Battery

[Dan Topp]

First time I opened the hood since it was at the body shop and have a lot of cleaning to do.

 

[Mustang000]

How long are your batteries lasting? I'm on year 5.5 with original battery, about 65k miles on the truck, voltage is at 14.9 while driving.

Should I replace it now before it leaves me stranded some day?

Mine lasted 2 years and had to replace at $548.00. Stupid high price from dealer.

 

[Bob_M]

Later Challengers don't lose station presets or the clock,the only thing they lose is the equalizer settings.Are you sure your 09 loses the radio presets. I'm going to have to check with my buddy,as he has a 09 SRT Challenger with only 18,000 miles on it,and he disconnects the battery every winter,and i don't remember him ever saying it lost the radio presets,but then again,i've never specifically asked him that question.
If something is going to sit for several months,i don't see any advantage to keeping all the modules alive during that time.Maybe somebody can point out the advantages to keeping everything energized for several months of non use,as i don't see any advantages to keeping electrical components energized if you're not using the vehicle for several months

Sorry, but you missd a few points.
It's an aftermarket Stereo/GPS, a Pioneer AVIC 910. Kind of outdated now with the maps available on cell phones and stuff, but it was very useful when I installed it back in the early 2010s.
I do know that after sitting for about two weeks, it was very sluggish in starting. With the trickle charger It starts up quickly and promptly, no slow turnover or sluggishness at all.
Why would keeping the electrical system energized make any sort of difference? Isn't that what cars used as daily drivers do all the time? Your buddy could just as well use a charger vs disconnecting the battery. It's his decision as mine is mine.
And I start it up and take it for a good 1 hour-ish drive when I do. It does not sit unused for "several months."
I have 37K miles on mine. Lots 'n lots of road trips around the southwest when she was new.
Thanks,
Bob

Edited to add:
I do have a battery disconnect switch on my '78 Triumph Spitfire. That kills all the after-market radio presets and clock. But I only listen to SD Card music - which is mostly when at stop lights or driving less than 20mph. Over 20 it's just fun driving sounds. And I wear a watch.

 

[Dan Topp]

Mine lasted 2 years and had to replace at $548.00. Stupid high price from dealer.

The two super starts (94&47)I bought from oreillys in march were 254 ea.and that’s crazy enough

 

[Bob_M]

Mine lasted 2 years and had to replace at $548.00. Stupid high price from dealer.

FLAPS price for mine - when I bought it a few years ago - was around $250. No idea what Bidenomics has driven them up to since then.

 

[Dean2]

Mine lasted 2 years and had to replace at $548.00. Stupid high price from dealer.

If you had that covered on warranty, no problem. If you paid that out of pocket you have way too much money. I can get a group 27 with 4 year full replacement and 52 more months of prorated coverage for 190 bucks even here in Canada and we aren't known for our low prices.

 

[pjs386]

My Ram battery flat out dies at 4 yrs 6 months. It happened in June 2018 at 4 yrs 6 mos and then again January 2022 again at 4 yrs 6mos just goes dead w no warning. I learn slowly but I learn well. In January 2026 I am buying a new battery and installing it then. I just refuse to be sucker-punched again by this battery game. BTW in Florida, it's the damn heat that kills these batteries.

 

[Wild one]

Why would keeping the electrical system energized make any sort of difference? Isn't that what cars used as daily drivers do all the time?

And just how many of those vehicles have electrical issues.
If it's not powered it can't burn out,lol

 

[Bob_M]

And just how many of those vehicles have electrical issues.
If it's not powered it can't burn out,lol

And who's to say applying voltage to connectors that have sat unused and dissimilar material corrosion has had a chance to work its magic will not cause problems? lol

 

[Wild one]

And who's to say applying voltage to connectors that have sat unused and dissimilar material corrosion has had a chance to work its magic will not cause problems? lol

They'll corrode from dissimiliar metals faster if there's power passing through them.
Capacitors last alot longer if you're not passing any power through them.
Face it Bob,there is no advantage to keeping the battery hooked up,if you're not using the car on a weekly basis

 

[kabong57]

Original battery in my 1994 V-10 2500 4wd lasted 12 years. The one in my 2003 V-10 2500 4wd lasted 11 years. The battery in my 2017 RAM 6.4 3500 4wd died this month. Hate to think how long it will last in my next truck.

 

[Bob_M]

Original battery in my 1994 V-10 2500 4wd lasted 12 years. The one in my 2003 V-10 2500 4wd lasted 11 years. The battery in my 2017 RAM 6.4 3500 4wd died this month. Hate to think how long it will last in my next truck.

They'll corrode from dissimiliar metals faster if there's power passing through them.
Capacitors last alot longer if you're not passing any power through them.
Face it Bob,there is no advantage to keeping the battery hooked up,if you're not using the car on a weekly basis

Does he also put the car on stands to avoid flat spots on his tires? That saves as much wear as disconnecting the battery.
The advantage to removing power is minimal at best.
Like almost everthing else in life, it's a choice. You and your buddy have made yours. I've made mine. I won't convince you, you won't convince me.
Call it a draw. I'm sure some members are a bit annoyed with the constant back and forth.

 

[Wild one]

Does he also put the car on stands to avoid flat spots on his tires? That saves as much wear as disconnecting the battery.
The advantage to removing power is minimal at best.
Like almost everthing else in life, it's a choice. You and your buddy have made yours. I've made mine. I won't convince you, you won't convince me.
Call it a draw. I'm sure some members are a bit annoyed with the constant back and forth.

You must think nobody else knows how to store a vehicle with that question,of course it's got the suspension unloaded.
Yea we're gonna have to agree to disagree,as i do see advantages to storing them with the battery removed.
Hopefully you leave the trunk open and remove the matt above the battery so you don't have battery fumes eating the inside of the trunk,if you're leaving it on a trickle charger. You might even want to leave a small fan in the open trunk to circulate the batteries out gassing fumes,and you have the batteries vent tube hooked up and it's in good shape

 

[Bob_M]

Oh fer....
Give it up. Snide comments aren't winning any points.
I'm done. Please move on.

 

[Wild one]

Oh fer....
Give it up. Snide comments aren't winning any points.
I'm done. Please move on.

What the hell are you talking about Dude. I didn't make no snide comments,if anybody was making a snide comment,it was you.
You basically started with the snide comments in post#63
I did try to give you some honest advice,but you seem to be to stubborn to accept it.
I've seen what a trunk mounted battery can do to the inside of the trunk when a cars parked and on a battery charger,if you don't believe me,that's your tough luck,not mine.
When i sold my old 68Z,the kid that bought it,left it on a battery charger all winter,and even with the battery in a vented taylor battery box,the batteries out gassing fumes ate all the paint off the underside of the trunk lid ,so yes i was trying to give you some honest advice.
I even left the tonnue cover flipped open on my old truck when it was in storage if the battery was still in the battery box,yes the battery is in the box on my old truck.I'm not even going to bother explaining to you why it was in the box,but it was there for a reason

 

[Stbear007007]

How long are your batteries lasting? I'm on year 5.5 with original battery, about 65k miles on the truck, voltage is at 14.9 while driving.

Should I replace it now before it leaves me stranded some day?

This brand new 2024 Ram GT battery dies anytime it goes below zero over night.. made me miss work a few times now...and 2 of those were trioke time unfortunately....
The last 2 rams were almost 10 years and I used that truck heavily and than the one I just traded in for new GT i replaced at 6 years.. I should have took that,battery out put in a chepo before trade and would have had a new one for this new truck especially at $550 lol

 

[Craig52]

How long are your batteries lasting? I'm on year 5.5 with original battery, about 65k miles on the truck, voltage is at 14.9 while driving.

Should I replace it now before it leaves me stranded some day?

I just replaced my battery in my 2018 RAM 1500 ONLY because it would no longer hold a charge. Carry a battery power pack jumper for less than $60 and keep using your existing battery.

 

[GoofyRam]

I have a '20 2500 6.7 bought used, battery died in the first cold just before warranty was up. Saved me buying 2 new batteries. When I was pricing new batteries Costco had them for about $180 ea.

 

[ramffml]

So I just picked up this noco jump starter, it says "safely jump start dead batteries on most gas vehicles up to 6 liters" so I bought it. Opened it up and the fine print says "only use on lead acid battery chemistry"

Is that something I need to take seriously? And what chemistry do I have in a stock 5th gen, I thought we moved away from lead acid years ago?

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B015TKUPIC/

 

[Wild one]

So I just picked up this noco jump starter, it says "safely jump start dead batteries on most gas vehicles up to 6 liters" so I bought it. Opened it up and the fine print says "only use on lead acid battery chemistry"

Is that something I need to take seriously? And what chemistry do I have in a stock 5th gen, I thought we moved away from lead acid years ago?

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B015TKUPIC/

Technically an AGM is still a lead/acid battery,you might not want to use it on some of the lightweight lithium batteries that are big in the racing world