My 2005 SXT still has a Chrysler battery. I assume its the original one from since when it was bought because the stickers on it to date it don't go past 2010 and the copyright on it says "2000 to 2006." So maybe its 6 years old but it still starts good. But it's only 600 CCA but I guess it was good enough in cold weather for the previous owner since he never changed it.

Now I'm thinking of getting a replacement battery and keeping the original Chrysler battery for charging my R/C car batteries. Maybe it's not built for deep cycling but it has an ok 105? min reserve capacity. Battery to get is the 3 year free replacement Autozone Duralast Gold, 800 CCA and 115 min reserve capacity. Should be great when it comes to -10F Chicago weather, but it rarely gets that cold in Chicago. But just in case it does I also now have an engine block heater - total cost dealer install - $116.13 [has 1 year warranty].

So for all of you - how long did your original Chrysler battery last? Was it good enough to start your minivan in extremely cold weather?

 

A pitifully short 4 years.

 

Average life of a battery is 4-5 years. You're living on the edge. There are less than 5 battery manufacturers in the U.S. and each one makes several different lines of batteries for their private label customers like Autozone. So buy the one with the most CCA, the longest warranty, and the most stores. That way you can start in the winter and take advantage of the warranty if it bites the dust early.

 

my 06 is on it's 2nd battery, just this weds my battery failed, but it was free replacement from advance auto since it failed with in the 36months (35months) free replacement then 2 years prorated replacement

my first replacement cost 88$ and was 700cc, but they have upgraded to a 800cc battery too, cost 118$ but I didn't have to pay the difference

never had a battery go bad during the summer, started tuesday night was hard to start, had to pump the gas, put on the trickle charger, then wed morning still hard to start,
on the way to take my son to therapy, the dash lights would flicker a bit if stoped for too long,
then while idleling at the office, the van stoped, couldn't get it started, got a jump and took it to advance they tested it, and put the new one in

 

Heat is the biggest killer of batteries. Most people think it's the cold weather. The insulators car makers put around the batteries is to keep the heat out, not the warm in.

 

The thing about batteries these days is they often seem to fail overnight with little to no warning.
Rick is right about heat being the enemy. The battery for my Bonneville is under the back seat and has lasted much longer than any of my other vehicles.