"Truck batteries only last a year" is my mechanic lying to me?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by makterna, Jan 21, 2022.

  1. makterna

    makterna Light Load Member

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    Out of the blue, my 2011 Freightliner Cascadia has developed a problem in which the batteries (dated 2020) are discharged after sitting only two days with the main power switch turned off. I was thinking that it might be a short in the cell of one of the batteries, but my mechanic said that truck batteries only last a year and replaced all four. I dont know if he even measured the batteries. So I said I wanted the old ones and he said their is a core charge of $30. Who issues this core charge, their battery manufacturer?

    I bought my truck recently and its AGM batteries have been running in the cold weathers of Ohio. Is it really true that truck batteries only last a year there?
     
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  3. Siinman

    Siinman Road Train Member

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    12 Volt Gel or AGM batteries
    If kept in a charged state when unused, the common lifespan of a 12-volt Gel or AGM battery is up to six years. After five or six years of float voltage at an average ambient temperature of 25 ºC, the battery still retains 80 % of its original capacity.
     
  4. jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

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    I've run numerous sets of Interstates 6-7 years with no failure.

    Sounds like your mechanic is selling cheap batteries and or a draw.
     
  5. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    Cheap batteries commonly fail within 2 years. Freightliner factory batteries are not great quality.
     
  6. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Typically should be able to get 3 or 4 years out of them.
     
  7. Wasted Thyme

    Wasted Thyme Road Train Member

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    Core charge is the gubberment. To keep them from being improperly discarded.
     
  8. ProfessionalNoticer

    ProfessionalNoticer Road Train Member

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    I replace mine every three years but I could go longer if I wanted. I wonder if your mechanic gets sales commission for batteries he sells?
     
  9. aussiejosh

    aussiejosh Road Train Member

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    Vehicles like Taxi cabs the average battery life can sometimes be less than 6 months its all about the wear and tare and how hot they get, a normal car that you may only stop and start perhaps once or twice a day its batteries if there a good quality can last anywhere from 3 - 6 years. Sometimes even longer my current car's original battery only lasted 2 years, the replacement lasted from 2011 - 2019 around 8 years, so the brand of battery you use does make a big difference, but don't expect any battery to last very long in a vehicle that is running quite literally for 24 hours a day.
     
    rabbiporkchop and Rideandrepair Thank this.
  10. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    Alliance brand are good batteries. Made by Deka, (Penn East)
     
    Diesel Dave Thanks this.
  11. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Agm batteries are not made for truck applications without the regulator charging it with a different charging profile, sometimes cooking the batteries.

    We went through batteries until that was discovered and went to the maxwell starting module which cut battery costs to 20%.
     
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