battery life
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
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battery life
well - it's 2009 so I'll officially say my 1999 Ranger is 10 years old - with the original battery, started fine yesterday after sitting all night out in 8 degree weather. Anybody else seeing battery life like this on their trucks?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,907
Likes: 39
From: suburban atlanta
I think the battery in my 85 lasted for 12 years. Then was followed by two batteries that barely made it to three. They can be 'fine' in the morning when you fire up, and absolutely worthless when you try to start up to go home. One went so bad so fast they could barely jump it, and it had started fine just 15 minutes earlier. One cell shorted out and like that it was ruined.
tom
tom
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 88
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man I hate you guys....... I drive a 97, but since moving to the desert of phoenix a little over 8 yrs ago I have gone through 3! I just had the 3rd replaced under warranty as it only lasted 10 months. They do not like the heat here and can burn up in a summer if the car is left to sit in the sun. Dealerships pull them out and store them indoors until test drives.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 827
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From: Seattle
I'm on year 9 of my original battery and this year it will be replaced. It is definitely showing reduced cranking power when cold - something it never did before.
I will say that I clean my battery - probably something a lot of people don't do.
I will say that I clean my battery - probably something a lot of people don't do.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 761
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From: Southeast MI
Same here, but I don't stop there. In the Spring, I need to pull everything, clean up , de-rust & paint the tray as well. Make sure the paint cures (engine paint a good idea I think) before re-install. The tray will last longer & even the battery should benefit from not sitting on conductive rust. Not sure if it's true or not but I've heard sitting on concrete increases discharge. Probably some nonsense, but an epoxy-coated tray couldn't hurt. Corrosive build-up on the top will shorten its life though.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 527
Likes: 1
From: Streamwood,IL
My '99 had a battery that I replaced, oh, I wanna say 2 years ago, and I pretty sure it was original, so that made it 6..not too bad-Motorcraft batteries are pretty good, just too pricey..I replaced it with a wally world battery, which Consumer Reports said are a "good value", and have a respectable warranty..Wal-Marts are everywhere, so when I do travel, if it goes bad, off to Wal-Mart..If a battery fails me once, ok, jump it and go-if it fails a second time, its gone..I like to put in my own water too-don't like maintenance free batteries!!!
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
and after replacing mine yesterday, it was dead this morning again.........
Time to hook up the amp meter, again.
Time to hook up the amp meter, again.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 182
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From: nj
my original motorcraft went 9, last winter and i replaced it just to be safe, traveling to newark a lot of nights, didnt wanna get stuck, but it had no signs of less power
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Moderator
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
Likes: 111
From: SW Va
The 99 Ranger still has it's OEM battery in it. A few months ago I did it's first cell "equalization" charge, as one cells specific gravity was borderline, so maybe it'll last the winter, but maybe not, as It's begining to complain about cold cranking starts!!!!
My 94 Taurus got it's OEM battery replaced in 00, with another Motocraft, but I opted for the next largest amp hour model, in the specified size & it's still going strong at 8+ years now.
Johnson Controls makes Motorcraft batteries & they seem to do a good job.
I keep the batteries, cable connections & posts squeeky clean & the connections covered with a anti corrosion spray & only use ultra pure 18 meg ohm DI, or distilled water, to top up the cells as needed.
No complaints here about Motorcrafts batteries, seems they got their recipe mostly right!!!!
My 94 Taurus got it's OEM battery replaced in 00, with another Motocraft, but I opted for the next largest amp hour model, in the specified size & it's still going strong at 8+ years now.
Johnson Controls makes Motorcraft batteries & they seem to do a good job.
I keep the batteries, cable connections & posts squeeky clean & the connections covered with a anti corrosion spray & only use ultra pure 18 meg ohm DI, or distilled water, to top up the cells as needed.
No complaints here about Motorcrafts batteries, seems they got their recipe mostly right!!!!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 2
From: central ohio
my oringinal battey was over 10 years old, started cranking slower so ive changed it, seems like most of my "original" batteries have gone pat the 10 year mark, but the replacements dont make it that far. once i bought the biggest battery farm&fleet (now tsc) had, was a 900+ c.c.a. battery, in a g.m. 3/4 ton with a 350. figured id never have to replace it agian. well 2 years later a cell went dead, and "farm & fleet" no longer existed. put a cheap autozone battery in it and it was still there when i traded it off.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
I really really hate you guys......... Woke up yesterday and found the new battery was dead, and again today. I hook up the amp meter and found a 5.5A draw at idle that disappeared when I pulled fuse 15. This fuse was for the airbags and the alternator. When I disconnect the voltage regulator the draw goes away so it looks like a new alt for me.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 2
From: central ohio
my '92 g.m. 3/4 ton ate 3 alternators over a 2 month time frame. first one just had a bad bearing, other 2 were sloppy rebuilds. its weird how some stuff will last for years and others just dont. my '88 ranger was traded in at 203,000 with original starter, alternator,and many other items. it might have had the stock water pump and clutch, but i pulled the motor at 145 k to rebuild it after a clogged converter caused valve damage. i overhauled it completely and put a new clutch and water pump on it just for good measure. a year later one of the hub-releif springs on the clutch disc failed, and the broken spring was stuck between the disc and flywheel. stupid parts!
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 761
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From: Southeast MI
I've had my best results with a "Craftsman" Johnson Controls truck battery. If I counted right, we had that thing in 4 trucks. A 3/4 ton GMC van, 1-ton Ford Econoline (that was my brother's & he let it sit for a few months at one point) then 2 more Rangers before it cracked the case from not being mounted securely enough to the tray. Minefield of a factory parking lot. Overall, close to 10 years. The plates were "double thickness."
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,147
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All I know is that the motorcraft batteries last forever. When it would finally die, I would go buy a diehard, interstate, wal mart special or whatever. I never got the same service out of them, not saying they weren't good, they just didn't last allmost forever. It takes about 2 MC batteries to wear a vehicle out, or you sell it or something.