Dual battery question
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Oregon City, Oregon
Dual battery question
Five years ago, one month after I bought by 2001 PSD, one of the batteries gave up the ghost. Since I had not yet drank the FTE coolaid and joined the Brotherhood.
I had never heard about changing both batteries at the same time.
The past few months my truck has been a little slow to start especially when cold on the fall mornings.
And once while camping (and connected to my camper) the batteries were almost completly dead. At the time I attributed this to being connected to my camper and the extra load draining my truck batteries.
This last Friday, the OEM Motorcraft battery finally died. I went to the local tire/alignment/battery shop to purchase a replacement battery. The quality of their products seem to be excellent from years of experience and I can go to just about any town in the Western US and get warranty work done if necessary.
Now to the actual question... I remember seeing on a post here that we are supposed to replace both batteries at the same time. However, I don't remember why this is suggested. Does this really make a huge difference? I mean, except for spending twice as much for batteries. BTW, the new (only one) battery was almost exactly $100. Ouch!
Thanks,
I had never heard about changing both batteries at the same time.
The past few months my truck has been a little slow to start especially when cold on the fall mornings.
And once while camping (and connected to my camper) the batteries were almost completly dead. At the time I attributed this to being connected to my camper and the extra load draining my truck batteries.This last Friday, the OEM Motorcraft battery finally died. I went to the local tire/alignment/battery shop to purchase a replacement battery. The quality of their products seem to be excellent from years of experience and I can go to just about any town in the Western US and get warranty work done if necessary.
Now to the actual question... I remember seeing on a post here that we are supposed to replace both batteries at the same time. However, I don't remember why this is suggested. Does this really make a huge difference? I mean, except for spending twice as much for batteries. BTW, the new (only one) battery was almost exactly $100. Ouch!
Thanks,
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,292
Likes: 6
From: Ardenvoir, Washington
You should replace both batteries at the same time.. If one of them is weaker, that battery will draw down the good battery.. There a couple of ways to check the battery condition.. I like using the battery hydrometer (can be purchased at napa for about $20). You can then check each cells condition.. (be sure to have the battery fully charged when doing this test). If any of the cells are weak, i junk it and buy a new battery..
The other test is a load test.. where you use a load meter which shorts out the battery for a short period time and the meter will indicate the condition.. (most auto parts stores can do this test for free)
Be sure to buy 750 CCA batteries or higher when buying new. I have 1000 CCA in my PSD.
The other test is a load test.. where you use a load meter which shorts out the battery for a short period time and the meter will indicate the condition.. (most auto parts stores can do this test for free)
Be sure to buy 750 CCA batteries or higher when buying new. I have 1000 CCA in my PSD.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 582
Likes: 0
From: New Baden IL
Five years ago, one month after I bought by 2001 PSD, one of the batteries gave up the ghost. Since I had not yet drank the FTE coolaid and joined the Brotherhood.
I had never heard about changing both batteries at the same time.
The past few months my truck has been a little slow to start especially when cold on the fall mornings. And once while camping (and connected to my camper) the batteries were almost completly dead. At the time I attributed this to being connected to my camper and the extra load draining my truck batteries.
This last Friday, the OEM Motorcraft battery finally died. I went to the local tire/alignment/battery shop to purchase a replacement battery. The quality of their products seem to be excellent from years of experience and I can go to just about any town in the Western US and get warranty work done if necessary.
Now to the actual question... I remember seeing on a post here that we are supposed to replace both batteries at the same time. However, I don't remember why this is suggested. Does this really make a huge difference? I mean, except for spending twice as much for batteries. BTW, the new (only one) battery was almost exactly $100. Ouch!
Thanks,
I had never heard about changing both batteries at the same time.
The past few months my truck has been a little slow to start especially when cold on the fall mornings.
And once while camping (and connected to my camper) the batteries were almost completly dead. At the time I attributed this to being connected to my camper and the extra load draining my truck batteries.This last Friday, the OEM Motorcraft battery finally died. I went to the local tire/alignment/battery shop to purchase a replacement battery. The quality of their products seem to be excellent from years of experience and I can go to just about any town in the Western US and get warranty work done if necessary.
Now to the actual question... I remember seeing on a post here that we are supposed to replace both batteries at the same time. However, I don't remember why this is suggested. Does this really make a huge difference? I mean, except for spending twice as much for batteries. BTW, the new (only one) battery was almost exactly $100. Ouch!
Thanks,
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,374
Likes: 46
From: Palm Bay, Florida
Most likely the reason you paid only $135.00 for TWO 850CCA Motorcraft batteries is that they are known to be troublesome-my local Motorcraft distributor has them on a special for about that same price-he wouldn't sell me them saying they had too many plates for the case size and couldn't do their job properly-he recomended and installed the same 750CCAs that originally came in the truck for me-my distributor has has MANY of the 850s fail WAY EARLY because of this.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
just go with interstate mega-tron PLUS and be done with the hasels
Automotive / Truck Batteries - Mega-Tron Plus - 85 Months - 850 CCA
Automotive / Truck Batteries - Mega-Tron Plus - 85 Months - 850 CCA
New User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Lacey Wa
Last Friday, just hours before leaving on a travel trailer trip, I realized my batteries were the original 1997 batteries, they would start the truck just fine under normal conditions. But I wired up 2 super back up lights, and had the backup lights on for about 10 mins, NO start.
Now my rig has 2 new 850 cca batteries from Costco (I have always had very good luck with there batteries, been using them 25 years) it spins over like a small low comp car, and starts almost instantly.
And they are 3 year free replacement, / 100 month warranty
Now my rig has 2 new 850 cca batteries from Costco (I have always had very good luck with there batteries, been using them 25 years) it spins over like a small low comp car, and starts almost instantly.
And they are 3 year free replacement, / 100 month warranty
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