I am throwing this out here, as I know I will get a variety of responses, but here goes. My 05 X PSD has been showing signs of a weakening of the batteries over the past month. The vehicle has been in service about 27 months, with just over 50k on the odometer. I live in California, so the climate is relatively mild. My question is what should I expect out of the factory dual battery set up? This truck sees normal driving on a daily basis, a solid mix of highway/city, but nothing out of the ordinary. My normal experience is about 3 years with a factory battery, but given this is an oil burner, I am wondering if this is the norm? Responses appreciated. Thanks.

 

I'd like to know also......... I'm almost at 2 yrs and 40k

Anybody got any ideas, I would have thought at least 3 yrs out of the batteries

 

my 02 7.3 had 110k and 4 years before i had to replace

 

I just had to replace my batteries on my 00 Excursion. They were in there 3 years,

Nick

 

I replaced the batteries in my '00 Ex because I thought they were an issue but later found the issue to be something else.....so I have been using the '00 batteries to run my equipment off inverter in my work van (daily) ever since and they are still going strong!

 

My 05 is still under warranty and they replaced 1 battery last week. I took it in for warranty service and told them that sometimes it cranks slow. They did a test and 1 battery didn't pass. I guess the other one will go soon. Hopfully while still under warranty.

 

They should have replace both at the same time or it will cause problems with the other batterie
Nick

 

What kind of problem? Is replacing both of them a Ford spec?

 

No. When I first got my X one of the bateries had a dead cell and killed the batterie. The delarship replace one and not the other. They said the other one was fine. 2 weeks later the other baterie went when I was on a trip. Took it to the delarship there and thry told me that when 1 goes they replace the other one to. But hey thats what they told me,
Ncik

 

I just changed mine in my 05 Ex, It had no problem but didn't sound right. With the new ones it turns over much better and gives me piece of mind. my 2000 Ex lasted four years, I had two F550 Rollback tow trucks that ate batteries once a year. I guess heat under the hood on a commercial application is tough on them. I feel It is better to change them out then get stuck in the middle of nowhere.

 

I have a 2005 EB PSD with 55K miles on it.

My truck began giving me trouble with slow cranking after sitting a day or so, or after having the interior lights/dvd on while parked. This went on for nearly a year.

I wasn't sure if there was a problem or not. Then my alternator failed at 38K, while on a trip to the desert for quail opener,leaving me stranded in Victorville for half a day.

A few weeks later noticing the same slow crank problem was still there I removed the passenger side battery (the easy one) and had it tested. It had a shorted cell. Now it seems that the early demise of the alternator may have been due to constantly trying to charge the bad battery.

So far a year and 17K miles later and no further troubles.

Since it killed 1/2 a day and $600 to figure it out I went to Autozone and
bought a digital voltage gauge w/indicator lights, that plugs into the "power outlet" on the dash.

I have had it there nearly a year and it has been great for peace of mind, I can see at a glance that all is well, 13.6-13.9 volts while driving, and a nice green light to greet me when I get in after it has been sitting a while, plus a warning when camping and running "stuff" for extended periods.

No guessing.

A volt meter should have been factory, would have saved me much grief.

Quietman
www.roenation.com
2005 EXCURSION LIMITED-options (everything) equipped Eddie Bauer edition 4X4 PSD
4" FabTech lift/level, Bilstein $$ mono-gas shocks, Rancho Steering Stabilizer
Silverstar 9005 fog and H13ST headlights + wiring mod to run high beam and fogs together,
BFG 315/75/16 AT KO's on Factory Mags, 22" front and 18" rear rain-x wipers, Auto
-zone aftermarket voltage gauge, LANDYOT Generation II Radius Rods,
Ford factory hood insulator, Mojave Pin-Striping

 

My 00 excursion has a baterie gauge in the gauge cluster but my 04 does not. Why would you not put a volt gauge in a truck is beyond me,
Nick

 

Batteries still good they are going on 4 years 5 months from date of manufacture/purchase. Have gps plugged in 24/7 is low drain with back light off, longest vehicle has sat was 3 weeks it started without problem. have you thought about optima or exide replacements? Yes its too bad my 03 does not have amp or volt meters mods for a later date.

 

You have to look at a PSD a little different than other rigs. The injectors are operated at 110 volts. There is an inverter to change this over. I just changed mine after 3 years. I checked the specific gravity and they were low. Over time you don't notice the change. I put 2 new 1100 cranking amp batteries in and it was like getting a tune up. For max performance it is important to have a stable electrical system. In fact I am going to change the ALT when it goes up to the Ambulance 200 amp alt. Its around $50.00 more.