OEM battery finally went kaput!

[Willard]

I think the original in my 94 lasted until about '01. We replaced with a DieHard weather handler, and it's still going good. This battery had been through some rough times, too. It spent a couple months in my dad's GMC with a bad starter, and it got killed multiple times with that. Same started killed the Optima he had in there.

 

[Zelatio]

Has anyone had experience with their 4x4 Control Module going out once the battery is replaced. Mine went out and wondering if this had to do with disconnecting battery. I still have my OEM battery in a 2002 Explorer by the way. Will be getting a Duralast Gold.

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

The 4x4 module shouldn't be affected by a battery disconnect. It was probably just a councidence.

 

[CDW6212R]

Mike, I'd check on the alternator also. A bad battery will drop the voltage/lights etc. when running, but a poor alternator will also. It sounds like you caught it just in time, my OEM battery died almost two years ago in my 98, and I bought another from Ford. My 93 Explorer battery lasted until about 2003. Regards,

 

[E.B. Cornburner]

My alternator is alternating just fine.

I rarely see alternators get weak, but rather just up and die. Also, on newer Fords, before you go and replace a suspected dead alternator, always check the "ALT FIELD" fuse in the underhood fusebox. My buddy has a '02 F150 and he wasn't charging on the way home from a snowmobiling trip up north last year, and he limped it back on two replacement batteries he bought from the parts store up there. One of the other vehicles in their convoy charged up the dead battery while he drove, and they just kept rotating them.
Once he got home, I helped him replace the alternator, only to have the brand new one not charge! Checked the fuses and found a blown one for the alternator. Replaced the fuse and it kicked right in and started charging. He didn't care...He figured it was about time to replace the alternator anyways...The truck has 200,000 miles on it already.

Just one of those things I now look for whenever I have a newer Ford that isn't charging. Experience is always the best teacher.

 

[CDW6212R]

Ditto, we get used to how they do things..., then they change things a bunch more.

 

[tower]

I have had to replace my alternator once (so far) it was still charging but only up to 12.6v, so atleast on mine it can get weak.

 

[EB04FFV]

So just for the sake of arguement, how many years have you gotten out of your original Motorcraft battery?

mine will be 4 years old in april '04, I did notice some wet spot around each battery post and asked the dealer if it was leaking - they said no !
Just last month I had the "check charging" system light come on. Dealer replaced the alternator (voltage regulator inside alternator faulty) - no charge covered by extended ford warranty.

 

[Red 93 L1 #3383]

My mom's '00 Mount. still has the OEM batt., but at her last oil change they told her it was getting weak. She has an Interstate MTP-65 sitting in her garage waiting for dad to install it.

 

[95explorerr]

my 1995 is still on the oem battery. i am getting nervous because lately if i have my interior lights on for very long, the battery light comes on for a few minutes and then goes out/.

 

[CHRISXPLOR]

7 years on my origanal battery!!!!

 

[Old As Dirt]

I just replaced the one in my 04 Eddie Bauer. I noticed that the climate control system kept loosing its settings overnight and decided it must be the battery. The "eye" was still green and it would still start. Since changing there have been no more lost memory issues.

 

[Rick500]

My 2002 OEM battery just went out. 7 years--not a bad run.

 

[CALDWELL]

Check out BRAILLE AUTO !!!!

my cousins is the owner and operater of the company... he makes
carbon fiber batteries and also makes endurance batteries for baller systems for big time audio nuts !!!

 

[xtoolmaker]

Nock on wood 5 yrs 8 months the eye is still glowing green.2003 xls

 

[Cobra2top]

Mine went this weekend, 5 yearson the OEM. Bought a "walmart" one as Consumer Reports highly rated them in the last issue. If I get 4-5 years out of it I will happy as it cost all of $71 for their top of the line version. The best part, as soon as I put the battery cover over it know one will ever know it is a walmart battery!

 

[micachu]

I made it until 2 weeks ago on my OE battery and had to replace it. The kicker is that running with a bad battery killed a diode in my rectifier so I had to get a new alternator.


I found a reman unit at NAPA and it is missing the single spade connection that the 2004 OE alternator has. Does anyone have a clue what this wire does? I know it connects to the rectifier inside the alternator but I'm wondering what I need to do here.

 

[CDW6212R]

I made it until 2 weeks ago on my OE battery and had to replace it. The kicker is that running with a bad battery killed a diode in my rectifier so I had to get a new alternator.


I found a reman unit at NAPA and it is missing the single spade connection that the 2004 OE alternator has. Does anyone have a clue what this wire does? I know it connects to the rectifier inside the alternator but I'm wondering what I need to do here.

I would take that back to Napa with the old alternator, and hope that they have the correct unit. An alternator shop can likely correct the mismatched wiring, but then it won't be like OEM and the next swap could be just as interesting.

 

[shadowless127]

still running the original battery in my 03.

 

[Explorer_gal]

208,000 kms on my 02 XLT and the battery starts the truck everytime with no signs that it's getting weak... yet