New Memeber from DE

[IronMan08]

Hello All,

This is my first Truck, but not my first Ford vehicle.
Bought 2004 Ford Sport Trac about 4 years ago.
It has low mileage, under 70K.
Its a good truck but has a couple of issues.


1st Issue, Truck seems to kill batteries prematurely.
It does not get driven every day so it sits a lot.
Works fine, then battery seems to be discharged periodically.
Finally battery becomes totally dead unable to be jumped to start.
Just replaced it in December 2018, previously replaced in 2016.
Repair shops unable to diagnose problem, alternator checked its ok.
Have used powerpack to jump it from time to time when battery was low.
Truck might have had flasher or antenna on roof, it could have been construction
or emergency vehicle. I thought after market electrical drain maybe causing issue.
So far have resolved to change battery every 2 years to avoid starting issue.
If anyone has experience with this issue, and what I should do I am open to suggestions.


2nd Issue, Center Console Armrest has broken at the hinge.
Too much weight on it broke it, now need options to repair or replace it.
Was looking on replacing the armrest top and underside hinge but seems pricey to replace
with new hardware. Also not sure what is involved in removing the hinge part to replace it.
Would like to have some options to consider on what should be done to fix the console.


Thanks in advance for any guidance you can provide.

 

[Rick]

Since the car sits a lot it should be plugged in to a trickle charger like one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tend...ds=battery+tender&refinements=p_85:2470955011

From Optima's website:

"I was having a conversation recently on an Internet message board, when the subject turned to parasitic draws or "key-off" loads. As I explained the math behind parasitic draws, it was suggested that an 85-milliamp draw is not all that uncommon on newer vehicles. That is absolutely true. Memory seats, mirrors, radio presets, satellite radio, GPS systems and lots of other fancy electrical gadgets have combined to greatly increase the electrical demands of many newer vehicles. However, just because an 85-milliamp draw may be normal, that doesn't mean an 85-milliamp draw won't adversely impact battery lifespan and performance, if the battery isn't properly-maintained.

Some automakers have responded by shipping their vehicles with solar chargers, to keep the batteries charged as much as possible between the time the cars leave the factory and when they arrive at the dealership. Some high-end exotics even come with battery maintainers as standard equipment. As even more electronics are packed into newer vehicles, those trends are both likely to continue.

Until the day comes when battery maintainers are standard equipment on all new vehicles, we just need to be vigilant with our batteries. If a vehicle is driven daily, the alternator will probably have no trouble properly maintaining the battery, provided that daily use doesn't consist of a multitude of five to ten-minute drives."

Sorry, that I can't help with the 2nd problem. Hopefully another member will be able to help.

 

[Josh P]

You might find the center console armrest on car-part.com, most of the junk yards that list there will ship the parts to your door.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Check EBay or Amazon for the armrest. You might be able to use hinges from a hardware store if the rest of the armrest is good. An AGM battery from Odyssey is good for vehicles with seldom use.