Another vote for wally world battery. I've had mostly good luck with them and the few that have gone bad were easily replaced.

 

I have gone thru the OEM Motorcraft, Interstate, Duralast and now am running the Walmarts. So far so good but I am also on my third Ford alternator at 90+k miles.

 

On principal I do not support WalMart.

 

I think a little bit of luck is needed... I ran my OEM ( original ) alternator for 150k and replaced it with a DC 270 amp but I still have my OEM as a back up.

 

I am also in the "will not buy Optima" camp. Used to be a good product, quality went right in the crapper. I have had good luck with the Duralast, as mentioned earlier. Never really thought about the ease of finding a store for replacement, but that's an excellent point.

 

The comment on access to the store is the biggest factor to me. Then my experience of working for Autozone has led me to using a lot of Duralasts in the past 25 years. They don't have the warranty they used to, but I have been happy still with my choices.

I have been getting the p0720 code again and may go to the Crown Victoria 200 amp cop alternator.

 

Regardless if it's Interstate, Duralast, Napa, Walmart or John Deere they all have been the same 5-7 year life for replacement batteries for me. The most impressive batteries that I've had were this stock ones in our John Deere 6400 and 6420, I think they were industrial style battery and lasted over 10 years.

 

I'm running batteries from a company called XS Power. Pretty good stuff and can handle big loads and lights, etc...

 

Interesting.....where do you get them?

 

XS power makes good batteries, you do get what you pay for. They have a very solid design and have a very pure lead that they use in the plates, making them top shelf units for sure. I have run them in a car audio application and been very impressed.But that wasn't my money, different story. If I'm not mistaken the batts that would fit the X run around $275 each. If I'm camping, that would mean I have $1500+ in batteries with me, the wife won't go for that. A lot easier to keep 6 matching wal-mart specials on hand, that also gives me the ability to swap out for another battery in the blink of an eye if needed.$600 is a lot easier pill to swallow

 

I ordered mine directly from the factory:

Home - XS Power

I think they are $319 on www.summitracing.com

 

Well I'm still having the issue, but found a "trick" of sorts to help start it in the morning. If I don't let off the key like I normally do the starter started to spin faster and the engine will finally turn over fast enough to crank up. It's almost like it gets power from trying to start...

 

check voltage going in, hook up jumper cables to another vehicle when starting to eliminate any possible voltage sag in the X, use jumper cable to go from positive on battery to the start lug on the starter to bypass all wiring/solenoid to eliminate as potential problems

 

I don't have a vehicle I can jump from, but once it's started I can shut it off and start it up again no problem. It's just that first time getting it running that's the issue.

 

Bet you wish you had your 5.4 now.... Ah, good ole days when a 9 volt would have done it....