original battery that came in the car. It is about 4.5 years old now. I will replace it with an optima eventually, but I hate to do it before necessary. Anybody have any idea of what the typical lifespan of these batteries is?
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
I cannot find the TSB off hand, the stock batteries leak causing damage to the cars computer, get an AGM battery or a Optima typr battery yesterday.
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From: Paris Illinois
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Originally Posted by screw991le
I cannot find the TSB off hand, the stock batteries leak causing damage to the cars computer, get an AGM battery or a Optima typr battery yesterday.
My 2000 had the original battery when I started to worry about leakage after reading the hints on this forum. It had just started to leak. Just in time replacement for me.
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There is no right answer to this question. When I moved to Phoenix 13 years ago from Chicago - my original battery in my Pontiac was 5 years old and going strong. 1 summer in Arizona - it was a melted mass of glop and leaking acid all over the place. 
The truth is the hot weather is much harder on a lead acid battery than the cold weather in Chicago. Underhood temperatures in the summer time can go over 200 degrees easily. In Phoenix - if you can get a battery to last more than two years, you're living a charmed existance.
Why take a chance with a lead acid battery that is sitting over the main computer module and the wiring harness, when you can safeguard your car for $100 - it doesn't matter whether the battery is good or not.
JMHO - of course!
The truth is the hot weather is much harder on a lead acid battery than the cold weather in Chicago. Underhood temperatures in the summer time can go over 200 degrees easily. In Phoenix - if you can get a battery to last more than two years, you're living a charmed existance.
Why take a chance with a lead acid battery that is sitting over the main computer module and the wiring harness, when you can safeguard your car for $100 - it doesn't matter whether the battery is good or not.
JMHO - of course!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Glide Oregon
Originally Posted by blacksedan87
Why take a chance with a lead acid battery that is sitting over the main computer module and the wiring harness, when you can safeguard your car for $100 - it doesn't matter whether the battery is good or not. JMHO - of course!
Safety Car
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From: Biloxi MS Theres something happenin' here, What it is ain't exactly clear.....
I too have the factory battery in my C5 2000 model.
It gets changed out to an Optima in a week.
Guess its just been lucky with the original owner.
Rain
It gets changed out to an Optima in a week.
Guess its just been lucky with the original owner.
Rain
Le Mans Master
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From: Hells Sister City Phoenix AZ
St. Jude Donor '03
I agree with blacksedan87. Here in AZ your pushing your luck if you've gone over 2 yrs. Heat kills batteries. I would be more concerned with the computer/wiring issue than the life of a $100 battery!
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From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
Do yourself a favor and check underneath the battery tray to see if it's ever leaked...they are prone to leakage and what they leak on can cost you big bucks if it sees acid.
Le Mans Master
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From: Noblesville Indiana
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05
The battery in my 2000 lasted about 3 years before it leaked acid all over my engine and garage floor. I wish I had listened to the forum and switched to an Optima before it was too late. 1 1/2 years later, I still haven't had any problems from the acid leak, but you never know. I still worry about possible damage to this day - just like those who haven't put in the CLB. Do yourself a favor and replace it ASAP!!!!
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I'd say five years is about right. But, my stock Delco began to leak from the posts when it was only about three years old. I invested in an Optima and have not had a worry about it since. I invested the $100 so I would not have any damaged wires below the battery tray due to leakage.
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From: North Texas Area Tx
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St. Jude Donor '03
just do a search on battery leaking. If you still have the orginal battery get it out of the car today. The question on the battery leaking is not if it will leak, but when it will. If it leaks there can be several thousand dollars in damage, plus down time.