First Battery Installed

[mrmotions]

Our 2005 Black Bird just gave up on her original battery....thanks to your counsel we purchased AutoZone Battery matched to our 2005 Bird. We were careful to verify manufacture date of June 2010. Be careful not to buy old tires OR Batteries.....sometimes they sit on dealer shelves for years. The vent tube matched perfectly and I was pleased with the 8 year warranty and 3 year no cost replacement. We are about to change her oil for the first time.....2000 miles....we are gonna do synthetic.

We are in Indialantic, Florida-----looking for new Bird Buddies

Don & Janyce Ellington

[Peterfurlan]

Re: First Battery Installed

Our 2005 Black Bird just gave up on her original battery....thanks to your counsel we purchased AutoZone Battery matched to our 2005 Bird. We were careful to verify manufacture date of June 2010. Be careful not to buy old tires OR Batteries.....sometimes they sit on dealer shelves for years. The vent tube matched perfectly and I was pleased with the 8 year warranty and 3 year no cost replacement. We are about to change her oil for the first time.....2000 miles....we are gonna do synthetic.

We are in Indialantic, Florida-----looking for new Bird Buddies

Don & Janyce Ellington

This is driving me crazy. Are you saying the car has two thousand miles
since new and you are now changing the oil for the first time. Did you buy
the car used and are now changing the oil after you put on an additional
two thousand miles.

[CarolinaCrusier]

Re: First Battery Installed

You know what--this is driving me crazy--We just replaced our battery awhile back--didn't think much of it--took it to Advance Auto--got the correct size--guy puts it in --in the trunk of course---not to much of a problem-----

Now I read about this 'Vent tube" thingy--- This is what worries me---I don't recall seeing one --or whatever--I must check this when I get home---


Not to sound duh huh but how and where is hooked onto the Battery?......even more---what happens if it is not in use!!!

Thanks everyone-

Post edit: After finding some more info on here--it appears there may have been an aftermarket one --the one we used at Advance--that is correct --will check this out tonight-----

[texasbird]

Re: First Battery Installed

The vent attachment on the battery is an extension off of the top cap. It is an oval opening facing downward at the center of the long end, nearest the spare tire. The tube is shaped to fit over the opening, ans is vented straight down, and under the car.

When removing my dead battery, I had actually found that the tube had worked loose and was not doing its job. If I can find decent pics, I will post them.

Basically, all wet cell batteries produce gases which must escape the case or the battery would swell to the point of cracking open, or possibly exploding. These are the same potentially hazardous gases you risk igniting when jump starting a dead battery. This is the reason the final negative booster cable connection (that completes the circuit and creates a spark) should be made to a bolt on the engine or frame, away from the battery.

Under the hood of an engine compartment, there's enough air movement that these gases do not create an issue except during jump starts. But since the trunk is more air tight, there is no way for the gases to escape so the vent tube is added.

James

[NotU]

Re: First Battery Installed

Knock on wood...but my 1996 F150 with 135,000 miles still has it's original battery. It's the longest time I have ever heard of any automotive battery lasting. Maybe the '05's will last 15 years?
Randy

[VELOCEBYRD]

Re: First Battery Installed

Us too, first replacement battery. Bought it at Auto Zone and they installed as I watched. No tools for me since we sold the house and moved downtown 2 1/2 years ago. Yes it has vent and tube.

Works great 5 year warranty, first 2 years covered 100%.

[rcjohny]

Re: First Battery Installed

why can't you use a optma battery in these , you can even mount them on there side and even upside down it does not leak. they use them all the time in stock cars, off road cars, drag cars and boats and they have no gas leak ????????

[JAB02LHS]

Re: First Battery Installed

why can't you use a optma battery in these , you can even mount them on there side and even upside down it does not leak. they use them all the time in stock cars, off road cars, drag cars and boats and they have no gas leak ????????

Originally Posted by rpatton3
I thought an Optima battery would be an ideal replacement for my wife's car when the OE battery heads south.
See the response from Optima below.


Unfortunately we are not able to recommend a certain model for your vehicle. Your vehicle
needs a battery that can be vented to the outside. Although Optimas are completely sealed batteries, if your alternator malfunctions or the battery is overcharged, valves can open and gas can be released.

Please feel free to contact customer service at the number below if you have any other questions. Thank you for your interest and support of Optima Batteries.

Minh
Optima Batteries
Customer Service
1.800.292.4359

[toysax]

Re: First Battery Installed

Motorcraft and Interstate batteries are manufactured by Johnson Controls. Check specs. for both on internet. Johnson Controls also build the interior seats for the new Kia Plant in West Point Ga.

[farmbird]

Re: First Battery Installed

My 05 Battery is on it's last leg. I will deffinetly buy another Ford battery. How can you complain after five years and no leaks.
My ford tractor went 7 years , but it didn't have all of the accessories that we have on our cars.

[Leroy]

Re: First Battery Installed

The Odyessy battery may be the battery of the future for these cars. But right now I'll stay with the Ford battery. Leroy

\ \ \ \ \____________________________________________

[JAB02LHS]

Re: First Battery Installed

The Odyessy battery may be the battery of the future for these cars. But right now I'll stay with the Ford battery. Leroy

\ \ \ \ \____________________________________________

At $270.84 for the Odyssey I think you're right.

[OptimaJim]

Re: First Battery Installed

Hello, I noticed your conversation regarding our batteries and just wanted to follow-up on Minh’s response to rpatton3. We cannot recommend a “direct-fit” replacement battery, because Optima does not manufacture a battery that we consider a direct-fit replacement for the OEM battery for that specific vehicle. We do know Thunderbird users have used Optimas in their vehicles in fitments that we consider “custom,” we just cannot offer specific advice on custom fitments.

Under normal operating conditions, an AGM battery will not vent gas. As Minh mentioned, since alternators or chargers can fail, the safest and correct mounting method for trunks and passenger compartments is to make sure that any possible gas venting will escape to the outside of the vehicle. All vehicles with original equipment battery locations in trunks or passenger compartments will have a vent provision that should be used.

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

Although people do it anyway, we would never recommend installing an unvented battery in any enclosed space, because there’s a legitimate, albeit unlikely, safety risk involved.

For example, IF there is a voltage regulator failure, and IF the battery is severely overcharged, and IF this goes unnoticed, and IF the battery vents because the internal pressure exceeds the release pressure of the vents, the gasses are both flammable and toxic. This may sound like a lot of “ifs,” but attorneys and engineers get paid to plan for every worst-case scenario. If you have any questions about our batteries, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries

[Peterfurlan]

Re: First Battery Installed

Anyone ever own a rear engined VW Beetle. Over 21 million produced battery location
under the back seat no venting. Never heard of anyone having any problems. Maybe just
to many attorneys and engineers today (overkill). Just food for thought when I replace
my battery it will be vented.

[V8 Cat]

Re: First Battery Installed

Anyone ever own a rear engined VW Beetle. Over 21 million produced battery location
under the back seat no venting. Never heard of anyone having any problems. Maybe just
to many attorneys and engineers today (overkill). Just food for thought when I replace
my battery it will be vented.

I was at a Jaguar dealership when they brought in a Jag sedan that had an exploded battery because it wasn't vented properly - It was in the trunk like the Tbird. Once you see the mess it made, it makes you a believer in venting. I have a friend with a 1975 corvette and it is mounted in a compartment behind the seat. His battery isn't vented - I don't know if it is supposed to be or not.