Damn is all I can say.

All last week our temperatures were around minus 25. I haven't started or ran the truck since January 4th (wifey and I commute together so no need to take the truck anywhere)

My 1998 STOCK battery with over 200,000 on it sat in the cold for 10 days.

Started last night with a small cough and thats it!

I figured I'd need to boost it. But no.

Damn fine battery from the factory!

 

built ford tough... makes me feel good about my 1998 with the stock battery

 

On my 2000 F-150, I removed the battery cables and left it in storage for 15 months while I traveled with work. I hooked them back up and fired off like normal. Apparently, they're tough.

 

hmmm......I just noticed the other day in below 0° temps that my truck kinda hesitated before it got turning.....2001.....scared me but it started fine.......the temps are going down again around here now....maybe time for an engine heater..

 

I'm not sure who makes them, but one day I took a Ford battery from the parts dept at the dealer where I was working. Written on the battery was "Manufactured by Chrysler". It was a Ford battery, an 850 cca, if I remember correctly. I never seen that written on another since.

 

The most recent batteries are made by Johnson Controls. If your truck is cold try this little trick: Turn your headlights on and count to five, turn them off and count to five, now start your truck. The headlights will "wake up" the battery. Also you will be less likely to blow out a grid in the battery.

 

This is a commonly held myth regarding automotive batteries and is entirely BS.

All this does is use up some of the stored capacity of the battery.

Do a Google search on "battery myth".

Steve

 

I forgot to mention... there was also a cell phone plugged in the whole time. Now while it was only trickle charging, this was still a parasitic drain.

So when I get around to replacing this battery, screw Sears and Interstate, I'm going Ford again!

 

The brand name doesn't mean a whole lot.

Most of them will be made by either Exide or Johnson Controls, anyway.

Whatever cranks 'yer tractor...

Steve

 

My Ford battery crapped out on me not too long ago, but I can't complain. It lasted through so much crap that most batteries would have died ages ago, and I was going to go back with a Ford battery, but I priced one, and then it was off to Wal-Mart. I think that I am just going to get an Optima when I can budget one out.

 

Cold weather is morder on batteries. 4 Years in the salt belt of the US is about par for the course.

-Joe

 

Every spring and fall, I

1. Clean off the top of the battery, removing any sand, salt, leaves, dirt or other debris.

2. Remove the battery cables. I clean both the terminals and the battery posts with a battery terminal tool and a solution of water and baking soda, and then lubricate / seal both using either vaseline or silicone grease. I then reattach the cables, snugly tightening the clamps. I also examine the cables for wear or damage.

3. I then start the car, and allow it to idle for 2 minutes or so to allow the computer to reset itself.

One other thing. NEVER let the battery go dead for any reason. I seem to find that once the battery has discharged to the point where it won't start the car, it will never be the same again. That's why I love the "battery saver" feature that Ford includes in most of their vehicles where it shuts off lights, and other electric loads after a short period of time. I can't tell you how many batteries I killed in my Taurus after leaving the trunk, glove compartment and interior lights on after going in for the night.

 

I just had the battery on my 2003 replaced under warranty on Monday. For the past 2 months, when the temp was under 40 degrees, it sounded sluggish turning over and when it did, all the gauges would max out and then return to normal. I did some research on here and some said that is a sign of a weak battery. I took the truck in on Monday for service and state inspection and asked them to check the battery and alternator and described what the truck was doing. After they looked at it and started it several times, the service manager said, "It's supposed to do that, that is how it is designed". I told him it didn't do it when it was new and it only did it when it was cold, TEST THE BATTERY. An hour and a half later, the battery was found to be weak and was replaced under warranty.

 

The other day I finally had to replace the original battery on my 97 F-150. It has been in that truck for 7 years. It still worked great but the negative terminal sprung a leak and there was corrosion everywhere (including the terminal connection and an inch of the ground lead). This time I went the lazy mans way, I bought a maintenance free gel Optima. I converted to side posts for more slack in the cables and now I've got 900cca!