Weak battery

[bunits19714]

Never been a issue but 3 times now in the last 6 weeks the car has started slow and then today I actually had to jump it to get it going- never had a issue in the past, even after all the winter mods were completed in feb, battery is probably right at 48 months old, car was manufactured about 47 months ago. Some times the car sits for 2 weeks at a time(inside) and sits in winter storage from late dec till late feb or early march(started atleast monthly) , I wonder if I should put a trickle charger on it or just replace the battery - if I am pulling it to test I will just replace it , can they test the battery in the car?
Anyone else only get 4 years out of the factory battery?

 

[Wes06]

it seems with how batteries are now, 48 months is pretty good.

I try to leave mine on a trickle charger/tender since I wind up not driving it very much

 

[travelers]

Yes it's sounds like its time for a new batt. Trickle chargers are a batts best friend.

 

[Wes06]

Ive got one that uses either clamps to the terminals, or has a wire that you bolt to the terminals and provides a plug.

planning on putting a plug hidden somewhere outside so i can plug it in without popping the hood

 

[AndrewNagle]

Ive got one that uses either clamps to the terminals, or has a wire that you bolt to the terminals and provides a plug.

planning on putting a plug hidden somewhere outside so i can plug it in without popping the hood

All day long. Have them on Mustang and both trucks set up this way

 

[Wes06]

I got a lot of electronics tinkering on my to do list.

External plug for charger, rearview mirror with external temp sensor, new antenna that fits inside since i shaved off the stock one, and gonna run my air compressor and fuel pump off the thick gauge amp wire to clean up the extra fuses under the hood. and replace my headlights with aftermarket HID retrofits.

sooo much wiring...lol

 

[skwerl]

I have a 14 and my stock battery has leaked just enough to cause corrosion on both terminals and also eaten up the insulating wrap around the battery. I'm planning on swapping it out soon but haven't gotten around to it yet. I know the acid leak will end up causing rust issues down the road.

 

[bunits19714]

the worst thing about it is I have a battery cover over top of it to dress it up so it makes it a pain in the ass to reach the terminals- pretty much have to remover dress up cover to trickle charge it - mine has 12k on the car and the battery is clean enough to eat off of- way cleaner than the rest of the car.

 

[Wes06]

get a tender that has something like these with it, you can bolt to your terminals and tuck it away, and then just plug into when you want to. will be similar to what i wanna do, but with the plug outside the engine bay so I can change without opening the hood every time

 

[Sky Render]

I got just under 5 years on my stock battery, because if the car isn't driven for more than a week, I put it on a battery tender.

~4 years seems to be the average battery life for the S197.

Just replace it with another Motorcraft battery.

 

[86GT351]

Depending on location, batteries have been failing sooner than later. With computers and modules throughout the vehicles these days they are more pressing than ever to keep in top performance.

 

[702GT]

I've read both ways on Optima batteries, bad and good reviews. I bought a Red top for the 'stang 4 years ago and got a charger deal with it. Can't remember if the charger was free or at a steep discount, but the red top came with the Optima 400 charger (smaller 4A charger). Normally the 400 is a $100+ charger but all the functions it has are really worth the money. There are plenty of chargers on the market that are different/better/more expensive/do more but I'm really happy with the Optima product so far. I keep the Red top on the optima charger when I hit the road for work. The car sits for months, most recently sat for 6 months. The charger maintains/cycles the battery during long term storage, and I don't have to babysit it or remove it from the car. It's fused in-line between the charger and battery terminal and has temperature correction built in. I set it and forget it. Car never felt weak turning over since the Red Top.

As for the OEM, mine only last 2 years in the Vegas heat. I tried to get Ford to own it, but the vehicle was modified (nitrous system wiring under the hood) and you know how that one plays out. I replaced it with a Duralast Gold which made it 38 months (2 months after the 3 yr warranty LOL). That battery was apparently dying slowly and the combination of the shitty OEM alternator, I had a complete electrical failure while driving home one night. Alternator failed, and the battery lasted long enough to chug the car to an off-ramp and roll me into the middle of the ghetto. Never appreciated my CCW more 'til that night. Got the car towed home. Ordered a Police Interceptor Mitsubishi alternator (205Amp) and Optima had a deal going for buying a battery and getting a charger free, picked that up to. Never had another electrical issue with the car since. With the crown vic alternator I don't have to worry as much about short-tripping the car, as I know it can deliver power. Prior, I'm pretty sure the stock alternator wasn't keeping up. I feel better charging practices and a strong alternator have kept my Red Top alive and at peak performance this long.

Also, I have been using my optima charger on my '13 F250 OEM batteries for over 2 years. Every time I get back from the road, or every 3-4 months I throw the charger on the batteries and let it do its thing. Usually takes 12-14 hours to do both batteries. But they are the original factory batteries, making them 4-5 years old in a 6.7 diesel workhorse. Also have a stout aftermarket stereo in the truck. No light flicker with the bass either.

 

[bunits19714]

^^ good info- I believe the car will be getting a new battery sooner than later- went to start car today and it wouldn't start on its own- only ran it for a few minutes yesterday and never drove it- drove it about 50 miles this evening with about 6 restarts in the mix and never missed a beat- That being said I did install a trickle charger- (bolt on to the terminals) and we will see if this helps if not, a new battery will go in before Air strip Attack on the 19th/20th.

 

[travelers]

You might think about getting a batt a little sooner. Low batt voltage puts a little more stress on the starter.

 

[coreystang]

Ive got one that uses either clamps to the terminals, or has a wire that you bolt to the terminals and provides a plug.

planning on putting a plug hidden somewhere outside so i can plug it in without popping the hood

Just curious if you have done this yet? I am going buy one and plan on doing the same thing. I don't want to pop the hood every time to unplug it.

 

[bunits19714]

I figured if I don't have the hood up I will just hop in the car and drive off that is why I choose to have to plug the harness stub into the charger and the charger into the wall- I wired the charger to the terminals- car has been starting good since the trickle charger install, I plug it in when I park it now.

 

[Wes06]

Just curious if you have done this yet? I am going buy one and plan on doing the same thing. I don't want to pop the hood every time to unplug it.

I have an 0 gauge wire to the trunk already for my amp, will probably tie in the air compressor and fuel pump into it to get rid of fuses/wires under the hood. And will add in the trickle charger to that setup, and run it out the driver side of the trunk, theres already an outlet in that spot on the wall, and i have to walk over it to get to car, so ill see/kick it and remember to un-plug

 

[JEWC_Motorsports]

I run a Mazda Miata battery in my car now, oem died this past winter. 5 years and it started leaking. I cant complain.

 

[dre256]

I got 4 years out of my battery in the mustang. Then battery was not taking a charge very well, taking forever to charge. My battery tender says percentage of power in battery. The 5.0 must have a crappy alternator, my 5.0 battery always at like 60-75 percent charged it say after a drive. My 03 GT always says 95 percent charge after a drive, same with my work van and my forklift at work. I keep battery tenders on everything all the time. My battery tender has attachments and since they all live in a garage I just put window down and plug in cigarette lighter.