Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting When to replace battery

Our 99 Contour is just three years old, as is the battery, of course. What has been the collective experience with the lifetime of the OEM battery? I prefer to replace the battery sooner, then wait till there is no time for shopping!

I just ended up replacing mine two months ago. Lasted about 7 years I guess, it never really died either, I was just getting a little worried that 7 years is a pretty long time. Plus K-mart was having a sale on batteries at the time, I think it was around $46 with a 6 year warranty, course they might not be around in 6 years, but what the heck. I think it also depends on how hard you've been on the battery, deep discharges such as leaving the lights on can kill one quicker than normal.

Original batt on my '98 still strong. I did have to seal around the positive post because it was leaking and corroding connectors, but no other problem. Of the originals on my '93 E250, the aux batt (RV) is about ready to give out, the orig starting batt still fine. Guess that's the longest I've ever had them last. I use distilled water and try to avoid deep discharge.

OEM batteries in both, cars parked outside all year.
I would expect minimum of 5 years with fuel injected cars.
My '97 has been in service 5 yrs 8 months (6 winters).

do you leave little things on like your radar detector? or do you have a stereo system without a cap or 2nd deepcycle stereo battery?

I replaced mine two months ago. 48,000 miles on 1999 SVT. Lots of AC in Texas walked out one morning and I new it was coming, and no juice. About $95 installed by NTB on the way to work. They did a lousy job of cleaning the terminals.
Mike

Ford says 5 years or 50,000 miles on OEM battery.
peace

Generally Lead Acid type batteries have a life span of about 5 to 7 years depending on the internal configuratio of the plates.

I used to have a '95 F-150, and I got 6 years and 120,000 miles out of the original battery.

The most important thing to remember about a lead acid battery is not to allow the battery to completely discharge. When that happens, lead sulfate (PbS04) builds up on the plates and blocks the acid from contacting the lead and lowers the batteries capacity.

If you battery is getting old and tired and gives you slow starts in the winter time, a small current draw (like the parking lights) for up to 30 seconds will help get the chemical reaction started and help the battery generate more current for starting.

I've got 5 years and 102,000 miles on my factory battery. Still going strong, but looking a little worse for wear. When it does die, in goes another Motorcraft battery.

I just turned 79,000 miles with the original battery. The original owner lived in Connecticut so it's always seen New England winters.

Many places will do a load test on a battery at no charge (especially if they think they can sell one). Have yours tested by someone you trust and go from there.