Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

[5bird7]

My story and I'm sticking to it. yes, it's my 02 this time. 9.5 years on this original battery. Haven't driven it in a week. Tonight George went to start it up and take it out of our garage, uh, oh, no start, dead battery. We went off to dinner in the 05. When we came home, George put the charger on it as I plan to use it tomorrow.

Now, I did play with the interior intensity light a few days ago and appear to have left it on high intensity. It's gone dead before when I played with the interior intensity light about 5 years ago with no problems again til today.

Now you know the story.

So, I'm asking you just for the fun of it. How many of you think that it will be charged up for use tomorrow?

ps, George had to get a new battery for his 02 Lightning last spring due to dead OEM battery. It did not take a charge.

[snowbird]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Have to go with the re-charge as ours is original as well. But it is an '03 Bird.

[BUCK ROGERS]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

I say it Charges & Starts but it won't spin properly - Battery might be the most reliable thing on these cars~! - Mine died June 12 2011 - $125 750AMP Napa Battery with oblonged Vent fit nicely - OEM was 650 AMP - It's a tad shorter so bar across top does NOT bear on anything but Battery still secured vertically by wedge that has long 8MM Bolt & the lip on inboard of Battery bottom - Trickiest part was making sure Negative Lead was tucked aft of plastic Battery container otherwise forward bracket was a half bolt off.

[steelblue5505]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Don't know why I think this way, I've had no experience in battery troubles in the retro Bird. I believe it will charge up, your Bird will start and continue to operate just fine, probably at least another year as long as you don't let your car sit for a week. Drive it.

[Banar]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Well it is time to roll the dice, for free...if it works. Try charge and run it, it is a free chance to try. You also know it may strand you somewhere, but that is the fun in this gamble- so you won't be mad if it does. I think it would be cool to see a ten year old battery. Have fun experimenting.
2nd Mate Tom Banar

[Bill Brown]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

No go with the recharge.

[texasbird]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Severe temps are hardest on batteries, giving the need for cold cranking amps to be specified on Battery Charts. We're entering winter, which is not the best time to be relying on an aging car battery. Old batteries may charge from an external force (charger or alternator) and start the vehicle immediately, if there isn't a fused strap or dead cell inside. Maintaining a decent charge on their own is another story.

Have the original battery drained and flushed then store it to put back in the car (for viewing purposes only, of course) when it goes into the museum for good.

[Gobird]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Dot, after all these years just have George replace it.

[007Cruiser]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

You're on borrowed time. Being stuck in the middle of Nowhere, Texas would not be worth the gamble.

[2Redbirds57/02]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Replace it. You're running on borrowed time. I replaced mine after 9-1/2 years because I was going on a long trip. It never failed to crank and was never on a charger. Had it tested at AutoZone and the test showed it to be bad. Replaced it with AutoZone battery and no worries about failure to crank.

[FritsB]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Mine died a few weeks ago being 9+ years old also.
Replaced it for an Optima Red Top. Superb battery.

I kept the old one and tried charging it, but it looses power in two days.
Dead = dead!

[Vintage Merlot]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

It's fortunate that you got stranded at home.

[BUCK ROGERS]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

.Replaced it for an Optima Red Top. Superb battery.

& Optima is more price competitive now that virtually all Batteries are $100+ Fees - I just went to an Optima in the 2005 Expedition after running thru 3 Motorcraft Battery's in 100K miles & 6 years - Always had good luck with Motorcrafts in the Lincoln MKVIII & of course the 2002 TBird Motorcraft lasted 10 years but could'nt even get 3 years out of a Motorcraft in a loaded Expedition.

[Ediron]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Battery's that old are like old guy's ,you can give them a pill to recharge but it won't last. Bite the bullet and buy a new one unless your trying for a record . Hate to see you stranded at night

[Cards]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Was ready to replace my original battery in 2006 but gave it one more chance. That was 5 years ago and is doing fine today!