Should I replace the battery in my Prius?
Q. I recently had to call AAA road service to boost my original 2005 Prius battery because of my leaving my headlights on for the second time this year. This is not the easiest battery to find. In fact AAA, who seems to have batteries for every car, didn’t have one for the Prius. The technician did jumpstart the car and tested the battery and it looked okay. My question is, would you suggest that a 10 year old battery be replaced after my two goofs?
A. The typical life of a car battery in a non-hybrid vehicle is about five years here in the Northeast. The Prius battery is used to power the computer and accessories and doesn’t actual start the car. Although just like any battery, cycling it from completely discharged to fully charged will shorten its life. If this were my Prius I would consider replacing the 10 year old accessory battery just to avoid a problem in the near future.
Q. I have a Honda Accord with nearly 200,000 miles on it and it is time to think about replacing it. My Honda has been a great car but the newest models just seem too big, I am looking at the Mazda 3 between 2011 and 2013. Do you have any information on these models, is one a better than the other?
A. The Mazda 3 is a great car and the overall quality doesn’t really change from 2011-2013. If it is in your budget the 2012 and 2013 models are the best choice due to the availability of Mazda’s Sky ACTIVE system. These models will return better fuel economy and overall performance and handling. Buying a car as new as a 2013 still requires a little care and investigation before you purchase it. Have the car checked out by a competent repair shop that can check its overall mechanical condition as well as to look for any prior body damage.
Q. I have a 2014 Ford Focus with only 4000 miles on it. The owner’s manual states that I should change the oil every 7500 miles, the spark plugs and coolant at 100,000 miles and the transmission fluid at 150,000 miles Do you think these interval are too long for my driving style?
A. Maintenance is generally based on time and mileage. Since you don’t drive much I would try to base all of you maintenance on time. If there is no actual time schedule think of it this way. The average car today travel about 12-15,000 mile per year. Since your vehicle’s manual states to change the engine oil every 7500 miles this would translate into at least once per year. Spark plugs should be changed at 10 years or so. Of course if there is a problem or fluids look dirty it is time to replace them.
Q. I have a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser with the original battery the car starts great and runs well. My question is do you think it is time for a new battery?
A. Having a car with a 14 year old battery that still works is amazing. To be safe it makes sense to replace the battery so you don’t have a problem. On the other hand part of me wants to see how long this battery will actually last.
Q. I have 1994 Ford Ranger Splash that is a great little truck that has about 125,000 miles on it. My question is the truck still has the original tires, should I replace them? I don’t drive the truck everyday but do rely on it when I need to haul something and even though the tires look fine I don’t want a problem.
A. It is time to replace the tires on your Ford Ranger. Although tires can last a long time, 22 year old tires are likely to fail and blow out with little warning. Some safety experts’ believe the serviceable life of a tire is as little as six years. I believe how long a tire will last depend more on how it is used and how it is stored rather than age.
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