I have a 2016 CT with approx 40k miles. With the car being 8 years old with the original battery, I was thinking of being proactive and replacing even though I have had no issues.

Even though I live in San Diego, which has a moderate climate, I feel like I am on borrowed time and will be stranded soon.

Thoughts?

 

I have a 2016 and I'm up to 35k. I bought it in summer of 2020. I had to replace my battery in 2022, and then that one died too and I had to replace it (for free under warranty) in 2023. I think it was lack of use and cold that killed the original battery. But since yours is only 40k, sounds like yours isn't used much either. But it seems they don't make batteries like they used to, so I would definitely keep your original one until it actually dies. If you're worried about getting stranded, simply carry (in the car) a portable jumper pack. Just make sure to keep it charged up.

 

The real way to determine this is to measure the voltage off the 12V rail when the car is completely shut down. Let the car sit off for 10 mins then measure it. Also, if you have an opportunity to let the car sit unused for a few days, measure it, then.

I was in the same situation as you; battery seemed fine but I wanted to be proactive. I knew the batt was on its way out because my dashcam would continually restart when the car was in "acc", but not fully "on".

If your battery starts to rest around 12.2-12.4V, you may want to think about doing it since the dash full of doom lights that others have experienced can be terrifying if you're not expecting it.

 

8 years is a long time for the original battery. You can get a draw test for free to test the battery at most auto parts stores. Or just replace the battery for peace of mind since they are not that expensive.

 

Mine was $250. Very expensive for a battery. But it was the cheapest I could find. Maybe I missed something.

 

Yeah, that's about how much I paid for my Optima brand several years ago. I guess inexpensive in the sense that if you're ever stranded somewhere with a dead battery, the time and stress to get a replacement to get back on the road is more costly than being proactive with buying a new one which gives you peace of mind for another 4-5 years. I experienced a dead battery in the middle of stop and go traffic and was fortunate that I convinced someone to push me with their car while I popped the manual clutch to restart the car. My wife also experienced a dead battery while driving on the freeway which completely died in motion and had to coast to a stop. Fortunately she was close to home and called AAA. Those 2 experiences make me vigilant to replace the battery and not try to squeeze the last drop. Good news is that Costco now offers AGM battery for the CT and Prius for $178.00.

 

So this is it. I was surprised that couple weeks ago couldn't start my meLex due to battery failure. Now I see that 7+ yrs is enough.
It is not a mileage what kill, it is just time.
@Raidin - what is your experience?
Replaced with original,
BTW I've learned where to connect external power supply. It is in the fuse box, under the red cap (positive pole), negative somewhere in the chassis.

 

I need to visit the forums more often.

I don't remember exactly, but my 12v battery died around 4 to 5 years after I got the car. I was sitting idle in my car with my hazards on, and they started blinking in a weird way. I can't recall exactly how, but my lights were doing strange things. When I turned my car off and back on, it didn't start right away. I knew it was time to get a new battery.