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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,421
Hard-core CEG\'er
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OP
Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,421 |
OK, here's the deal. My ol' 96 SE is now my dad's daily driver. Before I gave it to him there were some problems I kept having with the battery not holding charges. It was an old battery so I replaced it. Brand new Motorcraft battery. Well now the damn thing is doing the same thing. We'll jump it and charge it and it will work fine for a few days. Then it's dead. No power locks, no interior lights, nothing works! It can't be the alternator because it runs perfectly after we jump it. My uncle said maybe there was a bad ground that was draining the battery. Well I took it in for diagnosis. Guess what...it's a bad batterey. Alternator is fine(which I pretty much figured), no bad wiring, nothing. Just a bad battery. Well I had two days left on the warrenty so I get a free battery. But it's weird, this is exactly what happened with the old one that suddenly went bad. I hope it is just a case of a faulty battery, but if I were a gamblin' man my bet would be that this happens with the next one too. WTF? Anybody have any similar experiences? Any ideas of what else it could be? Seems too weird to be just a bad battery. Especially since the new Motorcraft was only like five months old. 
99 Black SVT -3L Hybrid w/.5mm overbore, Spec clutch/flywheel, MSDS, BAT intake, K&N open, 17'Konig Tantrums, DMD, Opt. TB & Y, Powerslots, Bassani w/ magnaflow res.
96 SE MTX- "The War Wagon"
"I'm in love with my car..."
-Queen
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 21,197
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 21,197 |
Strange. Hopefully it was just a strange occurance. Post back if it dies again.
-'96 SE MTX 3L
-'98 SVT 1,173 of 6,535
-'05 Mazda 6s, loaded, g/f's ride
-Need a 96-00 manual on CD? PM or email me
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 29
New CEG\'er
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New CEG\'er
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 29 |
It could be a loose ground also. Check all points!!
black 98 svt
power 1 mufflers w/resonator removed
jvc headunit
rear reflector and front grille painted black
ding guards removed
side badges replaced w/apc oval lights
born on sept. 3rd of 97' #3,382 of 6,535
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 289
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 289 |
Is this battery coming from a same batch of batteries? It could be possible that they received a batch of bad batteries. I know it's a long stretch but is possible.
1995 Contour LX
238,000 miles
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,421
Hard-core CEG\'er
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OP
Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,421 |
Yes it is a possibility that it was a fluke battery, and yes it is a possibility that the ground is bad. I told them to check the ground but they saw nothing wrong. I'll be getting another Motorcraft battery. Usually they are quality. If it does it again I will shun all Motorcraft accessories and parts. Mmmmk well maybe not all of them. 
99 Black SVT -3L Hybrid w/.5mm overbore, Spec clutch/flywheel, MSDS, BAT intake, K&N open, 17'Konig Tantrums, DMD, Opt. TB & Y, Powerslots, Bassani w/ magnaflow res.
96 SE MTX- "The War Wagon"
"I'm in love with my car..."
-Queen
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653 |
if you need an alternative batter,, i've got a diehard. it's great. I've left my head lights on 2 or 3 times and the battery hasn't completely died. one night I left all interior lights on and the car started up the next morning without a jump start.
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,166
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,166 |
It's very possible that the plates in the battary were not straight. If the battery was dropped at all, or really shaken up, then the plates can become dislodged and cause problems. Sounds like this could have been the case.
Good Luck!
- Zack
WANTED: T-Red HEATED Side Mirrors
FOR SALE: 4 14" Alum Alloys and Nearly New Avid H4s Tires w/ Center Caps
2000 T-Red SVT
1995 LX V6 MTX (RIP)
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,421
Hard-core CEG\'er
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OP
Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,421 |
Luckily I'm getting a new battery for free, 'cause it was still under warranty. Actually the warranty expires in two days!!  Got kinda lucky on that. I bet the same sh!t is gonna happen with the new battery though. It took five months for the other one to go dead. We'll see. I don't remember dropping or shaking the battery when we were putting it in. But then again I don't know what could've happpened during shipping and such. Thanks for the replies.
99 Black SVT -3L Hybrid w/.5mm overbore, Spec clutch/flywheel, MSDS, BAT intake, K&N open, 17'Konig Tantrums, DMD, Opt. TB & Y, Powerslots, Bassani w/ magnaflow res.
96 SE MTX- "The War Wagon"
"I'm in love with my car..."
-Queen
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 174
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 174 |
I'm having battery problems too. I just changed mine this weekend. They only last me about a year or two. They start having a hard time turning the car over, and when I get them tested they fail. I can't find anything wrong with the charging system.
I have a question for the v6 people:
Is your battery in a battery box? Mine never had one, it just sits on the two rails with the plastic coating. Is that right?
R.I.P. 05/06/2004 106K
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