I have an '04 Lariat Supercab 4x4 with just under 17,000 miles on her...

Has anyone else experienced a rapid case of a dead battery? Last friday it turned over real slowly after work...then it barely started saturday morning...drove for a half hour and let it set of about 6 hours...then it wouldn't start period. I charged it yesterday afternoon for 5-6 hours...then it started fine.

Now monday morning, it was dead again.

Anyone else have this problem?

 

Lots of folks. Prolly a bad cell. That's what happened to me. Also happened to our new bimmer 6mo after we got it.

Batteries suck nowadays...

Take it to the dealer, they'll toss it on a tester, it will fry and you'll get a new battery. Case closed!

 

I've got a '04 SuperCrew XLT that is 2 months old and has left me stranded twice now. The second time they "replaced" the battery and diagnosed it as a bad cell. I put the replaced in quotes because I got my truck back and the time and all my presets were still set. Its really a sinking feeling everytime I turn the key expecting it to turn on or not. I've had 6 cars in my life and only two have ever left me stranded anywhere, my Ford Mustang and now my Ford truck. I was up front with the salesman about my reservations with Ford and I gave him a chance to change my mind and to his credit he did. The last 2 mornings the truck has not started on the first turn of the key (engine tries to start, but doesn't), but starts on the second and I got a check gauges for a few seconds on the LED. Now I'm left with a truck I do not trust, no longer happy with and no way to get rid of it.
NOTE: The dealer is (at their own expense) putting me in a rental while they take my truck in for an extended diagnostic period. I know what they will say, "Nothing is wrong with it." I've become familiar with this statement thanks to my Mustang and once before the first time it refused to start. I suppose this will keep me quiet for now until it happens again, but I don't think I'll be happy with the vehicle.

 

if you mean your presets as far as on your radio, the radios have a small battery in them to keep all of that information in memory. When I installed my Airaid Intake, I disconnected my battery totally for over an hour, and when I hooked it back up I still had all of my presets.

 

Scatterbutt, are you kidding me?! If I wanted to scrap a car every time I got bad battery, I'd run out of automakers. Could you be more negative and wishy washy?

"Ok, I'll buy it even though I have a mystical hatred for Fords"

"This pile didn't start due to a bad cell and since I'm an auto guru I know they didn't replace the battery and I know its going to happen again"

"I'm not going to take it to the dealer for service, I just want to scrap it since having a bad battery makes the truck worthless"

This thread reminds of the guy that drove his truck into a ditch, bent up the bumper and wanted to scrap it since the truck is now a "worthless pile of junk".

 

Ok. I've got no problem replacing a dead battery. Done it before on all my cars. Never on a vehicle that was 2 months old. The reason I buy a new car is to avoid the inconvenience of maintenance problems. Those problems are minimized in the the first year of owning a vehicle. I'm saying that if this is what can be expected in the first year then what do I have waiting for me down the line? I have no loyalties to any make or model. Just simply whatever will get the job done for a price I like. Ford had in the past left me with a bad taste, but I was willing to give it a shot, cuz I'd liked what they did with the new F150s. Unfortunately, I got one that didn't meet my expectations, namely starting when I turn the key. I may be overreacting, but I guess I'm under the delusion that a new car/truck should start everytime I turn the key. Guess my standards are higher than everyone elses.

 

I work with a lot of batteries at work, and I don't often run into bad cells.

If I was experiencing what you are, I'd start taking a close look at the electrical system.

The first place I'd look is the XM radio after market install:
There could be a few issues with it:
It is not really turning off all the way, and creating a constant drain of the battery.
It is malfunctioning in a way that is creating a constant drain on the battery.
The wiring is damaged, nicked or skinned and there is a high resistance path to ground.

Maybe try unplugging it 100% and seeing if the problem goes away. Better yet, if you are good with electronics, or know someone who is, put a ammeter in the positive run from the battery and note how much current is being drawn off the battery when the truck is not running and the key is off. There will be some normal drain, from the PCM, radio etc. Start pulling fuses on the other stuff and see if it changes. That should help narrow down where the problem is.

If you don't find anything, try this:
Remove the battery from the truck. Put it on your bench (not on a cement floor). After it has sat for a couple of hours, and adjusted to the ambient temperature, check the voltage and write it down. Come back a few hours later and check again.
There will normally be a bit of a voltage drop as the battery self discharges (normal) and adjusts with the temperature. If you get an initial reading of say 12.8volts, then come back a few hours later and it is down to 12, or lower, I'd say it was a bad cell.

If this problem is only recent, I'd bet it is going to be something that was added to the truck, the XM, fog lights, etc. It could be the battery, but I think the odds are in favor of a problem in the electrical system somewhere.

Just my 2 cents, take it for what it is worth.


Added in edit:
I have a 1997 F250 Diesel. The Diesels run a 2 battery set up to be able to run the glow plugs and the big starter. After over 7 years and 120,000 miles, I am still using the stock, from the factory, batteries that came in the truck when I picked it up at the dealer. These are the motorcraft brand. I keep a close eye on them, and keep all the connections clean. I have never had a dead battery, never needed a jump start, and never replaced, recharged, or otherwise done anything to them. In fact, a few years back, I went into Wal-Mart for about an hour and a half, and left the lights on. It started right up.
The current run of Motorcraft batteries may be crap, but the set I have are not.

 

I got a new BMW. 4-5 months old the battery went kaput. My buddy had a Porche Boxster. 6 months old, battery shot.

It happens, and it happens to everyone. It usually happens soon. Do I feel that my truck or these other expensive sports cars that are VERY highly praised are unreliable?! No.

A battery is an accessory for the most part, and in no way reflects on the mechanical quality or reliability of the vehicle. Batteries are supplied by a 3rd party (ie, Johnson Controls, Lear, etc..) and should be tested before Ford even gets them. I personally think your way overreacting on this. If your PCM was shot, starter or other mechanical/electrical issues that was a direct result of poor QC on Ford's part then I'd say your justified in your concern. But every automaker has issues, and a little battery woe should be taken in stride.