Dead Battery

[billm]

I think I need to replace a batery in the '04 Bird. I had it go dead a year ago from sitting too long. After charging it, it remained charged all summer. We made the trip to Redneck Riviera the end of Oct and parked it in the garage.
3 days ago, I went out to start it and the battery was dead. I am not aware that anything was left on that may have run the battery down, unless something just stuck 'on'. Anyhow, the thing act crazy when the battery is dead. The horn blows when the the door is opened, and when the key is to either inserted or removed try to start it a(I forgot which), and the lights flash like the flasher is on. Anyhow I have recharged the battery, but since it is 6 years old, I guess the best thing is to put in a new one. Any thoughts on all of this? The owners manual does not describe the craziness that this thing does when the battery is dead!

___________________________________// Bill

[Ediron]

Re: Dead Battery

Bite the bullet and buy a new battery and all the crazy will go away.Some batteries last longer but 6 yrs. IMO is pushing it.Why get stuck for $110.00

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Dead Battery

I think I need to replace a batery in the '04 Bird. I had it go dead a year ago from sitting too long. After charging it, it remained charged all summer. We made the trip to Redneck Riviera the end of Oct and parked it in the garage.
3 days ago, I went out to start it and the battery was dead. I am not aware that anything was left on that may have run the battery down, unless something just stuck 'on'. Anyhow, the thing act crazy when the battery is dead. The horn blows when the the door is opened, and when the key is to either inserted or removed try to start it a(I forgot which), and the lights flash like the flasher is on. Anyhow I have recharged the battery, but since it is 6 years old, I guess the best thing is to put in a new one. Any thoughts on all of this? The owners manual does not describe the craziness that this thing does when the battery is dead!

___________________________________// Bill

I HAVE FOUND THAT IF I DO NOT ARM THE ANTI-THEFT WHEN I STORE THE BIRDS, THE BATTERY DOES NOT GO DOWN. IF I DO, IN TWO WEEKS THE BATTERIES ARE DEAD.

[jerrym3]

Re: Dead Battery

Agree with John.

Three years ago, I left the car locked in the garage too long without running it. Battery went dead.

Got it jumped under extended warranty, took it to Ford, they charged it, and I'm still running the same original battery.

Car was built Feb, 2003.

[tbird6t4]

Re: Dead Battery

When the horn starts to sound like a sick cow when you open the door, it's dead. Just put a bullet into the battery and give a proper burial and get a new one.

Symptoms are exactly what I experienced last year with my 02. Tested the battery, it was toast despite putting the trickle charger on it it would not hold a charge or even charge at all when running.

SHE'S TOAST!

[FUN X 3]

Re: Dead Battery

I'm still pleased every time the car starts right up with the original battery. 99,232 miles and it still cranks like it's new. I know it can go out without warning, but I'm milking it for every mile I can. The dealer had to jump it to drive it off the showroom floor, no problems since.

[theflash]

Re: Dead Battery

2004 battery? get a new one. The only palce I could find that sold it was at Ford. for $105.

I think you should invests in a battery charger that you can leave hooked up all the time like this one at http://www.xtremechargers.com/produc...rallel-charger

The battery in the bird is extra HD so you need a HD charger like the one on that site, a small triclke charger will not do the job for you.
All battery's have a drain on them even when they are not in the car.

[Ediron]

Re: Dead Battery

Also don't put a battery if removed on the concrete floor,always on a piece of wood. The battery will drain on concrete.

[bwlewis]

Re: Dead Battery

NAPA now offers a "Gold Series" battery for our birds. A few dollars less than the Motorcraft with five year warranty.

[NotU]

Re: Dead Battery

I'm still pleased every time the car starts right up with the original battery. 99,232 miles and it still cranks like it's new. I know it can go out without warning, but I'm milking it for every mile I can. The dealer had to jump it to drive it off the showroom floor, no problems since.

I think I can beat that. My 1996 F150 (134,000 miles) still has its original battery.
I had to replace the positive cable 2 years ago because of acid corrosion.
That's the first I've heard of the battery outliving the cable.
Good Luck!
Randy Mattson

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Dead Battery

Also don't put a battery if removed on the concrete floor,always on a piece of wood. The battery will drain on concrete.

Dear Tom and Ray:

This business of batteries and concrete floors needs to be explained and put to rest. Years ago, everybody knew that you were never supposed to put a car battery on a concrete floor because it would be quickly ruined. That statement was absolutely true, but they weren't talking about the BATTERY being ruined, they were talking about the CONCRETE FLOOR! Batteries used to be "topped off" with water, which resulted in acid being spattered about. If you put one on a concrete floor without carefully washing it, the acid ate into the concrete, quickly ruining the floor. It didn't hurt the battery one bit, but people who misunderstood the advice and wanted to appear knowledgeable came up with all sorts of foolish explanations as to why the battery should be ruined. Even an acid-spattered battery will not leak its charge into the earth. There may be leakage across the terminals of a "top-post" battery, but that would be slight. So here's the story: If a battery is clean, you can safely put it on your concrete floor. If it's acid-spattered, put it on somebody else's concrete floor or stick a board under it. -- Clay
Ray: Clay, you sound so utterly convincing. If it were up to me, I'd buy your story lock, stock and barrel. But my brother says you're full of baloney.
Tom: The GFCA (Garage Floor Cleaners of America) may indeed have had a hand in keeping batteries off concrete floors. But the real concern WAS the batteries.
Ray: Thirty years ago or so, most battery casings were made of hard rubber. And because of the porosity of that material, battery acid would sometimes seep through the rubber and create a conductive path through the damp concrete, draining the battery.
Tom: But that can't happen today with plastic-cased batteries. That's because molded polypropylene (a k a plastic), is not porous at all.
Ray: So today, you can put your battery on a concrete floor for as long as you want. And here's the interesting thing, Clay. The cooler the temperature, the slower a battery's rate of discharge. And because concrete is often cooler than its surroundings, leaving a modern battery on a concrete floor might actually make it last LONGER

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Dead Battery

A FORD BATTERY DESIGN ENGINEER TOLD ME THE SAME THING. A BATTERY WILL NOT DISCHARGE SITTING ON CONCRETE.

[Ediron]

Re: Dead Battery

Thank you all I stand corrected

[Elijahbird7]

Re: Dead Battery

I had to replace the battery in my '04 in 2009. My 1966 Thunderbird has had the same battery since 2003, a NAPA. I only put it on a battery tender for winter storage, and don't really drive it that much during the summer months, usually under a thousand miles, and it always starts right up.

[Sealy]

Re: Dead Battery

Thank you all I stand corrected

Thus bringing shame to the Merlot and Light Sand Community. Start looking for a Black Bird.