Dead Battery / Bad Starter

[Gobird]

Finally called the flat bed and the dealer. The Bird will be on it's way to the dealer today. We'll see what they find to get it running again.

[Gobird]

Dealer just called and said it is a relay and starter. Not a big problem. Just $450. for repair, I'm a happy camper.

[Gobird]

Tomorow I'm going to ride up to the dealer and see if they will put die-electric grease on the starter connections to help with the connections that may happen down here because of the humidity .

[snowbird]

20 years for a starter Spence is not a bad lifetime. Can you imagine how many times in those years you started that Bird . They do wear out .

[Gobird]

Not a problem I'm happy with the outcome.

[BillyL]

Happy for you! Any time you can get the bird back for under $500 is a win. And just think, at our age that should be the last starter you have to buy. LOL

[007Cruiser]

What is the correct Motorcraft battery for our cars?

[snowbird]

What is the correct Motorcraft battery for our cars?

The original ' Motorcraft ' battery was a BXT-66-650 ( cold crank - 650 ) ; RA .

[007Cruiser]

The original ' Motorcraft ' battery was a BXT-66-650 ( cold crank - 650 ) ; RA .

Thanks

[Gobird]

I can't compline, the only things I have had to replace in 20 years was a bad fuel pump, a thermostat and now a starter. I don't count break lining, tires, battery and things like that. It's been a trouble free car for us.

[Gobird]

Picked up the Bird this morning. It was nice to hear the borlas again. Runs like new. And ready for the event here in Florida next month.

[Frank Dreano]

I can't compline, the only things I have had to replace in 20 years was a bad fuel pump, a thermostat and now a starter. I don't count break lining, tires, battery and things like that. It's been a trouble free car for us.

I'm on a 1/2 dozen car sites and most of the posts are people experiencing problems, either random or systemic to certain models, in nearly every case those are a small percentage of that specific vehicle's population. With computer guided tolerances, synthetic oil, fuel injection and some other factors, modern vehciles are amazingly reliable.

Also, there is no "magic" to a Motorcraft battery, anything of the right size, CCA, and quality will work just fine.
Nearly ALL US batteries (regardless of labeling) are made by East Penn, Exide or Johnson Controls.

[HKS]

Dealer just called and said it is a relay and starter. Not a big problem. Just $450. for repair, I'm a happy camper.

By RELAY do you mean the big relay that is attached to the starter motor or one of the relays in the under the hood.?

Spence,
The relay attached to the starter motor may have required starter removal in order to replace it.
That would be in line with the $450 charge.
Hermann
or
Maybe the dealer did not have a completer starter/relay assembly in stock and you got by cheap.

[Gobird]

No idea what they did, all I know is that it worked.

[Bob Cronin]

I had a self inflicted battery problem. Over the winter I leave it connected and then charge the battery roughly every month. When charging it the beginning of March I disconnected the extension cord, coiled the cord up and put it away. I somehow got distracted (not to difficult for an 80 year old), and closed the trunk lid without disconnecting the battery charger.
When I went to charge the battery for the beginning of April, the battery was dead. I charged the battery every 5 or 6 days after that and it seemed to hold a charge. I started the car for the first time since last November today and went for a drive. Everything worked fine , even the 'drop windows'. I can't believe the luck.
Bob