Heads Up on the original OEM Battery

[Bluerauder]

Those of you still running with the original OEM battery may be on borrowed time. Mine gave up the ghost this morning. No prior indication of a problem with starting, etc. The "green" indicator window still showing good to go. Not enough of a charge to crank the car. I figure it was at 91 months (or more) of service use.

Replaced it this afternoon with a Motorcraft BXT-65-650 650 amp battery with 100 month guarantee. That's the Motorcraft replacement; but it doesn't look exactly like the original.

Easy out and easy in. Hardest part was cleaning up the junk that had accumulated in the battery tray.

So if you are still running with the original OEM battery (as I know some still are), you may not get a warning of a problem until your MM just won't start. Mine was fine on Friday and sat this weekend. Dead as a doornail this morning.

[ImpalaSlayer]

Those of you still running with the original OEM battery may be on borrowed time. Mine gave up the ghost this morning. No prior indication of a problem with starting, etc. The "green" indicator window still showing good to go. Not enough of a charge to crank the car. I figure it was at 91 months (or more) of service use.

Replaced it this afternoon with a Motorcraft BXT-65-650 650 amp battery with 100 month guarantee. That's the Motorcraft replacement; but it doesn't look exactly like the original.

Easy out and easy in. Hardest part was cleaning up the junk that had accumulated in the battery tray.

So if you are still running with the original OEM battery (as I know some still are), you may not get a warning of a problem until your MM just won't start. Mine was fine on Friday and sat this weekend. Dead as a doornail this morning.
good lookin out Charlie,

my group 58 battery is definitely not lasting as long as i was warned. seems to take longer and longer to start the car and its only 7 months old. is this what happens when you demand too much from a batt? im no expert with these things, i believe it only has 700 c/a's

[Ms. Denmark]

Ours was still cranking at 95K. But as Mr. Man said "it's old...time to replace it with something new and perky!" So he did. (The battery that is):D

[ctrlraven]

I changed mine a few years ago to a Interstate Megatron battery. I still have my stock battery at my work to use on my 12 volt bench test for my devices and other things. I throw the jump box on it once in a while but still holds a charge for what I use it for.

[Spectragod]

Mine was giving up 2 months ago, I bought a Motorcraft replacement, and it looked like one, with that big red tag. I had a thought and made a call. A buddy of mine is a fleet manager for a larger police department, he had 20 or so new Vics on the ground. I traded my new replacement for his OEM battery, he got a better warranty, and I got a factory battery.

[Kennyrauder]

my Marauder is taking 2 extra cranks to start .I wonder if the battery is the problem. I have an 03, so the battery is going on 8 years old. I guess it might be time to change it.

[rayjay]

My 04 OEM died while I was getting the car ready for Carlisle. Replaced with a MotorCraft also. At least his one has a handle on it for when I put the car in storage.

[Mr. Man]

Batteries don't give you the "uh oh it's time to think about a new battery" anymore. If your lucky you will get one or two weak starts before you have a new anchor. If your still running an OEM your pressing your luck at this point.

[Bigdogjim]

Charlie: Mine was just replaced last week, factory battery lasted 95 months!!(53XXX)

I used a Motorcraft BXT-65-800 800 amp instead:) And your correct the battery tray was a mess.

Also mine did not come from the factory with a carry strap,

[fastblackmerc]

After replacing the OEM batteries at 4 years. I replace the batteries in my cars every 5-6 years. Don't ever want me or the wife to get stuck.

[Black_Kannin]

good lookin out Charlie,





^^Agreed!!! I was thinking about changing out mines before the winter hit just for my own records and peace of mind!!

[tbore007]

OEM still cranking..But now that I said that.

[Egon Spengler]

I have a 2003 300A and just replaced the OEM battery around spring time. Car had about 100,000 on it at the time, so you guys are definitely on borrowed time that still have OEM! I knew mine was OEM because the long bolt holding the battery in place was corroded and snapped when I went to remove it! I had to drill it out and nut and bolt it myself!

[crouse]

Still on the original battery. Built July 2002. 8 years old and 75,000 miles. Probably get a new one this fall.

[Egon Spengler]

Still on the original battery. Built July 2002. 8 years old and 75,000 miles. Probably get a new one this fall.
You have a PM regarding sequence number in sig compared to mine...

[FW_Linc/Merc]

Mine went out today. 7 +years from a battery is great and I have no reason to complain. I will replace with a motorcraft one within the next week. It has been a busy summer and I was just getting it out of storage and it started fine on Monday, so they do yes everyone with orginals are working with borrowed time. I like the idea of getting one from a 2010 Grand Marquis and will look into that further before buying a generic motorcraft replacement.

[Bigdogjim]

Mine went out today. 7 +years from a battery is great and I have no reason to complain. I will replace with a motorcraft one within the next week. It has been a busy summer and I was just getting it out of storage and it started fine on Monday, so they do yes everyone with orginals are working with borrowed time. I like the idea of getting one from a 2010 Grand Marquis and will look into that further before buying a generic motorcraft replacement.

When you replace go up one to Motorcraft BXT-65-850 850 amp. Just replaced mine after almost 8 years:)

[TFB]

Batteries don't give you the "uh oh it's time to think about a new battery" anymore. If your lucky you will get one or two weak starts before you have a new anchor. If your still running an OEM your pressing your luck at this point.

That's been my experience as well, and two were cranking just fine till the hour or so just prior to their total failure...

Goin' for the record, I have a '98 Grand Marquis(I'm looking for a Marauder) that still had it's original battery till this past May... It was one owner, garage kept, with only 33K when I bought it in April, needless to say I didn't trust it so bought a replacement... Since I had a dud battery in a going to be junked Aerostar, returned that one for core and set the Merc battery in the 'star... Well I tried it just yesterday and that 12+ year old battery still started it... Prior to this experience, if anyone had told me a battery could last 12 years, I'd have called him a liar...

[tbone]

I bought my car used at 92k, so I don't know if the battery is original. Is there a way to tell?

[Bigdogjim]

The original had a motorcraft sticker on the top, look for a date on the battery, should be a sticker on the top.

[tbone]

The original had a motorcraft sticker on the top, look for a date on the battery, should be a sticker on the top.

Well, mine has a Motorcraft sticker, no date anywhere, no green eye, a carrying strap and it's a 750 amp version, so it must be a replacement.:confused:

[vkirkend]

I'm driving mine until it DIES!!! Livin' on the edge........:bows:

[Zim Hosein]

I'm driving mine until it DIES!!! Livin' on the edge........:bows:

:stupid:

J/K'ing vkirkend! :beer:

[jabird56]

I've had multiple OEM batteries replaced in my 03 MM, bad batch I guess.


FEB 07
FEB 06
NOV 05

On a separate note:


This past Thursday night, was with the wife in her Mariner gettin' gas at Sam's Club. When we got back in to go, as she turned the key the whole car shutdown....no lights nothing. No dash lights, no exterior lights, no interior light, no clicky clicky with the starter relay,..nothing. Everything was working fine before we shutdown to fill up.

Called in the AAA battery truck, they showed up in less than 5 minutes from when I called. What should have been 590 amps, was only 80 amps left in the BAT. Talk about no warning.