When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
The OEM battery is a BXT-96R. According to Ford, BXT-96R does not match my vehicle.
According to Ford, my VIN indicates that the replacement is BXT-40R.
Both of those batteries look the same to me.
Disconnect the mass airflow sensor, PCV hose, and EGR hose. Remove the air intake box cover, air filter, and air box base.
Disconnect the battery ground wire at the body ground point. 13mm. Move the wire so that it's safely not touching any metal. Disconnect the red wire from the battery. 10mm.
Remove the battery tie down clamps. 10mm.
Remove the power distribution panel, which is also the front of the battery box.
Slide the battery up and out, with the ground cable attached. This is a lot easier then trying to remove the cable before lifting the battery out. Transfer the ground cable to the new battery.
Pricing and availability determined who I bought the battery from. Buying online was not the way to go for me. I wanted that battery immediately. I wasn't willing to wait 3 - 5 days for shipping. I wasn't willing to pay for shipping a battery, paying a core charge, then shipping the old battery back to reclaim my core deposit. Optima does not offer a battery which fits. InterState has a battery which fits, with similar specifications. My local Ford dealer had a reasonable price, and inventory in stock. Local auto parts stores sold batteries in Group 40 size: all cost more, and had a shorter warranty.
Optima does not have a BCI group size 96 or 40 battery. The recommended Optima is 78. You will need to install your own battery posts, and turn the battery on it's side so that the post are facing up.
I reset the battery monitoring system. I don't know what, if anything, that does. They say that you are supposed to do that with newer cars. I wonder how many shops actually do that for the customer. Imagine all of those people with new batteries, that never did it.
