why does ford skimp on batteries
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2008
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why does ford skimp on batteries
well back in 2003 i bought a new crown vic which i still have.
it allways started sluggish with the motorcraft 650 cca battery and lasted only three years. I put a diehard gold 925 cca ( right around 900 give or take) and that starter spins like crazy, even on the coldest winter days, much better than the motorcraft battery.
well guess what ? my 2008 superduty with the motorcraft 650 cca battery barely started the truck this morning, 20 degrees f. it was fine all summer. i checked the alt output, although my amp clamp is broke i applied about 30-40 amps at idle and b+ voltage was around 14.4 and i could hear the alt. work. i dident check parisidic load, i think like my crown vic, just a lousey battery.
any one else , especially in the colder regions have a simular experiance?
even though its still under warranty i do not want another motorcraft battery in it, tomorrow im going to get a sears diehard platinum agm battery for it, expensive, but i heard nothing but great things about them
it allways started sluggish with the motorcraft 650 cca battery and lasted only three years. I put a diehard gold 925 cca ( right around 900 give or take) and that starter spins like crazy, even on the coldest winter days, much better than the motorcraft battery.
well guess what ? my 2008 superduty with the motorcraft 650 cca battery barely started the truck this morning, 20 degrees f. it was fine all summer. i checked the alt output, although my amp clamp is broke i applied about 30-40 amps at idle and b+ voltage was around 14.4 and i could hear the alt. work. i dident check parisidic load, i think like my crown vic, just a lousey battery.
any one else , especially in the colder regions have a simular experiance?
even though its still under warranty i do not want another motorcraft battery in it, tomorrow im going to get a sears diehard platinum agm battery for it, expensive, but i heard nothing but great things about them
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 819
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From: Putnam Valley, New York
BATTERY
I don't thing you should get an AGM (Advanced Glass Mat) battery. They require a different charging technology than a lead-acid battery, and cannot take extreme underhood temperatures. That's why they are either mounted under the back seat or in the trunk on cars originally equipped with them. Motorcraft also makes a BXH65-850 850 CCA battery. Ask the dealer if he could substitute that one for the original BXT65-650 for a few $$$$ more.
RON
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 130
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From: Alabama Gulf Coast
I got over 5 years with my factory battery.
There is only two or three companies that make batteries for everybody. The biggest being Johnson Controls.
The thing about batteries, they are going to fail when they want and there is nothing you can do about it. A $120 battery is not going to last any longer or stronger than a $50 battery. I am around allot of aircarft batteries and if there was a way to keep them from failing; the FAA would have done it by now.
A battery can last 5 weeks or 5 years, you just never know.
There is only two or three companies that make batteries for everybody. The biggest being Johnson Controls.
The thing about batteries, they are going to fail when they want and there is nothing you can do about it. A $120 battery is not going to last any longer or stronger than a $50 battery. I am around allot of aircarft batteries and if there was a way to keep them from failing; the FAA would have done it by now.
A battery can last 5 weeks or 5 years, you just never know.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
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From: Isanti, MN
Sure they use "wimpy" batteries...but unless you regularly see -20 and below, I don't see what the problem is.
The only time a factory battery ever threatened not to start was at -25 degrees after sitting all night. My '05 Mustang started at -15 with no problems.
If it starts the truck when you need it, there's nothing wrong with it. Why toss a good battery?
The only time a factory battery ever threatened not to start was at -25 degrees after sitting all night. My '05 Mustang started at -15 with no problems.
If it starts the truck when you need it, there's nothing wrong with it. Why toss a good battery?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 234
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From: Moriches USA
Bill, I live in NY and it gets kinda cold here. My 02 250SD will be 8 years old in March and still the factory battery with 170K. For that matter my wife's 01 Taurus with 32K still has a factory battery? Yeah, I know the time has come to change both. 30 or 40 years ago a factory battery only lasted 2 years?
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Modular motor junkie
Joined: May 2009
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From: Texas
I love the motor craft battery's,I have a 850CCA on my V10, one on my 460, 2 on my 7.3 and 1 650 on my CV.
I went 4 days ( at 30F ) without starting the V10, then I used the lights for 20 minutes as work lights before starting it up. I did not even turn the lights off, just gave the key a twist and it spun fast and fired up on the second revolution.
I would upgrade to the 850 from the 650 for more reserve, but I have never had a better battery than one from FoMoCo.
I went 4 days ( at 30F ) without starting the V10, then I used the lights for 20 minutes as work lights before starting it up. I did not even turn the lights off, just gave the key a twist and it spun fast and fired up on the second revolution.
I would upgrade to the 850 from the 650 for more reserve, but I have never had a better battery than one from FoMoCo.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Albemarle, NC
I see alot of batteries in my profession, and in my unbiased opinion, motorcraft has one of the better batteries. I just changed the original one out in my wife's 02 explorer with 200K miles. Every vehicle I have gets an optima when its time to replace. I have only seen two of these batteries go bad and I sell them.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2008
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Sure they use "wimpy" batteries...but unless you regularly see -20 and below, I don't see what the problem is.
The only time a factory battery ever threatened not to start was at -25 degrees after sitting all night. My '05 Mustang started at -15 with no problems.
If it starts the truck when you need it, there's nothing wrong with it. Why toss a good battery?
The only time a factory battery ever threatened not to start was at -25 degrees after sitting all night. My '05 Mustang started at -15 with no problems.
If it starts the truck when you need it, there's nothing wrong with it. Why toss a good battery?
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
Because my '07 5.4L started in subzero temperatures with a 550 CCA battery. So if yours is that bad at 20 degrees it's likely defective and should be replaced under warranty, just as long as your truck is under 36,000 miles.
Just 'cause it's 650 CCA doesn't make it a bad battery!
Just 'cause it's 650 CCA doesn't make it a bad battery!
Bleed Ford Blue
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 13,578
Likes: 157
From: Anchorage Alaska
i just replaced the factory battery in my '04 excursion, after 90k miles she was getting weak..never once did it not start but i knew it was coming so before it got cold i replaced it with the biggest walmart battery i could(3 year warrenty) 1050 CCA and i have not had an issue.
my dads '99 explorer with 25k miles on it is still on the factory battery, and considering the milage it has sat alot and still never needed to be jumped ever.
my dads '99 explorer with 25k miles on it is still on the factory battery, and considering the milage it has sat alot and still never needed to be jumped ever.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 118
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From: Murray KY
Using a battery tender to add battery life.
Keeping a lead acid battery topped of 100% of the time is key on a longer life and starting the engine causes less damage to a hot battery because it uses less current.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 462
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From: NW NJ
This is winter #8 for the original battery in my '02 F250 5.4
These past 3 mornings leaving before dawn for hunting ..... 10 or 15 degrees, windchill
-10 degrees .... spun right up.
I've had much luck with MotorCraft Group 65 batteries.
These past 3 mornings leaving before dawn for hunting ..... 10 or 15 degrees, windchill
-10 degrees .... spun right up.
I've had much luck with MotorCraft Group 65 batteries.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 130
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From: Alabama Gulf Coast
Bill we had some issues like with with the 4.6 Towncar even after buying a new battery at WM. The Instatestate Battery local distributor told me to get a battery tender type charger and just hardwire it to the battery and plug it up. A year or two later with the same WM battery we have no starting issues. The kids listen to a lot of books on CD due to being on the road at least an hour a day and will often stay in the car to finish a CD because they are hooked or it needs to be checked back in the next day.
Keeping a lead acid battery topped of 100% of the time is key on a longer life and starting the engine causes less damage to a hot battery because it uses less current.
Keeping a lead acid battery topped of 100% of the time is key on a longer life and starting the engine causes less damage to a hot battery because it uses less current.
Most people do not know that a alternator does a half a$% job at best to keep a battery charged. Short trips and a voltage regulator that gets weak are a killer for batteries.
It's a good habit to hook your battery up to a good old fashion battery charger (not one of the fully automatic ones) every six months or so and give your battery a top off charge. I am not saying your alternator is bad, but they are designed NOT to charge your battery to 100%.