Battery life

[texasaggies16]

I have a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 I purchased in nov 2015, we are coming up on nov 2018 or 3 years. It’s about to get cold, to avoid being stranded should I replace my battery? It struggles just a tad but normally never has a problem firing up.

 

how old are your batteries? What would you recommend replacing with if I do. 

[rkj__]

My 2008 Canyon has the original battery in it. 

 

If you are concerned with being stranded in the cold, consider one of those small lithium booster packs. 

[Sierra Dan]

Batteries are like a box of chocolates...…  You Never Know What Your'e Gonna Get! 

The battery in my '14 is still original and working fine for now.

If you have the cash and do not want to chance it, go for a new one.

[txab]

Have it load tested for starters.....................

[DougFL]

9 minutes ago, texasaggies16 said:

... It struggles just a tad but normally never has a problem firing up.

 

 

If that is the case then I think you battery is living on borrowed time!  I have had great service from Optima Batteries.  They are more expensive, but they sure do last.

[Donstar]

My truck is the same age as yours and not concerned about the battery.  I was going to suggest the same as txab to get your battery checked out.

[Logan Lanfear]

Bought my interstate battery in 2009 and it still started the truck all last winter with no issues.  I think its just a crap shoot how long they last.  If you're hesitating though, get it checked and then look into a reputable brand.  

[gone_fishing]

Still on the OEM battery in my Sierra and it cranks/starts just fine. Truck was built in August/September 2013 and now has 142,000 miles on it. I live in a cooler climate which seems to be easier on batteries.

[texasaggies16]

I'm going to likely have mine tested, maybe my definition of struggle just means it doesn't fire as quick as when it was brand new LOL

 

Barely 3 years on an OEM battery I feel I should be safe with atleast another year.. 

[dbrobins27]

I have a 2014 Silverado 1500 built in May of 2014 with 78k miles. A couple of weeks ago I had to get a new battery. I noticed over a couple of days that it was just starting to turn over a little slower than usual but it wasn’t like a struggle. Just a little slower. It cranked up fine one trip and an hour later it didn’t have enough power to turn over. If you think it’s slowing down go ahead and replace so it doesn’t leave you with a dead battery at bad time. 

[Black02Silverado]

It seems here in eastern NC I get an average of 5yrs out of our batteries.  By the fifth year winter time they start to crank slow to the point of not wanting to start.  This is on stock AC/Delco and batteries from Advance Auto and Autozone.    I guess the summer heat here takes it's toll on them.

Edited October 17, 2018 by Black02Silverado
grammar

[Grumpy Bear]

Crazy battery story. I bought Daisy, my Buick, with a new Walmart battery in her. Started fine but was tripping warnings like "Emergency brake on" or "Door ajar". Turned out it was a battery with a bridged cell. Literally internally is was a 9.* volt a battery. Drove the BCM mad as a hatter. I get new ones load tested now before we leave the store. New Interstate in her and purrs like a kitten with a bowl of warm milk. 

[Nick The Great]

My last two trucks had the OEM battery crap out about 3 years in.  

 

So I'm going to be very nervous in another 1.5 years! 

[L86 All Terrain]

My 2015 got a new one this spring because I didn't drive the truck over winter, and was too lazy to remove the battery (if you have done a battery swap on a K2 you will know what I am talking about lol) and I didn't start it often enough. If you daily drive your truck and don't often use it as a stereo or flashlight you should get 5+ years out of a Delco battery. I had a 2010 Sierra that had a bad block heater cord that was backordered and I never put it on. I had this truck for five years and two winters were all cold starts in weather as cold as -37f, the battery was fine when I traded it in. You can keep a battery a long time if you don't kill them. Drain them down to nothing four or five times in below freezing temperatures they are done. I usually have to buy 8-12 batteries after the Christmas holidays for my class 8's because they will freeze over a matter of 7 days and be no good. 

 

As previously noted, the only true way to know the status is to load test the battery. You local parts store may be able to do this if you don't have a battery tester. 

Edited October 18, 2018 by L86 All Terrain

[Ozer]

In upstate NY my original lasted 4yr and it just wouldn't crank towards the end.

Get one to make sure you are good for the winter, you will need one soon anyways.