battery

[barrytuneup]

i have an 04 mm silver bought new in 6/04. That makes the battery 4.5 years old. It's the original motorcraft and it still starts great in 10 degrees(I live in upstate ny) But does anyone know the lifespan? I am thinking it could die suddenly! Also Consumer Reports recommends the Walmart Evermaxx for $79.00. 1) Am i pushing the battery by not getting a new one? 2) Can the Evermaxx be that good? ( the article states that there are only 3 manufacturers. any help appreciated.

[Pat]

Yes, it will die suddenly. Mine did after 52 months. One cold morning, rrr, rrrrr, rrrrrr, click.

[TiTo35]

Mine died after 5 years and 100k miles...I went with the same battery. Motorcraft FTW!

[SVT_MERC]

My Marq. has the original battery, and still running strong after 7 years and 97,000 miles.
Keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way!!!

[rayjay]

Anybody know if they will last longer if stored in a warm place for the winter? I plan on trickle charging mine for few days before reinstalling it. Hopefully next month. barrytuneup where upstate are you?

[CKMustangCobra]

Replace batteries with either Gel batteries (Optimas) or Marine Starting Batteries. Marine batteries have the plates glued to the top and bottom on the case so they won't bounce around and break... last a while in boats... I they last a LONG time in cars.

[Fourth Horseman]

i have an 04 mm silver bought new in 6/04. That makes the battery 4.5 years old. It's the original motorcraft and it still starts great in 10 degrees(I live in upstate ny) But does anyone know the lifespan? I am thinking it could die suddenly! Also Consumer Reports recommends the Walmart Evermaxx for $79.00. 1) Am i pushing the battery by not getting a new one? 2) Can the Evermaxx be that good? ( the article states that there are only 3 manufacturers. any help appreciated.

FWIW, I changed mine at the 5 year mark even though it was running ok. I don't think batteries are that expensive and the peace of mind was worth it to me. My advice is to not push it unless you really can not afford a new one right now. I'd rather be $80 poorer but not stuck somewhere looking for a jump. No experience with the Evermaxx. I run Napa batteries and have had good luck with them.

[Bigdogjim]

7 years and 46K on my battery with no worries. Just make sure the terminals are clean connections are snug.

A good shop will have a tester to check the battery.

[J D]

Well now, I wouldn't say that its all over, I have my original battery and my car is an early 300A built in June of '02 and its original battery is still running strong.

Though if it gives you piece of mind you can buy a new one, and consumer reports has never steered me wrong except for once before, but unless you don't care at all, I think you should hold on to your battery and hook it up to a battery tender You never know if you might need or someone might want to pay for an original battery.

Also, if you decide to keep it you can get insurance and buy one of the combination air pump (for your tires), battery recharger, cell phone charger, etc. I have mine from Wagner, which I got on sale at a nearby Costco.

It came in handy one time while I was installing my real oil pressure gauge and left the car in the on position without the motor running but with all the power on, radio, interior lights etc, for a few hours. The battery was drained but after hooking up my power charger for the recommended time and then running it up and down the highway to use the alternator to finish the job, the battery was fine, showed green, and read at normal output.

[bigmerc'03]

mine lasted 6 years changed to and interstate MegaTron II

[UncleLar]

Anybody know if they will last longer if stored in a warm place for the winter? I plan on trickle charging mine for few days before reinstalling it. Hopefully next month. barrytuneup where upstate are you?
I use and swear by Battery Tenders,I hook mine up to the Harley's and the MM every night when I park them and leave them hooked up all winter. My 2004 Harley FatBoy still has the original battery,bike bought new Halloween night 2003 and it still tests fine. If I make a road trip with a bike I have a waterproof Battery Tender I take with just in case.
http://www.batterytender.com/

[rayjay]

I use and swear by Battery Tenders,I hook mine up to the Harley's and the MM every night when I park them and leave them hooked up all winter. My 2004 Harley FatBoy still has the original battery,bike bought new Halloween night 2003 and it still tests fine. If I make a road trip with a bike I have a waterproof Battery Tender I take with just in case.
http://www.batterytender.com/

Thanks UncleLar. I was considering that until one of them caused a garage fire here that destroyed two 57 Chebys, one a street rod the other a mint restoration and thousands of dollars in parts, tools, ect. I just put the battery down in my basement and will trickle charge it before the DTR comes out of hibernation.

[UncleLar]

Holy C**p! I'm sorry to hear that.Do you know if it shorted out or did some liquid spill in it or? If it shorted out I'm surprised the circuit breaker in the garage didn't trip.
This is the first time I've ever heard of anyone having a problem with one,I've had one hooked up on my Electra Glide Classic for about 3 months straight now and it doesn't get warm.

[rayjay]

Holy C**p! I'm sorry to hear that.Do you know if it shorted out or did some liquid spill in it or? If it shorted out I'm surprised the circuit breaker in the garage didn't trip.
This is the first time I've ever heard of anyone having a problem with one,I've had one hooked up on my Electra Glide Classic for about 3 months straight now and it doesn't get warm.

I did not hear the exact details other than a battery tender caused the fire and no one was home at the time. Luckily it was a unattached structure. If I run into the fire chief I'll ask him.

[chapel1]

June 02 new, put a new battery in for the trip to St Louis . Motorcraft, I think is was $82.00?
Six years I may have gotten another year out of my old battery. But $80.00 is cheap insurance these days.
I don't like to let things happen to me . Kinda a control thing.

[2,4shofast]

My original battery crapped out about 3 months ago, I cant complain because my car has about 104K on it. I replaced it with a Optima yellow top this weekend.

[PSG]

mine has the original, 03 with 21,000 mi , but the patrol cars at work are getting 4 to 5 years and over 100,000 out of them, and we only replace them with OEM. and there charging systems take a hell of alot more abuse than ours

[Peace2Peep]

I will first tell you that the Walmart Batteries have a great warranty...but not necessarily a great product. I had one in my Caddy and I had to replace it four times under warranty and all times the battery was tested as "Bad" when I returned it. Bought an Optima and the Caddy was fine for three plus years until I sold it.

I just have to tell you the OEM Ford battery in the MArauder is an outstanding product. I have an Optima in my car but if I could do it over again, I would have bought another factory battery.

[Wires]

I bought the Wal-Mart "Evermaxx" (yellow) for my truck, to replace the Die Hard Gold that was there. That battery cost me 90 dollars 6 years ago, and is not about 100 dollars. The Wal Mart battery was 80, and it is identical to the die-hard gold.

My other car has a piece of crap battery that I got from Auto zone 7 or 8 years ago. I leave it out in the cold all winter, and only charge it every once in a while - but it's never let me down! Go figure.

I've read that The Die-Hard, Wal-Mart battery, the Optima, and the Motorcraft are all made by Johnson Controls, but with the economy I wouldn't be surprised if any of the them didn't change vendors from time to time, looking for the best deal.

[Egon Spengler]

Having bought my car less than 2 years ago, I am unsure as to whether it is the original battery or not... if I had my car, I would pop the hood and check... unfortunately my car is in the shop... I believe I have the original battery as well... batteries make me nervous... alternators make me even more nervous! I just hate the image of being stranded on the side of the road with a dead alternator... and I know it will happen in the middle of nowhere during a freezing cold snow storm too because that is just my luck!

[Wires]

... batteries make me nervous... alternators make me even more nervous! I just hate the image of being stranded on the side of the road with a dead alternator... and I know it will happen in the middle of nowhere during a freezing cold snow storm too because that is just my luck!

Usually, you get enough warning with an alternator or battery failure to NOT be stranded; keep an eye on that volt meter. Any change from "normal" should be investigated.

Some GM alternators will fail catastrophically and suddenly, but I've never heard of any other brand doing so. I'm sure it happens, but it's rare.

Again, most batteries fail slowly enough that you can tell, but, I've seen cars that won't re-start and can't even be jumped because a battery just suddenly died.

As we've seen from these posts, battery quality varies a good bit - some last over 6 years, some die very quickly, and everywhere in between, regardless of brand or manufacturer.

My el-cheapo battery is a random "good one", my Motorcraft in my MM is still going after 6 years, but I can see from my voltmeter that it's a bit slow to re-charge. It IS recharging, so my alternator is probably good.

The question is, when do you change a working battery to avoid such a fate, and what do you buy? From these posts, it seems there isn't a good answer.

(sorry for the book, there)

[fastblackmerc]

My rule of thumb is to change the battery ever 4-5 years. It may still be good but why take the chance of getting stuck in the middle of nowhere.....

[bigmerc2003]

My original 03 battery is starting to go......after stitting the winter she needed a jump for the first time in 4 years......but it does hold a charge after that so this will most likely he the last year for this battery. So if the car was built late 02 that makes the battery 6 1/2 years old with 64k on the clock??? Not too bad

[GordonB]

rayjay,
The fire you reported with a Battery Tender makes me CRINGE! I have the Vette in the garage at the beach UNDER 17oo sq ft of upstairs living space! Battery Tender sits on concrete floor and plugs into outlet next to Breaker panel. Is there an issue with said Battery Tender?
When I get to the beach in one of my MMs, I usually attach the BT to the MM overnite -- in a few hours, the BT goes Green! Have orig Motorcraft batteries in BOTH MMs.
GordonB

[Peace2Peep]

I'd suggest some serious checking on that Battery Tender story. there are a lot of imitators and duplicators in the battery charging market, and many can be had so cheaply it makes me think BT is getting a bad rap here...but I'm not always right.

Check the link: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display_comments.htm?StoryID=8 4917

I think Battery Tender is a branding thing...like Kleenex and Q-tips

I will say that I have tried a couple of battery charging devices and they dont compare. My tender is my friend. Ha!

[CROWNMARAUDER]

I replaced the original battery in my 02 Crown Vic last february. At the time it was 6 years old & the car had 43k miles. I just figured it was winter & why take the chance of something happening.

[rayjay]

I'd suggest some serious checking on that Battery Tender story. there are a lot of imitators and duplicators in the battery charging market, and many can be had so cheaply it makes me think BT is getting a bad rap here...but I'm not always right.

Check the link: http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display_comments.htm?StoryID=8 4917

I think Battery Tender is a branding thing...like Kleenex and Q-tips

I will say that I have tried a couple of battery charging devices and they dont compare. My tender is my friend. Ha!

FWIW, I was told a battery tender, but who knows what it actually was. Like I said, if I see the fire chief for that district I'll ask him.

[tjg442]

I replace my batteries in my boat every year (better safe than sorry) on Lake Erie. However. they are series "27" size, and do not fit the battery tray in my MM. My wifes Roadmaster has had one for over 6 years now, and I'm thinking of replaceing it this summer. The Marine battery, if you can find one that fits, is the way to go. If you find one, PM me, time to replace mine also in the MM......Good luck ! :burnout:

[Marauder]

My battery keeps dying on me (3rd time in a few months) so I'm grabbing a new one this week. I also barely drive the car since it's my 2nd car (no snow or rain driving on top of that) and I take the bus/train to work.

My car was built 9/02 so that makes the battery 78 months old with 33k miles.

[dohc324ci]

Yeah, like everyone has said; it will die suddenly. I have an 03 just replaced last month with a Motorcraft 800CA.