why does ford skimp on batteries
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,078
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From: Rural WV
Dude, I just changed my factory original Motorcrafts about two weeks ago. My 2003 has one of the real early 6.0's in it and it never failed or faltered. I'm expecting a really cold hard winter so I went ahead and put a new pair in.
I recently bought an old dump truck and the big battery in it was pretty dead so I threw it in the back of the truck when I had Sam's Club change the batts. I asked them to put the better of the two old batts in the bed and to take that old dead one for the core. They did and told me the one they put in the back of the truck was still putting out over 925 CCAs...so I'm inclined to put in a great work for Motorcraft batteries.
Joe
I recently bought an old dump truck and the big battery in it was pretty dead so I threw it in the back of the truck when I had Sam's Club change the batts. I asked them to put the better of the two old batts in the bed and to take that old dead one for the core. They did and told me the one they put in the back of the truck was still putting out over 925 CCAs...so I'm inclined to put in a great work for Motorcraft batteries.
Joe
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,022
Likes: 4
From: Redford, Mi.
My 99 E250 had a Motocraft 650cc amp battery in it. A couple of years ago friends wanted to take the van to Florida and at the same time my battery went bad in my 89 tbird SC. So I bought a new battery for the van and put the van battery in the car. I don't drive the car in the winter so it sat in my moms garage and having it basically being 10 years old I didn't disconnect it or anything. Well cutting the story short it is still in the car and it ran all summer long with no problems, gave it a jump with my charger when I picked the car up and never looked back.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,028
Likes: 1,520
From: Maine, Virginia
I still have the factory battery in my '04 Expy and it seems tobe doing fine. My '88 has a 7 year old wally world battery in it and it's doing great.
The top shelf batteries at AZ carry an 8 year warranty. 3 years free replacement and then prorated over the next 5 years.
Tim
The top shelf batteries at AZ carry an 8 year warranty. 3 years free replacement and then prorated over the next 5 years.
Tim
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 530
Likes: 2
From: W. Wisc
Timely topic. Mine just died Tues night. Build date was 8/04, so it is just over 5 yrs. I thought it had sounded like it was a bit slow lately, then Tues night the first start was a bit not happy, then next one was worse, and the third start said to me "don't shut this off - leave it running and go into NAPA and buy a new one...NOW". Of course this was in the middle of that bad snowstorm with driving winds. But I was able to tuck the nose in the garage and swap it out, while out of the worst of the weather.
Somewhere in the 5-6 yr range, I typically just replace batteries as PM rather than get stranded. I was aiming to do it next summer, until this cropped up. The only other advice I have is it is generally not a good idea to go for the max CCA you can find. The plates are thinner and closer together to pack it all in there, so they tend to fail more easily. I got the 750 CCA NAPA one instead of the 850ish one they had as the highest version. This one cranks a LOT faster.
-Dave
Somewhere in the 5-6 yr range, I typically just replace batteries as PM rather than get stranded. I was aiming to do it next summer, until this cropped up. The only other advice I have is it is generally not a good idea to go for the max CCA you can find. The plates are thinner and closer together to pack it all in there, so they tend to fail more easily. I got the 750 CCA NAPA one instead of the 850ish one they had as the highest version. This one cranks a LOT faster.
-Dave
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 998
Likes: 23
From: Tennessee
My F350 still has the original batteries. I start it yesterday for the first time in a month and they seemed a little week. I plan to put a charger on them this afternoon.
My 06 Milan had the original battery go south last year and was replaced under warranty.
I think it is as Forest Grump would say, its like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.
My 06 Milan had the original battery go south last year and was replaced under warranty.
I think it is as Forest Grump would say, its like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
my o1 250 with a 5.4 has the original batt in it and it spins over fine everytime. and is the 850cca in it and i live in ny where the temps drop down pretty good and i don't drive it every day does alot of sitting.the truck and batt have 96,000 on it.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Wish I could get more than 4 yrs outta Ford stock batteries
1996 F-350 SD 7.3 L changed 3 yrs
2000 F-350 7.3L Changed 2 yrs
2004 F-350 6.0L Changed 4 yrs
Hoping my 2010 makes it longer maybe it's the diesels that are hard on them
-R-
1996 F-350 SD 7.3 L changed 3 yrs
2000 F-350 7.3L Changed 2 yrs
2004 F-350 6.0L Changed 4 yrs
Hoping my 2010 makes it longer maybe it's the diesels that are hard on them
-R-
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 2
- It is your responsibility to keep the water level to the correct height. You will need to check more frequently in warm weather. Once a month is reasonable.
- Keeping batteries at a high state of charge is very important for long life. Batteries can deliver high amount of current in short time, but they do not recharge very quickly. It takes a long time to recharge because the battery will accept only a certain amount of current despite what the alternator can deliver. The greatest demand on the battery is starting the engine and that demand is greatest in cold weather. And on top of that, cold weather causes the battery to recharge even slower! If you make short trips a lot (especially in winter) then your batteries will not last for many years and cranking speed may feel sluggish at times. People that drive longer distances should achieve greater battery life because the battery has more time to recharge after start up thereby keeping the battery at a greater (healthier) state of charge. Occasionally using a battery slow charger for 12 hours or longer is a good idea. If you plan to park the truck for 2 weeks or longer then you should completely disconnect the batteries or install a trickle charger. A trickle charger is the better solution because disconnecting batteries can reset ECM's and cause drivability problems.
- Don't let your batteries go dead. Each time the batteries go through a deep discharge you could be taking 50% life off the battery. Let it sit dead for long enough and it won't take a charge at all. If you've ever had to jump start your truck then you can pretty much count on the batteries not lasting as long.
- Keep the batteries as close to 75F as possible. That is pretty much ideal operating temperature for a lead acid battery. Battery manufactures suggest that every 10F of continuous operation above 75F takes 10% life off the battery. This means keeping the battery isolated from the high underhood heat.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2008
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wow it seems most people have great luck with motorcraft batteries, i guess its just my luck. but i did switch it out this morning, found some corrosion starting on the hold down bolt plus the top of the battery was damp, venting to much i belive.
with the new battery this thing turns over faster than it ever did, night and day differance. while i was at it i bought a new battery for my '94 f250 plow truck, that battery was installed back in 2001 but was still working ok, but old enough.
i also used one of thoes memory savers with a fresh 9 volt battery and it dident work on either friggen truck ! but yeah it cost me over 300$ at sears, i got the diehard platinum agm bat for my '08 and a diehard gold for my '94. i dident mind spending extra for my '08 as the truck cost enough to begin with ( the platinum was 190$)
also someone had mentioned a agm battery dont survive well under the hood due to heat, i was wondering of someone can shed more light on this but the platinum bat has a very good warranty...48 months full then 52 month pro rated.
with the new battery this thing turns over faster than it ever did, night and day differance. while i was at it i bought a new battery for my '94 f250 plow truck, that battery was installed back in 2001 but was still working ok, but old enough.
i also used one of thoes memory savers with a fresh 9 volt battery and it dident work on either friggen truck ! but yeah it cost me over 300$ at sears, i got the diehard platinum agm bat for my '08 and a diehard gold for my '94. i dident mind spending extra for my '08 as the truck cost enough to begin with ( the platinum was 190$)
also someone had mentioned a agm battery dont survive well under the hood due to heat, i was wondering of someone can shed more light on this but the platinum bat has a very good warranty...48 months full then 52 month pro rated.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
From: NW NJ
also someone had mentioned a agm battery dont survive well under the hood due to heat, i was wondering of someone can shed more light on this but the platinum bat has a very good warranty...48 months full then 52 month pro rated.
T-84], which was only tested in group size 34 and 78 .... it was a very mediocre battery, though very expensive)CR's "life" test :
Life
Life test measures how a battery endures repeated charge-and-discharge cycles at hot-climate engine-compartment temperatures. The more cycles endured while maintaining a higher voltage, the higher the score.
Life test measures how a battery endures repeated charge-and-discharge cycles at hot-climate engine-compartment temperatures. The more cycles endured while maintaining a higher voltage, the higher the score.
Our battery-life test is based on a standard recently adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Our test includes partially draining and then recharging each battery almost 3,000 times over a 10-week period, during which the battery must meet voltage and amperage limits based on real-life demands. The highest scorers maintained higher voltages and were able to withstand more cycles.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 44
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From: Anchorage, Alaska
A couple of weeks ago my 650 CCA battery failed to start my '09 V10 at -42F. Since I only have about 3K miles I'm still running mineral oil and it wasn't plugged in (remote area). It surprised me to see such a small battery under the hood. I'll be upgrading soon.............
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 130
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From: Alabama Gulf Coast
A couple of weeks ago my 650 CCA battery failed to start my '09 V10 at -42F. Since I only have about 3K miles I'm still running mineral oil and it wasn't plugged in (remote area). It surprised me to see such a small battery under the hood. I'll be upgrading soon.............
Man, they have down graded the V-10 battery size over the years. I want to say my 02 V-10 came with a 800 CCA from the factory and I replace it with a 850 CCA.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 2
That Consumer's Report test might be useful in some situations but not in all. Rongold is correct. AGM batteries do not have the range of operating temperature that lead acid batteries have, and most are not a good choice for applications where the battery will be placed under hood with heat from the engine. He's also correct that AGM have a different ideal charging voltage then lead acid. The alternator regulator set point needs to be slightly different and the tolerance of voltage needs to be tightened up quite a bit. The alternator in your truck probably wasn't designed with AGM in mind and won't be optimized for AGM batteries.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 2
A couple of weeks ago my 650 CCA battery failed to start my '09 V10 at -42F. Since I only have about 3K miles I'm still running mineral oil and it wasn't plugged in (remote area). It surprised me to see such a small battery under the hood. I'll be upgrading soon.............