Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

[2k2tbird]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

I bet if you did a poll (has anybody?) about when the original battery was replaced you would come up with a significant number at 9 1/2 years. That's when I had to and seems most others too. I would of voted twice and said replace it anyway, I don't believe it'll hold a charge.
I am still running on my originel tires, I do keep an eye out for tire rot etc.
Typing with one hand so not responsible for spelling.
Janice

[lasuvidaboy]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

My Ford dealer replaced the original battery last year as a check on it was showed that it was losing power. I have learned that batteries today rarely give you a warning (such as slow starts) before going out completely. It's better to have ot checked at a mechanic or the Ford dealer before it dies.

[EllisonCal]

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!

Are the Optima batteries for the Tbird vented? I heard that they were not vented.

[ge0rge]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Don't delay replacing a questionable battery. Mine was about two years old (original equipment at the time) when I noticed that the paint on the bottom of the rear bumper was coming off. I figured it was just a paint issue. But it was the battery! When a battery is at or near the end of its life, one failure mode is a shorted cell. That reduces the voltage by about 2 volts, which can be adequate to crank and run the accessories. But the alternator will try to pump in 14 or so volts, The result is severe gassing of the remaining good cells. That gas, along with sulfuric acid gets vented under the passenger side of the rear bumper. Thus, the paint on my Bird was being eaten away. I was fortunate in that the dealer recognized that the battery was the problem and that the car was still under warranty. They replaced the battery and painted my rear bumper for no charge at all.

So unless you want to roll the dice on your rear bumper paint, get the battery replaced..

Oh, by the way, note that there is a visual indicator of the state of the battery. It isn't fool-proof, but it can sometimes tell you that there's a problem. Look back under the trunk opening a bit, and on the top of the battery, there's a round plexiglass spot. If it's red or blank, there's some sort of issue. If it's green things are usually OK. See the photo attached.

geo

[Skip]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

I'm guessing along with others that it might recharge but will have a limited life. I replaced my original battery at 5 years because it had gone dead so many times that I was afraid I'd get stranded someplace. I use a battery tender now, so no issues with the new battery. I figured I had already beaten the odds at 5 years. Those getting 9+ years from the original battery are very lucky IMHO, and brave. Just like those with 9-10 years on the original tires (depending on mileage of course).

[DKest3963]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Old Battery
We have a 2003 and 2005, both were purchased new and have all original battery. 2003 sits in Garage and sometimes does not move for a month. Never had a problem YET!!! 2005 went dead about 3 years ago at a supermarket. Left the interior lights on. Jump start and charge with alternator, still going strong.
When I replace I will spring for an original FORD to keep my Birds happy and original.
Best
Dennis & Eva Jean
Austin, Texas

[FUN X 3]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Someone said before on a different thread that when these batteries go dead, they go without warning. Our departure to Texas Thunder was delayed by a dead battery in the Bird. Went dead on a Friday evening, no reason for the lack of charge, jumped it and drove around for about 15 minutes. Would not restart. At least we were stranded in our driveway, and not somewhere on the interstate between Largo, FL and Kerrville, TX. The original battery was great, never missed a start in 8 years and 10 months and 100,000 miles of ownership.

[V8 Cat]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Someone said before on a different thread that when these batteries go dead, they go without warning.

This is my experience with batteries. Mostly no warning - no slow engine turnover, no dim lights etc., and they go out at the most inconvient times and places. I just make it a rule - new battery every 5 years if they haven't failed before that. Like someone said here on this site - some batteries "have it and some don't". Some can last a long time and some are "born" defective and fail early. They can even be the same brand and type and have different life-spans for no apparent reason.

[Ediron]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

In S.Fl. your lucky to get 5yrs with the heat. My Bird is on it's 3rd battery,original,replacement by owner,replacement by me.Dropped dead with no warning wouldn't even start with a jump.Replaced and it's going OK on 2yrs now. Replaced my battery in my Sabel when I had it with the best Sears makes 3 yr warranty when I said I could get a 5 yr in N.Y. the installer said "welcome to S.Fl." AAA does a good battery replacement business down here

[5bird7]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Update: battery charged up overnight but not quite fully (George says it takes about 16 hours on the charger for a full charge and it had less than 12 hours) but I drove it anyway. 80 mile round trip. Started up again fine, half way thru the trip (at my destination point). Did not run the radio or climate control or lights (really needed heat today though) and only occasionnally turned the wipers on, just to keep from draining the battery any more than necessary. Got home, George hooked it up again to the charger and said it had lost some charge from the morning time. (not a good sign considering the time the car has been running today).

He's talked with the dealer and they have one on the shelf that's been there since February. Dealer asked us to try to limp it along for another month or two (not sure why) til they get their next shipment in. We'll see. I'll be using it again tomorrow but for a much shorter run then it'll sit for a few days. If we have to we'll buy their shelf battery.

About the red/green dot - still shows red with what juice is in it. We checked that dot this morning and this afternoon when I got back.


the gist of the story: we're going along with nursing it for now. If charging it won't bring up that green dot, we'll replace.

[007Cruiser]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Are the Optima batteries for the Tbird vented? I heard that they were not vented.

Optima's website doesn't list an application for our Birds. They are not vented.

http://www.optimabatteries.com/battery_selector/

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Are the Optima batteries for the Tbird vented? I heard that they were not vented.

Optima's website doesn't list an application for our Birds. They are not vented.

http://www.optimabatteries.com/battery_selector/

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...0&postcount=13

[QUOTEJim McIlvaine eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc]
Our group 27, 51, 78, 34C, and 31 batteries
all have ports for connecting a vent hose.
You can view the physical dimensions of our RedTops here- http://optimabatteries.com/optima_pr...dtop/specs.php
and our YellowTops here- http://optimabatteries.com/optima_pr...wtop/specs.php[/QUOTE]

[007Cruiser]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

I stand corrected.

[FritsB]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...0&postcount=13

[QUOTEJim McIlvaine eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc]
Our group 27, 51, 78, 34C, and 31 batteries
all have ports for connecting a vent hose.
You can view the physical dimensions of our RedTops here- http://optimabatteries.com/optima_pr...dtop/specs.php
and our YellowTops here- http://optimabatteries.com/optima_pr...wtop/specs.php

[/QUOTE]
Thanks John, that explains it all.
Btw, my old battery was vented, but there was no hose connected to it. I assume the trunk has sufficient airflow to vent.

Optima's are far more powerful than normal batteries (820cca) yet a lot more compact in size. To get it secured and tight in the battery box I used a spacer that Optima provides. It makes the battery slightly higher. Also had to adjust the power connection a bit to make it fit since the poles are positioned further from the edge.

[DavidA]

Re: Oh NO! another dead battery thread!

Frits: The hose has to be connectied. It runs down and through the bottom of the trunk. Venting into the trunk is not enough. I'll bet the hose is there, it can be hard to see and harder to find. YOu may need to take the battery out beause it may be under it.

Be safe and properly vent it.