Thoughts on battery???

[IwantmyMMnow!]

Earlier this week (Mon or Tues), I played good samaritan and tried to help someone jump their car (I keep a set of jumper cables in my trunk). Their battery was too far gone to crank.

Fast forward to last night; sitting at Sonic with the kids to get an ice cream. I had the car off while we waited; stereo was on, and my son had his rear map light on, using one of my notebooks to show me how he can multiply 2- and 3-digit numbers. I didn't realize it, but my parking lights were on (thought I had turned them completely off). We waited 10 minutes, tops...went to start car, and it wouldn't crank. Made sure all accessories were off, waited about 2-3 minutes, and was able to start it up, but was definitely on the fence between cranking/not cranking.

Today, we all hopped in the car to go get some lunch; car cranked, but definitely 'labored' a bit. Spent about 30 minutes driving to-from lunch spot and didn't shut car off; used drive-thru and came back home. 5 hours later, went to store to get stuff to fix for dinner; car cranked like it usually does. Out of curiousity, stopped at Auto Zone to have battery checked. Guy said my battery was charged (12.75V), but was 'bad'.

Don't really need to spend $100+ on a new battery right now, so wondering if I'll be pushing my luck if I wait a few weeks to replace it? Also, is Duralast a decent battery, or should I look for some other brand?

Thanks...

[fastblackmerc]

I'd not take the chance... get it replaced.

You can do it with some common tools.

[NATEHAWK]

Could just had BAD CELL in the battery...If I were you I would replace it....

[FordNut]

My first replacement was a Optima. It wasn't so great. Second was a Bosch. It worked good but finally bit the dust. Now I'm using a NAPA. I think it's going to do well, but time will tell.

[marauder410]

i have a red top optima under hood and never failed me yet over 2 years so far and never let me down

also has a huge 82 pound kinetiks HC2000 audio battery hooked up in trunk powering all my audio system components..subs/big amp/small amp/capacitor/2 pairs 6x9 speakers and never had any problems :D

i reccommend optima red or yellow

[loud2004marquis]

Had to replace mine recently, OEM replacement was only a few dollars more then the other brands so I went with that. I would definatly replace it right away.

[Bluerauder]

I'd not take the chance... get it replaced.



...If I were you I would replace it....


I would definitely replace it right away.

+ 1, 2, 3 and 4. ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Motorcraft BXT-65-650 (OEM) or BXT 85-850 (more CCA). 10 minutes out and in !!

[mjcobra]

Original is the best!
Optima or die hard.


I sell interstate and there not as good as they were!
Durlast dont last
Walmart ever start are actually pretty good. I believe Johnson controls build them

[Spectragod]

I have an extra Motorcraft battery(bxt650), less than a year old IIRC, was in a vehicle that I traded in, if your coming through Dayton Ohio to Marauderville, you can have it. I'll even instal it for you.:beer:

[IwantmyMMnow!]

Thanks for the input, fellas....gonna go by Wal-Mart today and see what they got. The Duralast gold at Auto Zone has 3-year replacement, 8-year warranty for $130 + tax...gonna compare to what Wally world has...

[Ozark Marauder]

Thanks for the input, fellas....gonna go by Wal-Mart today and see what they got. The Duralast gold at Auto Zone has 3-year replacement, 8-year warranty for $130 + tax...gonna compare to what Wally world has...

Good prices on OEM with these coupons

http://owner.ford.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Owner/Page/ServiceCouponsPage

OZ

[Roadwarrior]

I had the Everlast brand battery from Wally World (min. 650 CCA) on my CVPI for 6 yrs. & had real good luck with it. Motorcraft, Sears Diehard or Optima yellow or red top batteries had good reviews as well.

[UncleLar]

Your alternator will take forever to charge a dead or near dead battery,put a 6 amp charger with an automatic tapering charge on the battery at least all night or maybe over the week end and it should bring your battery back up to full charge,if it doesn't then you'll know it's bad.I'd try that before I spent $100+ on a new battery.
It never hurts to hook up a Deltran Battery Tender over night (great for having a "hot" battery for starting on cold winter mornings) and when ever the car is put up for a while.
I've been using them for years and I've gotten 5-7 years from my oem Harley batteries around 5+ years on my car/truck batteries.The Battery Tender's will NOT overcharge or harm a battery.

[Comin' in Hot]

I've had a duralast gold that I switched between three vehicles, and when it finally puked after 6 years I took it back and got a new one for 30 bucks, I have them in 3 of my 4 cars and every time they fire right up even after sitting for months.

[TFB]

If you are talking about a battery that's over five or six years old, it's just about a sure bet it's down on capacity... It may last a few months, days, or even hours, no one can tell for sure...

[JimmyXR7]

If you are talking about a battery that's over five or six years old, it's just about a sure bet it's down on capacity... It may last a few months, days, or even hours, no one can tell for sure...
Yes, that is how they determine if the battery is bad. The capacity of the 650 CCA may deteriorate to 500CCA even though the battery is fully charged. The month, day, or hour the CCA drops below what the starter needs to crank over, you will need a tow.
Change it now based on the "bad" rating from the parts shop and save your tow truck money and the time you waste during the tow. My 2 cents.
Jim

[IwantmyMMnow!]

If you are talking about a battery that's over five or six years old, it's just about a sure bet it's down on capacity... It may last a few months, days, or even hours, no one can tell for sure...


Yes, that is how they determine if the battery is bad. The capacity of the 650 CCA may deteriorate to 500CCA even though the battery is fully charged. The month, day, or hour the CCA drops below what the starter needs to crank over, you will need a tow.
Change it now based on the "bad" rating from the parts shop and save your tow truck money and the time you waste during the tow. My 2 cents.
Jim

That's part of the problem as well...the month/year 'punchouts' were never punched out, so I have no idea how old the battery is that came with my MM when I bought it.

It cranked fine this morning when me and the kids went to WH for breakfast, but was again a bit 'labored' when we left WH to come home. I imagine short drives (<30 mins) don't give the alternator enough time to charge it back to it's diminished capacity, so eventually it will not crank soon since I don't drive it 30+ mins straight that often. After we got home from WH, I let the car run for another 10 mins before I shut it off.

Will be heading out in a few hours to take kids back to the ex, so will stop at AZ and pony up the $$$ for a new Duralast...I like the 3-year replacement/8 year warranty they offer.

[TFB]

That's part of the problem as well...the month/year 'punchouts' were never punched out, so I have no idea how old the battery is that came with my MM when I bought it.


There are almost always date codes on the battery... May see a stamp in the plastic or a sticker that has something like A5, which would indicate a Jan '05 MFG date, E7 would be May '07 etc... Month is alpha, year numeric...

A good battery that's not totally dead will be mostly recharged in a hours time(more than enough to crank strongly, that's for sure), sounds like yours is on it's last legs...

[LeoVampire]

I had bought a Interstate battery for the Marauder 2 years ago and it bit the dust already.
Ended up getting the best Ford one this time seeing they will replace it for free for 5 years.

[fastblackmerc]

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/DieHardPlatimiumBattery.jpg

[IwantmyMMnow!]

Stopped at AZ on the way back from dropping the kids off. Bought the Duralast Gold (yellow top)...came out to $142 and change and they installed for free. 750 CCAs, so don't expect to have any issues starting it up for the next several winters. She definitely cranks like she's got some juice now!

I don't mind having to pay for stuff like this, but its just not good timing right now...wish it would've happened several months ago. Looks like I'll be selling the rest of my Franklin and Walking Liberty silver half dollars my Dad gave me a long time ago....sold half of them a couple weeks ago to help make ends meet...guess they're serving their purpose.

Can't wait til the end of the month. I'll get a full months' housing allowance (only got 14 days-worth for Aug) and maybe by then I'll have received the rent money owed to me or will have 'new' rent money coming in. I don't want to have to hassle with a part-time job; I need all the 'free' time I can get to spend on schoolwork (Calculus 2 and Physics are kicking my a$$ right now) and don't want a job to interfere with me seeing my kids, but if things don't get better soon, I won't have much of a choice.

But, like I always try to constantly remind myself, things could be worse...

[Rockettman]

...and don't want a job to interfere with me seeing my kids, but if things don't get better soon, I won't have much of a choice.

But, like I always try to constantly remind myself, things could be worse...

That's great thinking. All the best!

[ctrlraven]

With most vehicles it can take 4-5 hrs of above idle rpms with no extra accessories on to charge a battery back up enough to possible even turn the engine over.

Glad you got it replaced cause you never know if you had an emergency and needed to get going asap but couldn't cause the battery was dead.

[JBFTech]

A good battery will take a 10 minute drain from park lamps, radio, and interior lights, with no problems. Glad you got it replaced, sounds like it was on it's way out. My preference anymore is Motorcraft or Interstate, but all in all most batteries are about the same anymore, although some do suck. As long as it's got at least a 3yr free replacement warranty, you're good. I've seen just as many Motorcraft batteries bite the dust within the first year of service as I have Duralast, Autocraft, Interstate, Diehard, etc. Just be aware, that not all facilities/brands use the same pass/fail specifications.......Let's say a brand "A" 650CCA battery tests at 600CCA at one place, it's considered bad and gets replaced. However, a brand "B" 650CCA battery sold across the street tests at 600CCA, it may be considered good and they'll send you on your way until you have to call the tow truck. I don't know the exact percentages or numbers they use, but I know Ford spec is higher than Walmart. I tested a personal battery with our warranty testers, it failed at 498CCA on a 590CCA battery. Took it to walmart, as it was still under the 3yr warranty. They tested it, brought me the printout and said it's a good battery. 498CCA, same 590CCA battery. Sorry for the long ramble, just passing along a bit of info.

- JB

[71cyclone]

Thanks for the input, fellas....gonna go by Wal-Mart today and see what they got. The Duralast gold at Auto Zone has 3-year replacement, 8-year warranty for $130 + tax...gonna compare to what Wally world has...
850 cca battery from Ford was 100 dollar:banana2:

[T Prok]

DO NOT BUY WALL-MART BATTERIES!

1. they suck
2. Wally does not honor warranty. (3yr. free replacement, failed at 18months and they said sorry you are S.O.L.)
3. a few bucks more and you get a Motorcraft that last 5+ years.