Go with a Motocraft battery

[BullittBoy]

Motorcraft are no better than any other major brand. 2024 F150's had a huge issue with crap stock batteries. Lots were replaced under warranty. I replaced mine with a X2 H8 AGM from Batteries Plus, great warranty (48 month free replacement) and it is holding up well. I use the stock one to power 12V stuff in the garage like my oil pump and my one hydraulic lift/jack. Keep it on a tender when not in use though-

Mustang has a Optima Yellow top in it and it is holding up well too.

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[pinksurfer]

and yes, I live in the south with plenty of heat

funny how much different florida/texas heat feels vs arizona/nevada.
I was talking to some florida tourists last august at an outdoor event and their comments were all "god is it hot here. it's a lot different than home".

 

[Jccams]

Just replaced my original 2019 battery yesterday with a Deka. I have them in all my cars, toys and lawn mower. One of the few things left that is made in the USA.

 

[Cobra Jet]

This is exactly the direction I went in a month or so ago. I'm in NJ and when we had that bad ice storm in January, the Mustang was encased in 3" of ice so it sat for three weeks because then another 24" storm followed 2 weeks later. All that cold trashed the battery. I shopped like crazy for a battery, couldn't find an AGM and Ford didn't have one in stock (2.3L HO engine)...so I went with the Costco Interstate battery. It seems to have the cold cranking power the car needs and now my radio doesn't turn on by itself and my trunk doesn't pop open on it's own.

I think we have to look at batteries differently now a days....they are more cheaply made and flat out don't last as long. I also have an old 2008 Edge (our Beachmobile) and I lost count of how many batteries I've gone through in that car. They seem to last about 3-4 years and that's it. Those came from Autozone and Advanced Auto.

I found your response interesting.

What is strange is…

My 2018 S550 (44k on it) also went through the same storms sat for weeks too encased in snow/ice, and the car isn’t really used nor is it on any battery tender… and strikingly it has the original 2018 Motorcraft in it …

and it starts up every time without any concerns.

Also I’ve read many other threads on this site where people are replacing batteries at an alarming rate …. I mean, I honestly don’t understand it or say why my 2018 with original factory battery is working just as well when the car was brand new - while other S550’s of the same year have had not one battery failure but in some cases multiple failures…. OR even newer S550’s than 2018 having similar battery failures.

IMO, I’m beginning to think it’s not really a “battery” issue, but some other underlying draw or short occurring in the car affecting the battery. This is the only other explanation that could be causing such a massive amount of owners replacing batteries that should be lasting at least their minimum life expectancy OR longer.

I can understand some manufacturing defects or QC issues happening, that’s normal in large scale mass production of components or consumables - but to see so many people over the years on this site replacing batteries so quickly, it just seems above the norm of a “defect/QC” concern.

 

[Ironpeddler]

I found your response interesting.

What is strange is…

My 2018 S550 (44k on it) also went through the same storms sat for weeks too encased in snow/ice, and the car isn’t really used nor is it on any battery tender… and strikingly it has the original 2018 Motorcraft in it …

and it starts up every time without any concerns.

Also I’ve read many other threads on this site where people are replacing batteries at an alarming rate …. I mean, I honestly don’t understand it or say why my 2018 with original factory battery is working just as well when the car was brand new - while other S550’s of the same year have had not one battery failure but in some cases multiple failures…. OR even newer S550’s than 2018 having similar battery failures.

IMO, I’m beginning to think it’s not really a “battery” issue, but some other underlying draw or short occurring in the car affecting the battery. This is the only other explanation that could be causing such a massive amount of owners replacing batteries that should be lasting at least their minimum life expectancy OR longer.

I can understand some manufacturing defects or QC issues happening, that’s normal in large scale mass production of components or consumables - but to see so many people over the years on this site replacing batteries so quickly, it just seems above the norm of a “defect/QC” concern.

I hear ya'...but I think I had an issue with the battery prior to the storms and the extremely cold weather. When I mentioned the radio randomly turning on & the trunk popping open, I thought it was an issue with the car's electronics. The dealership could find nothing wrong with the car in two trips. Then I read a post from someone on one of the Mustang forums stating these gremlins pop up due to a battery going bad. Those two occurrences didn't happen too often so I let it go. Then the storms hit and the battery went dead. I took the battery out of the car and slow charged it at 6 amps overnight. I put it back in the car and it started right up, but two days later the battery went dead again when I tried to start the car. At that point I thought there was an electrical drain somewhere. I couldn't find a thing as I searched...but it was freezing cold and finally I bought the new battery from Costco. Since then everything is back to normal, the car starts and no gremlins. My car is a 2021 that I hardly used the first two years I had it, only in the Summer (it was delivered with Summer tires on it) so maybe that had something to do with it.

But I will say this, once the new battery was installed, the car starts stronger. With the original battery, the car bogged a hair upon startup...like when you start a high compression engine...but the car was new to me and I thought that was normal for this HO engine. So my issue could have been years in the making. Maybe it was a QC issue, slightly bad cell, maybe the use of smart alternators, etc. But with my experiences with replacement batteries over the last 10-15 years or so, I'm thinking the quality is not like they used to have. Prior to all this, when I had to buy a new battery, I always went Optima in my cars. But the horror stories I've read since the company was sold twice raised too many red flags for me....especially for the prices they charge.

 

[Joe Gonsalves]

I found your response interesting.

What is strange is…

My 2018 S550 (44k on it) also went through the same storms sat for weeks too encased in snow/ice, and the car isn’t really used nor is it on any battery tender… and strikingly it has the original 2018 Motorcraft in it …

and it starts up every time without any concerns.

Also I’ve read many other threads on this site where people are replacing batteries at an alarming rate …. I mean, I honestly don’t understand it or say why my 2018 with original factory battery is working just as well when the car was brand new - while other S550’s of the same year have had not one battery failure but in some cases multiple failures…. OR even newer S550’s than 2018 having similar battery failures.

IMO, I’m beginning to think it’s not really a “battery” issue, but some other underlying draw or short occurring in the car affecting the battery. This is the only other explanation that could be causing such a massive amount of owners replacing batteries that should be lasting at least their minimum life expectancy OR longer.

I can understand some manufacturing defects or QC issues happening, that’s normal in large scale mass production of components or consumables - but to see so many people over the years on this site replacing batteries so quickly, it just seems above the norm of a “defect/QC” concern.

Could be the amount of options in the car. More electronic wiz bang gizmo's you have the more power it needs. All body control modules talk via CAN bus. And These things wake up periodically even when the car is off and tucked away for the night.

 

[Cobra Jet]

Could be the amount of options in the car. More electronic wiz bang gizmo's you have the more power it needs. All body control modules talk via CAN bus. And These things wake up periodically even when the car is off and tucked away for the night.

That’s what I am wondering, something is causing a continual draw that has gone undetected - resulting with a failing battery or dead battery. The newer S550’s with the in trunk modems - I’m wondering if that has any culpability with causing a draw or continual load on the battery even when the vehicle is say “off” and parked.

I know for instance with any mobile phone, doesn’t matter brand or service provider - but if Bluetooth, tracking for locations/maps, background app updates, and GPS is enabled - those type of apps or functions are continually pinging the device. In doing so it is causing some phone batteries to not only drain faster than others, but also deteriorate over time.

The same would hold true for a vehicle modem that is “wired” in the same manner and is constantly “on” as it’s pinging and being asked for location etc…

There also could be issues with an OS update that causes battery drainage issues too - in any device that relies on an OS update, including a vehicle since most modern vehicles today relay in many electronics systems as mentioned.

I’ve seen and read that if a key fob is nearby that wouid also cause a constant “ping” between the S550 and itself. I can attest to and factually say my fob is less than 20 feet from my parked vehicle in the driveway - so although a possibility as a draw on the battery, it’s definitely never been an issue with my vehicle. This is why I say it seems so strange (to me) that I have an original Motorcraft battery that was put in the car on the assembly line in 2018 (maybe even end 2017 based on vehicle was built) and it’s been functioning good since I got the car new.

I have seen 2018’s on here with more or less miles than mine where the owner has had to replace the Motorcraft because it was no longer functional.

I can’t link or pinpoint any other rationale other than there has to be a draw in some of these S550’s that is causing premature battery failures or in-op events.

 

[Joe Gonsalves]

That’s what I am wondering, something is causing a continual draw that has gone undetected - resulting with a failing battery or dead battery. The newer S550’s with the in trunk modems - I’m wondering if that has any culpability with causing a draw or continual load on the battery even when the vehicle is say “off” and parked.

I know for instance with any mobile phone, doesn’t matter brand or service provider - but if Bluetooth, tracking for locations/maps, background app updates, and GPS is enabled - those type of apps or functions are continually pinging the device. In doing so it is causing some phone batteries to not only drain faster than others, but also deteriorate over time.

The same would hold true for a vehicle modem that is “wired” in the same manner and is constantly “on” as it’s pinging and being asked for location etc…

There also could be issues with an OS update that causes battery drainage issues too - in any device that relies on an OS update, including a vehicle since most modern vehicles today relay in many electronics systems as mentioned.

I’ve seen and read that if a key fob is nearby that wouid also cause a constant “ping” between the S550 and itself. I can attest to and factually say my fob is less than 20 feet from my parked vehicle in the driveway - so although a possibility as a draw on the battery, it’s definitely never been an issue with my vehicle. This is why I say it seems so strange (to me) that I have an original Motorcraft battery that was put in the car on the assembly line in 2018 (maybe even end 2017 based on vehicle was built) and it’s been functioning good since I got the car new.

I have seen 2018’s on here with more or less miles than mine where the owner has had to replace the Motorcraft because it was no longer functional.

I can’t link or pinpoint any other rationale other than there has to be a draw in some of these S550’s that is causing premature battery failures or in-op events.

So I posted on this once before, The WI-FI, if not configured, will hunt all night long for a network and kill the battery. My wife's car suffered from this till I figured it out. I have it configured to my homes network now but I turned it off. I only use it to check for software updates with Sync 3. Also the Tell-on-your-antics modem is another one that can drain your battery. There are plenty of rants on here about that. You can pull the fuse to kill it. But you will loose Ford Connect and cell phone use.

 

[Ironpeddler]

So I posted on this once before, The WI-FI, if not configured, will hunt all night long for a network and kill the battery. My wife's car suffered from this till I figured it out. I have it configured to my homes network now but I turned it off. I only use it to check for software updates with Sync 3. Also the Tell-on-your-antics modem is another one that can drain your battery. There are plenty of rants on here about that. You can pull the fuse to kill it. But you will loose Ford Connect and cell phone use.

I was at the dealer last week getting my oil changed and got talking to the service tech about the battery issue I had. He asked me if I kept my remote within 50 feet of the car at night. I said yes I do...and he went on to explain that a good number of cars wake up as you walk towards the car to use it...and keeping the key close to the car at night could prompt it to warm up certain electrical systems repeatedly using battery power. I had never heard of that, has anyone else?

 

[Jccams]

So my car is parked in the garage and both key fobs hangout just inside the door, 15’ maybe. I’ve tried turning the ignition on with the keys in the house and it says no key fob detected. If the car can’t detect it can it still be causing a problem?

 

[Joe Gonsalves]

I was at the dealer last week getting my oil changed and got talking to the service tech about the battery issue I had. He asked me if I kept my remote within 50 feet of the car at night. I said yes I do...and he went on to explain that a good number of cars wake up as you walk towards the car to use it...and keeping the key close to the car at night could prompt it to warm up certain electrical systems repeatedly using battery power. I had never heard of that, has anyone else?

I have to be within a few feet for my car to unlock. I also hang the fob like 15 to 20 feet away and I don't have a battery issue. My wife's car is like 10 feet from the fob and no issue. So I think what the dealership told you is BS. They just don't want to invest the time to troubleshoot it. My experience with these cars is as long as the battery is good and fully charged 14.5v then it's all good. A slightly leak battery 12.5v then the car will do some strange things. No such thing as 12v is good, it's now 14v on modern cars.

 

[lepak91]

My 2018 will be going on it's 3rd battery soon. My current one is a Motorcraft BXT-96R-590. I replaced the original battery with this one only 2.5 years ago. I drive 7K - 10K a year and keep the battery on a trickel charger when I know I will not be driving the car for a few days.

 

[Sparky1337]

So my car is parked in the garage and both key fobs hangout just inside the door, 15’ maybe. I’ve tried turning the ignition on with the keys in the house and it says no key fob detected. If the car can’t detect it can it still be causing a problem?

I just put mine in a faraday cage. Also, leaving the car unlocked keeps it in a “ready” state and toasts the battery. I found that out the hard way.

 

[Outlaw]

you do realize that motorcraft are made side by side with duralast and die hard.
all come out of the same plants and I would doubt seriously they are using any different materials between brands.
I've had really good luck with walmart branded batteries and they are made with all of the above as well. solid return policy if anything happens and here in the desert, 3 years is about average with the heat.

Buy whatever dodge uses. Buddy has a 15 Dodge ram ecodiesal, original battery lasted him 10 years without issue. He replaced it last year just to be safe but it was showing no signs of issues and still held an almost max charge. Insanely impressive

 

[Ironpeddler]

....leaving the car unlocked keeps it in a “ready” state and toasts the battery.

Never heard of that one before, I have to ask the dealer about that. Personally, I don't think batteries are made as good as just 10-15 years ago. I hear a lot of 'I had to get a new battery' stories with cars only 3-5 years old from friends, family & neighbors.

One thing I was surprised about when the battery went bad in my '21 was that it was a wet battery. Just another thing to check....

" Check a "wet" (flooded lead-acid) car battery’s fluid levels every 3 to 6 months, or about twice a year. If you live in a hot climate or drive frequently, inspect the levels more closely every 1 to 2 months.

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