On 6/19/2012 1:32 PM, ps56k wrote:
> Just replaced the battery in our 2001 Grand Cherokee.
> So, the orig battery was 2001, then replaced at 2006, now again at 2012.
>
> This would imply a general life of about 5 or 6 years.
>
> Since I was stranded in a Home Depot parking lot,
> and had a really hard time jumping the battery
> and then keeping the engine from stalling out... for some reason...
>
> Would it be better to be pro-active and just replace batteries every 5
> years,
> or wait for the eventual internal failure and being stranded... even with
> always having jumper cables
>

I generally buy a 5 or 6 year warranty battery, replace at the first
signs of weak start any time after 4 years. If the battery give me ANY
grief at the 3/4 mark, it is false economy to stretch it the least bit.

Replacing it 'just because' is pushing my envelope a bit, can't argue
with the general thought though.