Originally Posted by JKBrad

This thread got me to thinking. So, I just went out to check my battery and found it at about 80%, barely at 13 volts. So now I have a charger on the battery. I'm thinking about disabling the BMS now. This is on a Deka/O'reilly's battery that is 18 months old.

Edit; 2 hours later and it's fully charged. 80% was kind of disappointing seeing as I took it on a 600 mile trip just 6 weeks ago.

Originally Posted by Beechkid

I do all of my own service & repair (99%) work on all my vehicles...I always load test the batteries annually or sooner if I suspect something....I will say this, for years I ran AC delco batteries until Interstate (IIRR) or it was Exide bought them...… always was able to go 5+ years (typically 8) without any issues, then 18 months after I bought my next battery (which the retailer was almost certain was still mfg by AC), it too showed low CCA's upon testing......that's when I switched to Motorcraft......for the 1st 8 years (approx.) I have done real well...again 5-8 years on each battery, now last year, yup, within 18 months had low CCA's.....of which the dealer warrantied with no issue. IMHO, Ford like GM and every other car mfg is financially in trouble and exceptionally lost....and yes, Ford actually mfg's the MC batteries themselves (the last I checked)...…
They are going to be throwing the dice looking at everywhere they can to cut pennies......IMHO, if you give them any reason to deny a warranty claim, they will....and that is what they (and others) are doing, more aggressively each day.

Ford's new prez announced they are forming a team to ID customer wants and needs, multiple execs have been fired (again- history repeats itself) for workplace harassment, Ford is again looking for millions of $ is subsidies from local government agencies to help them "build their dream', and they are being investigated regarding the emissions related issues by DOJ......now throw in they are proposing a teaming agreement with VW....whose corporation acted as a conspirator to employ under false names war criminals in executive level positions (paid millions in fines), whose quality control is at best iffy, 4 execs are sitting today in german/US prisons with indictments issued for 20 more execs (re: emissions and animal cruelty related crimes)…...whose profit margins for 2018 were 3.8% and with focusing on electric cars and laying off 30K positions will push their profits to 6% by 2025 (published in their stockholders report)…...this is the last company I would be teaming with IMHO.

The industry itself is challenged beyond belief, in 2017, NADA retained a consultant to look at the industry in relation to the (my words) "failure" of major countries elected officials who have either ignored or abandoned the initial industry specific strategies formed a decade ago within each country...specifically, timeframe for implementation and progressive implementation of advance technologies in the marketplace. Without concurrent guidance, industries now engage in a cutthroat type competition...… the consultants report clearly showed without such restoration, internationally we will go from 50 major car manufacturers to 5 within the decade. VW for an example, has officially stated...it will become the largest mfg of electric cars in the world......and the benefit is multi-fold...it takes fewer components to build the cars, they are more reliable and takes fewer people.....this is a direct quote. IMHO, what we are seeing, as far a battery quality goes is nothing new....but a temp stop gap measure to gain a few $'s to keep stockholders and exec's compensation up.

Ok, I'll shut up now!!!! grin