Battery Dilemma
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From: Sunny, Snowy, CO
I work in the HVAC field..."Johnson Controls" hired some idiots to run cable and wire a new building last year...I'm STILL debugging it. I hate Johnson Controls.
My MC battery died in less than 3 months. Bought on of the Checker/O'Reilly ones and haven't had a problem since. 2 years so far.
My MC battery died in less than 3 months. Bought on of the Checker/O'Reilly ones and haven't had a problem since. 2 years so far.
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From: Canton, IL
When i got my DD in Feb this year, it still had the original MC battery in it. 1998 contour GL. I replaced it of course after seeing that it was the original after almost 12 years. Still started the car, (albeit, slower that is should). I still use the battery in my boat to start my 50hp Johnson outboard. Works fine.
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Houston
Here in Texas with the heat and maybe humidity it seems I am doing good to get 3 years out of a battery. I know my wife's Civic averaged 3.5 years on her batteries and her car was garage kept more often than my truck.
My 98 ate 4 Duralast batteries before I sold her this year.
Are the Optima batteries worth the money? I am looking to do the fan delete and go dual electric. Might change out the battery at the same time just to be sure where I stand with it. I know the only thing that was on the Oasis report for my 06 was they replaced the battery because the original owner never drove the truck on a regular/semi-regular basis.
My 98 ate 4 Duralast batteries before I sold her this year.
Are the Optima batteries worth the money? I am looking to do the fan delete and go dual electric. Might change out the battery at the same time just to be sure where I stand with it. I know the only thing that was on the Oasis report for my 06 was they replaced the battery because the original owner never drove the truck on a regular/semi-regular basis.
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Batteries are a crap shoot as to how long they last. I have seen MC batteries last anywhere from 6 months to 10 years. Same with other brands. On my old 05 PSD I was doing good to get 3 years out of a pair of batteries. The battery hold down being good, the charging system being good, and all grounds and connections being good all help battery life. But even with all those factores being good, a battery can still fail before it should. Optima batteries are good batteries, but from what I've seen in the parts business they generally last as long as a standard wet cell battery.
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From: Chandler
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I decided that since I had to get to work in the morning, before I could get myself another motorcraft battery, that I would try an optima. I've heard lots of people with many different types of vehicles recommend them. I'll let you know if there are any issues. So far the battery is working great but it is smaller than the stock one so keeping it in place was a little annoying.
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From: mississauga ont.
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I decided that since I had to get to work in the morning, before I could get myself another motorcraft battery, that I would try an optima. I've heard lots of people with many different types of vehicles recommend them. I'll let you know if there are any issues. So far the battery is working great but it is smaller than the stock oneso keeping it in place was a little annoying.
my stock was only 680 now have Ford 860 amps should last longer as with all the stuff that stays on when shut down for 20 -30 seconds add up .plus lights on before you start it when you click the door to open.Rely makes these battery's work.
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From: Chandler
When you say smaller is it size or cranking amps ???
my stock was only 680 now have Ford 860 amps should last longer as with all the stuff that stays on when shut down for 20 -30 seconds add up .plus lights on before you start it when you click the door to open.Rely makes these battery's work.
my stock was only 680 now have Ford 860 amps should last longer as with all the stuff that stays on when shut down for 20 -30 seconds add up .plus lights on before you start it when you click the door to open.Rely makes these battery's work.
The optima is smaller in size but bigger in cca. The optima is 800. The stock motorcraft was 650. I'm thinking this battery will be fine but I'm still uncomfortable with the mounting bracket optima included with the battery. It allows some front to back play. Side to side is pretty minimal. I think if I only drove on-road it would be fine but I'm gonna have to get some other way to secure it before I go off-road.
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From: nevada
I've had an Optimax in my '72 390 for 4 Nevada summers now, and pulled the 3 yr old factory bat out of my 05, replacing it with a Wally World Maxx. Just dont get anything you cant add water to, if you live in the heat. BTW, the cheapest place I've seen the Optimas is at Sams Club.
Last edited by baitmaster; Aug 21, 2009 at 07:49 PM. Reason: added info
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Richardson, TX
Batteries are a crap shoot as to how long they last. I have seen MC batteries last anywhere from 6 months to 10 years. Same with other brands. On my old 05 PSD I was doing good to get 3 years out of a pair of batteries. The battery hold down being good, the charging system being good, and all grounds and connections being good all help battery life. But even with all those factores being good, a battery can still fail before it should. Optima batteries are good batteries, but from what I've seen in the parts business they generally last as long as a standard wet cell battery.
BTW, I’m on my second Optima Marine Starting Battery in my boat, and I can say that the first one didn’t last any longer than a regular battery.
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I agree w/ Greg B, how long a battery will last is basically a crapshoot. I’ve had “good” expensive batts not last as long as they should have, and I’ve had cheapos that seemed to last forever. Motorcrafts are certainly one of the best, and having had a dad that was a Ford parts mgr. for 40+ years I’ve had plenty of the MCs. My 04’s original batt has been cranking a little slow in this TX heat so I’m getting ready to go compare the Sam’s Club price on Interstate w/ Azone’s 850 CCA to see which is the better deal.
BTW, I’m on my second Optima Marine Starting Battery in my boat, and I can say that the first one didn’t last any longer than a regular battery.
BTW, I’m on my second Optima Marine Starting Battery in my boat, and I can say that the first one didn’t last any longer than a regular battery.
Ended up replacing with a AZ yellow top since they are close by.
What I didn't understand about the whole deal was I could not jump start the truck with the dead battery in the system. Tried from two different vehicles. Cables and terminals were clean. Popped the new battery in and cranked like new.
Anyone know what would keep a jump start from working?
Thanks.
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Actually, it was probably an open and not a short. If there were a short in the battery, it probabaly would have exploded. I've seen a few of those over the years. These newer vehicles with OBD-II need at least 10 volts to run.
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I was jumping from another truck, while running and with good cables. My truck would not even turn over. I was hooked directly to the cable terminals on the dead truck.
I was thinking that if the bad battery had an open then the jump voltage might have been going straight to ground.
Regardless, a new battery was the trick.
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