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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 47
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 47 |
Man, The otherday my drivers side window cable broke? The white plastic holder that goes into the motor snapped! After toying with it while the car was off and I had the radio on, the battery went dead!!!!!
I had it jummped and it was fine. Got home and tried to start it and it did! But the next day it would not start, just clicked!!!
It was a short 5 mile trip from where I was the day before and I thought the alternator did not charge it. So we jumped it again and went for a 40 minute drive. I have AC, Radio, all signals and lights.... After shutting it off, I could not restart it right at that moment!!!
The car is a 97 v6 and I am not the original owner? Could it be its just time for a new ONE? BUT OMG!!! I am getting prices at $70.00 $100.00 just for the battery!!!!!!
I see only ONE on Napa and other sites for this car? What ever happened to buy a battery that is 2 years or 3 years rated and drop it in??? It has normal posts and is average size? Whats the big deal about this battery? The guy at sears claims that his book shows the battery is an interstate battery and its $100.00? OMG... This is no FERRARI
Can some one help me out? Can I get one at walmart and just drop it in? What has anyone else done? SHould I try to re-charge it?
Thanks
Jabronie~~~
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,228
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,228 |
IIRC, the battery terminals are oppositely placed from "normal" and that is why the International battery is needed. But these cars have a lot of electric accessories. It needs a larger battery than an Escort would. 5 Years is good for a battery.
Before you replace it, though, remove the battery terminals, charge the battery well, thoroughly clean the terminals (wire side and battery side) and see if that doesn't improve things. A bad (dirty) connection in the terminals can cause the same problem. If that doesn't work, then replace the Battery.
I believe some people have found cheaper ($50-60) batteries at Walmart and/or K-Mart. Might want to give them a look. If you intend to keep the car a while, though, I would keep the right size Battery. The important part isn't the 2 or 3 year warranty, it is the CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) and the reserve Capacity. If you get a small battery you may have trouble starting in cold weather and you won't have a long reserve if the alternator quits. I would get the same or higher CCA and Reserve as the existing (OEM) Battery.
My name is Richard. I was a Contouraholic.
NOW: '02 Mazda B3000 Dual Sport, Black
BEFORE: '99 Contour SE Sport
Duratec ATX Spruce Green
PIAA 510's, Foglight MOD, K&N Drop-in
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 47
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 47 |
Thanks...
I did in fact go to walmart and the book showed a HUGE diference between other ford cars.. So I guess to play it safe I am getting a NEW one!!! I will get a pepboys PROSTART battery seeing how thats whats in the car now and till now (I've owned the car for 2 1/2 years) I have NEVER had any trouble summer nor winter starts..
Thanks again for your info and help, I appreciate it very much....
I am sooooo glad to see that Lance did NOT kill the forums.. This has got to be the best place to go for info and help. I do believe they needed cleaned up a bit, in the rant and rave aspect and such....
Jabronie!!!
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,910
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,910 |
well when I had to replace my battery I went to a ford dealer since everyone else, wal-mart and part stores gave me a battery that was smaller than the one in the car. I guess I have the optional larger battery, but anyway it was $65 from the dealer with a 18 month warrenty
- 95 Mystique LS - Zetec/5spd
- 99 Contour SeVT Sport - Duratec/5spd
Official NE-CEG Contour/Mustang Family
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,319
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,319 |
I recently had the battery go in my '98 and tried to get a replacement at an auto parts store, but the battery they listed for the car was a smaller size both physically and in electrical capacity.
I ended up getting one from the Ford dealer at a competitive price, $65 US and it was the exact replacement (BXT-40R). Came with 18 month free replacement, 84 month pro-rated warranty.
I was a little disappointed in life of the original (5yrs) since my '97 Contour battery is still the original with 6 yrs service. I would expect 5-7 yrs from batteries in fuel injection cars although I must admit with the heat under the hood of these cars I'm surprised they last even 5 yrs.
p.s. Eastern Canada members may wish to check my local post:
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=eca&Number=1269&page=2&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=31&fpart=1
98 Mystique LS v6 atx 163,000km
97 Contour LX v6 atx 163,000km
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,412
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,412 |
My battery died last X-mas eve in the Wal-Mart parking lot, had it jumped from my mom's car, and went to Fleet Farm and got a new one, all I can say is the new battery is MUCH bigger than the old one. It's a PITA just to get the cover off the power distribution box. Also, it's too big for the head shield that was on the old one, so that's gone. All in all, it took then 2 hours to find one that fit, and they grouched at me because they thought it was a German car that used different batteries (half right I guess) But, 2 hours and $175 later, my car ran again and I have a new battery. But that sucker's huge!!
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 5,854
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 5,854 |
Mine started leaking a few months back, I bought the international battery from sears only because I didn't know any better. It cost me $100. Try going to a ford dealer or something and picking up a motorcraft.
1999 Silver Frost SVT
#609 of 2760
Quaife, lightened SVT Flywheel, SPEC stage II clutch, removed resonator, k&n drop in - various other goodies too.
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,127
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,127 |
Spanky,
Just get one at your Ford dealership. If you original lasted
5+ years then it must be pretty good.
I think they have rather competative prices on these, so you should
be fine. But you can call around just to be sure.
TB
"Seems like our society is more interested in turning each successive generation into cookie-cutter wankers than anything else." -- Jato 8/24/2004
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 661
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 661 |
Do other Fords use this same battery, or is it a part unique to the Contique?
Kerry
99 SVT Contour Silver Frost, #365/2760, DMD
98 Audi A4 2.8 Quattro Tiptronic, 30V -- SOLD!
91 Isuzu Impulse XS Kammback, Handling By Lotus
Victoria, BC, Canada
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,541
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,541 |
Originally posted by kerrychin:
Do other Fords use this same battery, or is it a part unique to the Contique?
Kerry
I think (and correct me if I'm wrong) that the Focus uses the same battery. Go figure - another platform designed out of the European Design Center that uses the international battery. 
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