Ford's factory batteries

[Falcon_LS]

The factory battery on my Explorer is starting to leak from the negative terminal, so I plan on changing it out soon before it fails. It still holds charge, and current output is 12.6V. But I don't want it failing on me at the wrong time, so I'm planning on a new battery soon.

The car was assembled on 10/29/2010, and it wasn't until sometime in late April 2011 that it hit the road. The heat kills batteries, but the factory batteries from Ford with the eye really do tend to last about 2 years.

If I replace it with a Motorcraft Tested Tough MAX, it comes with a 36 month warranty, but it will fail after 12 months and start leaking bad. I can get a replacement, but that will also fail in about a year. I've had better luck with Deka batteries (18-20 months), and Optima Red Top is available, just not in this size (Group 65).

Just wondering if Johnson Controls also makes the factory battery. Wondering if I can get the exact same one without the Motorcraft stickers on it. If I can find them, I'm going to get one for the Grand Marquis as well.

If not, my other options are Deka (12 month warranty), Excite (18 month warranty), Bosch (6 month warranty) or Varta (12 month warranty). Optima is available as a Group 24, and comes with a 24 month warranty, but I'm not sure I want to go that route (prefer to stick with a Group 65). Thanks!

 

[bluestream]

Batteries can last a long time with a wet post. When they start to fail they will let you know. Like the guy from ING says: "save your money"

 

[The motor guy]

their batteries have a light that starts to turn red when the battery is starting to die.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Back in the day ... weren't ford batteries famous for going 10+ years?

 

[Whimsey]

While I don't live in you're hot climate, I'm in New Jersey. We get summer, fall and winter. All of my Ford factory batteries have gone 8 years before I replaced them. None have left me stranded. Johnson Control makes Interstate Batteries in the States. I don't know what part stores are available to you but Advance Auto have JC batteries and I think Auto Zone also offers JC batteries. I think your climate is brutal with any battery you use.

Whimsey

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Back in the day ... weren't ford batteries famous for going 10+ years?


I had excellent results with Motorcraft batteries in one of my cars. I purchased an '88 Cougar off the showroom floor. I had such good luck with the factory battery that I replaced it with a Motorcraft that I bought from Western Auto. After that one failed, I again replaced it with a Motorcraft battery and I finally sent the car to the crusher a couple of years ago. The batteries would never leave me set, but I knew it was time for a replacement when the presets in the radio would lose their memory after an engine start. It was a V6, so I guess it was easy on the battery.
I'm not who made them for Motorcraft at the time.

 

[TFB1]

Clean the post and then run a bead of RTV around where the post exits the case, reinstall cable, done...

 

[cb_13]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
their batteries have a light that starts to turn red when the battery is starting to die.

That eye is a state of charge indicator and is only relevant to one cell. It is for the predelivery inspection done on the vehicle before it leaves the dealership. They are not intended for diagnosis of the battery as it gets older.

 

[vssjim]

thwe newer ford and motorcraft batteries I have seen in the last five years have been the Johnson controlls mexico made kind of cheapy version on batteries. With the cost of lead going through the roof the last ten years I don't think you will see many premium batteries in the daily driver fleet unless customers are paying real good money for them as replacement from battery sellers.

 

[bullwinkle]

Put those grease-holding felt washers around the post and spray them with Permatex battery protector, you'll see the corrosion problem disappear. IMHO gases from the acid are the biggest cause, and I've even had newer Johnson Controls batteries do that.