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Thread: Motorcraft Tested Tough Max battery

  1. #16
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    Battery Basics

    It's always a good idea to buy a quality digital VOM (Volt-Ohm-Meter, like a "Fluke" brand) and check vehicle battery voltage once a month when checking tire pressure, oil/fluid levels, etc. I neighbor resently noticed corrosion on my + post cable clamp, which is hidden by the red cover. Anyone know of a good replacement for the "cheap" OEM cable/clamp? I'm looking for Combat-Tested-Tough as Taxi-Tested-Tough isn't tough enough for a Michigan Militia member like me!
    Last edited by GreekGod; 10-07-2005 at 04:34 AM. Reason: more better
    1957 Custom 2 dr Sedan, 1979 F-series 14' U-Haul 330 XD, 1979 F150 4X4 428 PI/CJ heads/NP 435/4:11 axles-rear Det. Lkr., 1993 Grand Marquis, Y2K CVPI supercharged 5.4, 2003 MM

    The more I learn, the more I find out I don't know.

    Confusion will be my epitaph...

    Home of the Berserker Marauder, one of the ancient Norse warriors legendary for working themselves into a frenzy before a battle and fighting with reckless savagery and insane fury, held to be invulnerable...shirtless regardless of wounds...(possibly due to ingestion of psychotropic and hallucinatory drugs such as Fly Agaric Mushrooms)...

    ΓρεεκΓοδ

  2. #17
    If you find any easy drop-in replacement terminals that work very well, please let me know as well. I have the pre-03 cable "clamps" which is like cheap spring steel that cuts into the terminal.

    I use vaseline to prevent corrosion since the engine heat will melt it and let it coat everything. I have upgraded from a flooded lead-acid battery to a VRLA AGM (Optima). These are kind of neat w/ the Whiz-Bang factor but it doesn't fit my "tray" (ahem, molded fender well) very well. The old Group 65 never fit well and the battery holder clamp cuts into the top of the battery case.

  3. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Donny Carlson View Post
    It has to be dealer installed... at least where I bought it it did.
    I'll have to call the dealer that services my family's MM to verify this fact, but the piece of mind is definitely worth the added expense verses installing it myself.
    2004 Silver Birch Mercury Marauder w/ Factory Spoiler
    Born: 05/13/2004
    Adopted: 10/23/2004
    Inherited: 04/23/2010

  4. #19
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    Cool, a 5-year old thread started by Donny comes back to the top!
    Thanks to Darrin @ BC Automotive:
    $1800 and it was worse than when he started!

    Brian (FordNut) FPG # 1458 of 7838
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  5. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by GreekGod View Post
    It's always a good idea to buy a quality digital VOM (Volt-Ohm-Meter, like a "Fluke" brand) and check vehicle battery voltage once a month when checking tire pressure, oil/fluid levels, etc.
    This is NOT what you test your battery with.
    You need a Battery LOAD tester.

    I change my Battery every 50k miles.
    Just think how many times you've started your car in 50k miles ?
    Every time you go to ONE place, you need to start your car TWICE.
    Now add multiple trips within a day.....

    When I replaced my battery, I looked for the CCA for a replacement battery.
    In New York, the winters are unpredictable.
    I bought the Motorcraft Tested Tough Max BXT 65 850
    (1000 Cranking Amps at 32F).
    I've already got 50,000 miles on this battery and I'll have it tested the next time the Marauder is serviced.
    If it shows any weakness, its gets pulled for the same replacement.

    Anyone want the used one ???
    Pete...


    2k04 BLACK Mercury Marauder 300A #810 of 3223
    DOB 10/31/2003
    DOP 1/2/2004
    2k19 AGATE FORD Edge ST with Performance Brakes
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    Water Wetter, K&N AirCharger/Drycharger, SS Inserts,
    SilverStar 9007SU, WeatherTech WeatherFlectors, Steering Wheel Badge,
    AutoMeter Gauges (Oil Press, Voltmeter, and Trans Oil Temp),
    ASC 840 VSS Sunroof, Kenwood KFC-C6879ie x4, COBRA Fender Badges,
    Z&M Rear Control Arms, FORD GT Coil Covers,
    Gorilla Lock Lugs all around, Decklid Designs Trunk Lid Liner,
    SCT Xcalibrator2 (Innovative Interceptors) w/Lidio's (Alternative Automotive) Marauder 3.55 tuning,
    4R75W by Fred Brown's Performance Transmission, tuned to match Lidio's tune,
    DG Motorsports Carbon Fiber Radiator Cover, Zack's Badgeless Grille,
    Accel 140034-8 Coil Packs, Granatelli Motorsports Coil-On-Plug wires
    Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of rice,
    I will fear no turbo for displacement is with me.

  6. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by MENINBLK View Post
    This is NOT what you test your battery with.
    You need a Battery LOAD tester....
    This is what I test my battery with. A VOM voltage reading will tell you if it is fully charged. I load test my battery every time I start the car. If the battery is weak, the starter will turn slowly, or not at all. Then it is time for a new Curtis-Mathis.

    Before using a load tester, the battery must be fully charged.


    ============================== ===================
    1957 Custom 2 dr Sedan, 1979 F-series 14' U-Haul 330 XD, 1979 F150 4X4 428 PI/CJ heads/NP 435/4:11 axles-rear Det. Lkr., 1993 Grand Marquis, Y2K CVPI supercharged 5.4, 2003 MM

    The more I learn, the more I find out I don't know.

    Confusion will be my epitaph...

    Home of the Berserker Marauder, one of the ancient Norse warriors legendary for working themselves into a frenzy before a battle and fighting with reckless savagery and insane fury, held to be invulnerable...shirtless regardless of wounds...(possibly due to ingestion of psychotropic and hallucinatory drugs such as Fly Agaric Mushrooms)...

    ΓρεεκΓοδ

  7. #22
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    A VOM (even a Fluke) will tell you voltage but not what is important-amps. You can show a fully charged battery with 13+ volts with a meter and fail a load test and not start your car!
    It's all BS until you can show me the time slip!

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  8. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by boatmangc View Post
    A VOM (even a Fluke) will tell you voltage but not what is important-amps. You can show a fully charged battery with 13+ volts with a meter and fail a load test and not start your car!
    Yes, that is what I said. If a fully charged battery won't start a car, or turns the engine slowly, it is an indication the battery may be defective.

    ============================== =
    1957 Custom 2 dr Sedan, 1979 F-series 14' U-Haul 330 XD, 1979 F150 4X4 428 PI/CJ heads/NP 435/4:11 axles-rear Det. Lkr., 1993 Grand Marquis, Y2K CVPI supercharged 5.4, 2003 MM

    The more I learn, the more I find out I don't know.

    Confusion will be my epitaph...

    Home of the Berserker Marauder, one of the ancient Norse warriors legendary for working themselves into a frenzy before a battle and fighting with reckless savagery and insane fury, held to be invulnerable...shirtless regardless of wounds...(possibly due to ingestion of psychotropic and hallucinatory drugs such as Fly Agaric Mushrooms)...

    ΓρεεκΓοδ

  9. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by GreekGod View Post
    This is what I test my battery with. A VOM voltage reading will tell you if it is fully charged. I load test my battery every time I start the car. If the battery is weak, the starter will turn slowly, or not at all. Then it is time for a new Curtis-Mathis.

    Before using a load tester, the battery must be fully charged.

    ============================== ===================
    A VOM (VOLT OHM Meter) is just that.
    The load it puts on a battery is miniscule.

    A Battery LOAD tester measures the Voltage while a LOAD is placed on the battery.
    If your fully charged battery cranks your starter, that's fine,
    but it can STILL fail a load test !!!!
    Your starter doesn't put enough LOAD on a battery to fully test it.

    It's just like telling a Honda owner...
    "I've got more torque on my lugs nuts than you do in your engine..."
    Pete...


    2k04 BLACK Mercury Marauder 300A #810 of 3223
    DOB 10/31/2003
    DOP 1/2/2004
    2k19 AGATE FORD Edge ST with Performance Brakes
    DOB 12/11/2018
    DOP 6/19/2019

    Water Wetter, K&N AirCharger/Drycharger, SS Inserts,
    SilverStar 9007SU, WeatherTech WeatherFlectors, Steering Wheel Badge,
    AutoMeter Gauges (Oil Press, Voltmeter, and Trans Oil Temp),
    ASC 840 VSS Sunroof, Kenwood KFC-C6879ie x4, COBRA Fender Badges,
    Z&M Rear Control Arms, FORD GT Coil Covers,
    Gorilla Lock Lugs all around, Decklid Designs Trunk Lid Liner,
    SCT Xcalibrator2 (Innovative Interceptors) w/Lidio's (Alternative Automotive) Marauder 3.55 tuning,
    4R75W by Fred Brown's Performance Transmission, tuned to match Lidio's tune,
    DG Motorsports Carbon Fiber Radiator Cover, Zack's Badgeless Grille,
    Accel 140034-8 Coil Packs, Granatelli Motorsports Coil-On-Plug wires
    Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of rice,
    I will fear no turbo for displacement is with me.

  10. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by MENINBLK View Post
    A VOM (VOLT OHM Meter) is just that.
    The load it puts on a battery is miniscule.

    A Battery LOAD tester measures the Voltage while a LOAD is placed on the battery.
    If your fully charged battery cranks your starter, that's fine,
    but it can STILL fail a load test !!!!
    Your starter doesn't put enough LOAD on a battery to fully test it....
    A voltage test is used to determine if the battery is charged. It is not a load test, it is a voltage test. This is to be done before a load test, and after removing any surface charge. It is not proper to load test a battery before checking the charge in it.

    A starter could put enough load on the battery to "fully" test it, especially at 0 degrees F. (~400 amps), with the ignition disabled. A battery that fails a load test could still continue in service for many months, but probably not a good idea for an aeroplane.


    From this tutorial: http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html#6
    "6. Battery Testing can be done in more than one way. The most accurate method is measurement of specific gravity and battery voltage. To measure specific gravity buy a temperature compensating hydrometer, to measure voltage use a digital D.C. Voltmeter. A quality load tester may be a good purchase if you need to test sealed batteries."
    ==========================
    Last edited by GreekGod; 04-27-2010 at 05:31 PM. Reason: typo
    1957 Custom 2 dr Sedan, 1979 F-series 14' U-Haul 330 XD, 1979 F150 4X4 428 PI/CJ heads/NP 435/4:11 axles-rear Det. Lkr., 1993 Grand Marquis, Y2K CVPI supercharged 5.4, 2003 MM

    The more I learn, the more I find out I don't know.

    Confusion will be my epitaph...

    Home of the Berserker Marauder, one of the ancient Norse warriors legendary for working themselves into a frenzy before a battle and fighting with reckless savagery and insane fury, held to be invulnerable...shirtless regardless of wounds...(possibly due to ingestion of psychotropic and hallucinatory drugs such as Fly Agaric Mushrooms)...

    ΓρεεκΓοδ

  11. #26
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    Just in case, anyone else in interested in the proper procedures
    for charging your battery and testing it to determine its performance level,
    there is an EXCELLENT read right here...
    Read it ENTIRELY...

    http://autorepair.about.com/library/.../aa101604c.htm
    Pete...


    2k04 BLACK Mercury Marauder 300A #810 of 3223
    DOB 10/31/2003
    DOP 1/2/2004
    2k19 AGATE FORD Edge ST with Performance Brakes
    DOB 12/11/2018
    DOP 6/19/2019

    Water Wetter, K&N AirCharger/Drycharger, SS Inserts,
    SilverStar 9007SU, WeatherTech WeatherFlectors, Steering Wheel Badge,
    AutoMeter Gauges (Oil Press, Voltmeter, and Trans Oil Temp),
    ASC 840 VSS Sunroof, Kenwood KFC-C6879ie x4, COBRA Fender Badges,
    Z&M Rear Control Arms, FORD GT Coil Covers,
    Gorilla Lock Lugs all around, Decklid Designs Trunk Lid Liner,
    SCT Xcalibrator2 (Innovative Interceptors) w/Lidio's (Alternative Automotive) Marauder 3.55 tuning,
    4R75W by Fred Brown's Performance Transmission, tuned to match Lidio's tune,
    DG Motorsports Carbon Fiber Radiator Cover, Zack's Badgeless Grille,
    Accel 140034-8 Coil Packs, Granatelli Motorsports Coil-On-Plug wires
    Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of rice,
    I will fear no turbo for displacement is with me.

  12. #27
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
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    South Jersey
    Age
    66
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    Its not the volts, its the amps

    "220....221, whatever it takes".......Tom Hanks


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