How long did your original equipment battery last?

goshring · 01-29-2008, 08:33 PM

OK. So it finally happened. The original Panasonic Subaru battery in my 2000 Forester finally pooped it's pants tonight. I have known that it was getting week for awhile now, but I have been putting off getting a new one. I guess I just wanted to see how long this little beast would keep going. Well, the weather here has been brutally cold the last few days and it just couldn't survive until warmer weather. A good 7 1/2 years is not a bad run though. So what I'm wondering is, how long did your original batteries last, or, are lasting?

filibence · 01-29-2008, 08:39 PM

That's a hell of a long time!!!!

That's more than the average american marriage!!

boomee · 01-29-2008, 09:29 PM

2years at about 69 thousand miles

Blackrat · 01-29-2008, 09:37 PM

My battery lasted 4.5 years and 118000 miles. The problem with the battery (UK Spec) for manual cars is it is a bit weak. I replaced it with a much higher spec battery. My 2000 Outback still has its original battery, nearly 8 years and 105000 miles! It is the Auto model and all UK Auto models have the higher spec battery as standard.

tallazzPilipino · 01-29-2008, 10:27 PM

^
your first post! welcome to the board.

_taF

BAC5.2 · 01-30-2008, 04:01 AM

Um, 9 years and 172,000 miles. I replaced it when it didn't REALLY need to be replaced, but it was close.

Cubby · 01-30-2008, 05:22 AM

I replaced the OEM one this winter (7 years old with 139,000 kms) only because last winter one of my kids left their door open on it while I was away on a business trip and completely drained it. I heard that once its completely dead its time to replace. I did charge it up and it lasted another year but I just did not trust it.

SubaJew · 01-30-2008, 05:30 AM

At 40k+ miles, mine is starting to show signs of weakness.
Lights dimming slightly when stooped at a red at night, ... first cold crank is a bit weak.
I've already got a redtop ready to go in when the OEM finally croaks.
In the meantime, I've got a small gel starter pack in the back just in case.

Dan · 01-30-2008, 05:30 AM

5 cold winters, 4 hot summers, 97,xxx miles and counting.

singincanary · 01-30-2008, 05:37 AM

OEM battery went 4 years and 88k miles.

Perfect timing. I used my car to charge my phone the other night, and it killed the battery. Figured that was a sign to replace the battery. Jumped it that night, let it run for a while, and it was dead again in the morning. Jumped it again, drove it around a bit, and it worked for 2 more days, but I am not a gambling man, so I replaced it last night with a nice Optima Yellow Top.

I contribute the death to my recent audio upgrades when I installed a 5 channel amp, touch-screen radio/dvd/cd/receiver, 2 subs, a CB radio, an Ecutek Dash Display unit that has it's own mini computer with "Intel Inside". I am hoping to get my light bar installed in the next day or 2, then make a 900 mile trip this weekend and definately didn't want to be left out in the cold.

As to our other Subaru's, both our '01 and '02 Foresters kept their OEM batteries for about the same milage, but a year longer to get there. Both were replaced with Sears DieHard Golds.

javendan · 01-30-2008, 07:39 AM

my stocker will be 3 years old and still cranks.

my wife's panasonic battery in her 2k 4runner had to be replaced last summer - so, 7.5 years.

i guess panasonic batteries have some life in them.

joel

adc · 01-30-2008, 07:52 AM

In my last 10 cars the origional battery has lasted at least 7 years.

dwmoss · 01-30-2008, 08:46 AM

my 02 wrx oem battery lasted 61 months and 122,000 miles in northeastern PA. replaced with a optima red top through remy battery

our 07 fxt too early to tell!!

funkymonkey1002 · 01-30-2008, 10:39 AM

88,000 miles so far. It's a little weak, but I think I'm going to wait until the summer to replace, it still starts the car just fine.

scans007 · 01-30-2008, 10:47 AM

I can't keep a car long enough to test this

......my last one made it 8 months, or 19k miles......

But it's good to know......

01-29-2008, 08:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
goshring Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 571 Location: The Big Sky Country Montana on the Rocky Mnt Front Range Car Year: 2000 Car Model: Forester L NA Transmission: auto Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	How long did your original equipment battery last? OK. So it finally happened. The original Panasonic Subaru battery in my 2000 Forester finally pooped it's pants tonight. I have known that it was getting week for awhile now, but I have been putting off getting a new one. I guess I just wanted to see how long this little beast would keep going. Well, the weather here has been brutally cold the last few days and it just couldn't survive until warmer weather. A good 7 1/2 years is not a bad run though. So what I'm wondering is, how long did your original batteries last, or, are lasting?

01-29-2008, 08:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
filibence FOTM Coordinator Contributing Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,936 Location: Puerto Rico Car Year: 07 Car Model: Forester Sports XT Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 16 reviews	That's a hell of a long time!!!! That's more than the average american marriage!! __________________ Silly Rabbit, Mod Lists are for Kids! THE COOKIE MONSTER

01-29-2008, 09:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
boomee Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 603 Location: northern Virginia Car Year: 2004 Car Model: forester Xt Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	2years at about 69 thousand miles __________________ www.holyrollerz.org missing my mother RIP 3-9-2010

01-29-2008, 10:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
tallazzPilipino Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,181 Location: murda was da colour dat they gave me! Car Year: 01MY Car Model: SF6 Transmission: 5MT Gallery: 1 Feedback Score: 15 reviews	^ your first post! welcome to the board. _taF __________________ romidontplaythat! ouiiiii... - two USDM SF6s

01-30-2008, 04:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
BAC5.2 iMod (no, really I do!!) Contributing Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 10,490 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Car Year: 2009 Car Model: Outback XT-B Transmission: 5MT Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 6 reviews	Um, 9 years and 172,000 miles. I replaced it when it didn't REALLY need to be replaced, but it was close. __________________ 09 SWP Outback 2.5XT 5MT 263whp, 337 lb-ft

01-29-2008, 09:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
Blackrat Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Dorset, England Car Year: 2003 Car Model: 2.0 X Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	My battery lasted 4.5 years and 118000 miles. The problem with the battery (UK Spec) for manual cars is it is a bit weak. I replaced it with a much higher spec battery. My 2000 Outback still has its original battery, nearly 8 years and 105000 miles! It is the Auto model and all UK Auto models have the higher spec battery as standard.

01-30-2008, 05:22 AM	#7 (permalink)
Cubby Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 310 Location: Manitoba, Canada Car Year: 2001 Car Model: Forester S Transmission: 5 MT Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I replaced the OEM one this winter (7 years old with 139,000 kms) only because last winter one of my kids left their door open on it while I was away on a business trip and completely drained it. I heard that once its completely dead its time to replace. I did charge it up and it lasted another year but I just did not trust it. __________________ 2001 Forester S 5MT

01-30-2008, 05:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
SubaJew Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,791 Location: Boca Raton, FL Car Year: 2005 Car Model: FXT 4EAT PP Gallery: 2 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	At 40k+ miles, mine is starting to show signs of weakness. Lights dimming slightly when stooped at a red at night, ... first cold crank is a bit weak. I've already got a redtop ready to go in when the OEM finally croaks. In the meantime, I've got a small gel starter pack in the back just in case. __________________ '05 FXT 4EAT (SG9CYBT) PSM Stage 1

01-30-2008, 05:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
Dan Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 4,444 Location: La Crosse area, Wisconsin Car Year: 04 Car Model: XT Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	5 cold winters, 4 hot summers, 97,xxx miles and counting. __________________ SHIFT_to_Subaru Formerly '04 XT, 5spd Now '09 OB SE, 5spd

01-30-2008, 05:37 AM	#10 (permalink)
singincanary Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 5,553 Location: Orange County, NY Car Year: 02 Car Model: Foz Transmission: 4eat Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 19 reviews	OEM battery went 4 years and 88k miles. Perfect timing. I used my car to charge my phone the other night, and it killed the battery. Figured that was a sign to replace the battery. Jumped it that night, let it run for a while, and it was dead again in the morning. Jumped it again, drove it around a bit, and it worked for 2 more days, but I am not a gambling man, so I replaced it last night with a nice Optima Yellow Top. I contribute the death to my recent audio upgrades when I installed a 5 channel amp, touch-screen radio/dvd/cd/receiver, 2 subs, a CB radio, an Ecutek Dash Display unit that has it's own mini computer with "Intel Inside". I am hoping to get my light bar installed in the next day or 2, then make a 900 mile trip this weekend and definately didn't want to be left out in the cold. As to our other Subaru's, both our '01 and '02 Foresters kept their OEM batteries for about the same milage, but a year longer to get there. Both were replaced with Sears DieHard Golds. __________________ I miss my turbo, and my 6-speeds of fun.

01-30-2008, 07:39 AM	#11 (permalink)
javendan Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 130 Car Year: 2012 Car Model: Subaru Outback Prem Transmission: 6-Speed Manual Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	my stocker will be 3 years old and still cranks. my wife's panasonic battery in her 2k 4runner had to be replaced last summer - so, 7.5 years. i guess panasonic batteries have some life in them. joel

01-30-2008, 07:52 AM	#12 (permalink)
adc Forum Member Contributing Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 7,402 Location: Elizabethtown, Pa. Car Year: 2008 Car Model: 2.5X Gallery: 86 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	In my last 10 cars the origional battery has lasted at least 7 years. __________________ Be careful what you wish for.

01-30-2008, 08:46 AM	#13 (permalink)
dwmoss Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,735 Location: Pocono's Car Year: 07 Car Model: FXT sport Gallery: 1 Feedback Score: 10 reviews	my 02 wrx oem battery lasted 61 months and 122,000 miles in northeastern PA. replaced with a optima red top through remy battery our 07 fxt too early to tell!!

01-30-2008, 10:39 AM	#14 (permalink)
funkymonkey1002 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 8,965 Location: NJ Car Year: 2004 Car Model: 2.5 XT 4EAT Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 8 reviews	88,000 miles so far. It's a little weak, but I think I'm going to wait until the summer to replace, it still starts the car just fine. __________________ 04FXT/4EAT Snorkus Free, WRX suspension, sti up, prodrive ypipe, rota/falken/racingbrake/hawk

01-30-2008, 10:47 AM	#15 (permalink)
scans007 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,432 Location: All Over, MA Car Year: 2008 Car Model: Forester Sport Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 14 reviews	I can't keep a car long enough to test this ......my last one made it 8 months, or 19k miles...... But it's good to know...... __________________ My Rides - My Journal

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