car battery

SirBrickWagon · Post by **SirBrickWagon** » 26 Oct 2021, 12:24

not a question, just marvelling over how my car's battery from 2007 proved to still be in good condition, when health tested. very glad that i purchased this car and cannot wait to meet more volvo owners on this forum.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 26 Oct 2021, 13:30

Your battery likely has avoided extreme heat and you may keep it in a garage in winter to avoid extreme cold. Both will extend the life.
volvolugnut

SirBrickWagon · Post by **SirBrickWagon** » 26 Oct 2021, 13:36

volvolugnut wrote: ↑26 Oct 2021, 13:30 Your battery likely has avoided extreme heat and you may keep it in a garage in winter to avoid extreme cold. Both will extend the life.
volvolugnut

see, that's the thing. previous owner stored it outside and i'm pretty sure the owner before him did as well. in alberta the winters are very harsh and the summers are very harsh as well, so very surprised about it

Post by **volvolugnut** » 26 Oct 2021, 14:15

I always say I rather be lucky than good - lucky is easier.
volvolugnut

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 27 Oct 2021, 10:16

SirBrickWagon wrote: ↑26 Oct 2021, 13:36 see, that's the thing. previous owner stored it outside and i'm pretty sure the owner before him did as well. in alberta the winters are very harsh and the summers are very harsh as well, so very surprised about it

The previous owner may of had a long daily commute or keep it on a battery maintainer when not in use. Either one will keep a battery in top condition. Over a decade with good battery maintenance is not surprising. The trick is to keep it fully charged at all times. long daily commute will do that. Battery maintainer when at home will do that.

Is there a cord to plug the car into 120V?

SirBrickWagon · Post by **SirBrickWagon** » 27 Oct 2021, 10:24

RickHaleParker wrote: ↑27 Oct 2021, 10:16
SirBrickWagon wrote: ↑26 Oct 2021, 13:36 see, that's the thing. previous owner stored it outside and i'm pretty sure the owner before him did as well. in alberta the winters are very harsh and the summers are very harsh as well, so very surprised about it
The previous owner may of had a long daily commute or keep it on a battery maintainer when not in use. Either one will keep a battery in top condition. Over a decade with good battery maintenance is not surprising. The trick is to keep it fully charged at all times. long daily commute will do that. Battery maintainer when at home will do that.

Is there a cord to plug the car into 120V?

yeah under the hood there's a normal house plug (probably for the block heater as it's standard where i live)

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 27 Oct 2021, 10:30

SirBrickWagon wrote: ↑27 Oct 2021, 10:24 yeah under the hood there's a normal house plug (probably for the block heater as it's standard where i live)

Look closer. There might be a battery maintainer wired in there in addition to a block heater. Which makes as much sense as a block heater where you live. A battery maintainer would: A: Keep the battery fully charged. B: Elevate the temperature of the battery, which makes getting started in cold weather easier.

Post by **scot850** » 27 Oct 2021, 11:37

Living in Calgary for the last 20 years, I have had a couple of cars where the battery lasted 8-10 years. We just replaced the battery in our son's 06 XC70 which we have owned since 2011. I had the dealer swap it out 2 winters ago as I could find no date code on the battery. The battery was still holding a charge but as my son worked in retail at the time in winters that can get below -30C I reckoned better be safe.

I have the original paperwork from the dealer since new and there is no sign of a new battery being bought or installed in it's first 5 years.

Our cars are usually stored in a garage. The biggest issue is as Rick says which is short runs which do't allow the battery to re-charge always. I have a battery maintainer which I use on each of the cars over the winter just to make sure the batteries stay charged as we don't drive a lot these days. Garage is also heated in winter to around 11-12C.

Neil.

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 27 Oct 2021, 12:09

scot850 wrote: ↑27 Oct 2021, 11:37 I have a battery maintainer which I use on each of the cars over the winter just to make sure the batteries stay charged as we don't drive a lot these days.

One battery maintainer for each car or one battery maintainer you cycle from car to car ?

Post by **scot850** » 27 Oct 2021, 16:33

I tend to use just the one and cycle it from car to car. I do have a spare one that I will probably use this year on the 'R' battery when we lay it up for the winter.

Neil.