NeilandGlenys Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 My Ducato 2300cc Van is nearly 9 years old and is on the original engine battery. How long can I expect it to last out, or should I think of replacing it now to save hassle soon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeamRienza Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 My 2016 Hymer (2300 also) is still on its original starter battery and showing no signs of failing or decreased efficiency. However, the van is a 2015 build and I suspect the chassis and engine are likely to be 2014 or possibly even earlier. As I don’t wish to be caught out touring in rural France or Spain, I intend to replace the battery at service mid February before this years touring begins in earnest. I did the same for the Habitation battery last year. I used to own a Mazda MX5 as a second car. When I sold it, the original battery, which was still going strong, was 14 year old. I suspect you can be fortunate or have a battery that fails at a much younger stage. I think ten years for my Hymer battery means I have had good value and I am happy to change. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 If you take your battery for a conductance test, this will give a good idea of it's condition and how much 'life' it might have left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 During some 50 years of Motorhoming both UK and abroad by far the most unreliable element of almost every van were the batteries - both engine and hab. We never used sites or EHU and we found that batteries thought good could often fail unexpectedly and suddenly - usually at the most inconvenient time - dark, cold, wet, windy, etc. We learnt to carry a good spare battery secured in a locker together with jump leads long enough to reach from hab to starter battery and were able to overcome such annoyances quite easily. Disconnecting the leisure battery(ies) from their circuits and jumping them to the engine battery usually worked to start the van and only once did we ever need to use the spare battery. We were sometimes able to help other stranded vanners of various nationalities in various countries over the years and that alone made the carrying of 'get out of jail free' spares worthwhile. If you use sites with EHU you are probably less 12v reliant but if your camping style and attitude to risk warrants it then a good spare 'un is worth considering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onecal Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 Hi In answering the OP question , who really knows how long any individual battery will last? We have loads of recommendations and if cared for some do last quite longer than their predicted life span where as other just do not. I think at nine years you have done very well and maybe now it would be prudent to change it , as you say "to save hassle soon" Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g7eor Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 I had to change the starter battery on my Auto trail 635 2018 issue last year as when Ma-Ve came to check a fault on on the self levelling system it showed up as faulty even though it started the engine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 I agree with others here, if you're doubting how long it will last then now is the time to replace it! Think about it, you can decide on a suitable make and size of battery then find the best price and have it delivered and fitted at your leisure rather than when stranded on the side of the road in a blizzard and be at the mercy of a breakdown service! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilandGlenys Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 Thankyou all for your comments. I had almost decided on a new battery, but now sure as to avoid unexpected roadside trouble who knows when. Cheers, and a good new year to everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onecal Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 Hi , I think that would be a very prudent move considering as you say you got 9 years out of your present battery May I wish you a Happy New Year and Happy and safe Motorhoming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 There have been many forum discussions/arguments about the 'best' starter-battery for a Ducato X250/X290. These are fairly recent ones. https://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/topic/63101-fiat-ducato-2012-starter-battery/#comment-711899 https://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/topic/63333-starter-battery/#comment-712924 https://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/topic/63641-suitable-starter-battery-for-a-23-fiat-ducato-2019/#comment-713982 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 Right now as I type this gf is taking our original van battery to scrapyard. 2011 van, changed the battery in 2019 when it was 8 1/2 years old, it then went on to a life as tractor battery, a few months ago we finally deemed it beyond usefull life at 12 1/2 years old, of course when using it on the tractor a flat battery was just a nuisance which was easily rectified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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