Seems to be a lot of battery issues on BS models

[jsus]

$440 for a battery?! Even for a 'steal your face' dealership that's crazy expensive. I'm glad your replacement was covered.

I'm not surprised to learn that Ford limits the warranty on the new battery to the original 3/36. That's lame, but in character.

New batteries are typically only warrantied for 36 months these days (at least in the US)... Only follows that the factory battery would be the same (or worse).

Sponsored

 

[rocks]

AGM is BAGM-48H6-760. BEF is "enhanced flooded lead acid".

My bad.

 

[sajohnson]

New batteries are typically only warrantied for 36 months these days (at least in the US)... Only follows that the factory battery would be the same (or worse).

I could have been more clear.

For example, we took delivery in March of 2022. The battery warranty runs through March of 2025 (mileage is not a concern since we don't drive much).

As you said, 3/36 is a standard battery warranty. No problem there.

The issue is that if/when the OE battery fails, the replacement is only warrantied for the remainder of the original warranty. So if, for example, our battery fails in September 2024, the replacement battery would only have a six (6) month warranty!

That is some weak sauce.

Any decent battery should last at least 4-5 years (ours last 6-7+). What is Ford worried about? Perhaps that the design of the BS is such that they know it will eat batteries at twice the rate of the average vehicle? Otherwise, why not warranty the replacement batteries for the same 3/36?

 

[sajohnson]

That may be true, but it did solve all my problems. Might have just been a bad battery from Ford, but it's been going strong ever since I switched over. All electronics working as they should, start/stop working every time(whether I want it or not), no more blackouts from electronics shutting down, etc.

Glad to hear it!

As you said, "Might have just been a bad battery from Ford." That's a good guess, because there is little, if any, performance difference between the two. The CCA and RC specs are very close.

AGM batteries do have advantages, but for the most part they will not be helpful in vehicles:

* They can be mounted sideways or upside-down.
* They can be used indoors
* They are 100% maint free (of course most flooded lead-acid batteries are too)
* They can (supposedly) have a hole shot through them and still work
* The max current in/out is higher
* They were originally developed for the military for use in jets, tanks, etc.

People hear the above and think, "That's what I need for my 2007 Corolla!"

Don't get me wrong -- all else equal, same mfr, same quality -- AGM batteries are better. The Sprinter chassis our RV is built on came with an AGM battery. It lasted 10 years and was still still starting the high compression V6 diesel engine. Of course, it spent most of its life connected to a Battery Tender. When we replaced it I got another AGM. It was not much more expensive -- maybe $20. Also, I have no way of knowing how long a flooded lead-acid battery would have lasted. We have other vehicles that have working batteries that are 7-8 years old. The OE battery in our Suzuki lasted 6 years (they typically last 1-2 years) -- but they are all kept charged.

The key is to keep them at 100% SOC -- about 12.7 volts. A few tenths of a volt may not seem like much -- but it is:

12.4V is just 75% SOC.

I have to admit, I didn't realize there was such a difference between AGM and flooded. I've been using ~12.65 to 12.7V as 100% SOC, but for AGM it's ~13.0V.

 

[sajohnson]

While true, the problem with standard SLA (sealed lead-acid) batteries is a failure might not be apparent until it's placed under load. A simple voltage test will not reveal these kinds of issues; you must perform a load test.

Absolutely Mark.

I'm a tech and I've been working with batteries for 50 years. What I am referring to is not diagnostic testing when the battery is suspect, but merely checking the SOC of a known good battery.

For example, I know the OE Motorcraft battery in the BS BL is working well. There is no need to perform a load test -- a quick voltage check with my Fluke meter is all that's needed.

I do have a load tester, but there is no reason to break it out every time.

 

[Jmuns]

I could have been more clear.

For example, we took delivery in March of 2022. The battery warranty runs through March of 2025 (mileage is not a concern since we don't drive much).

As you said, 3/36 is a standard battery warranty. No problem there.

The issue is that if/when the OE battery fails, the replacement is only warrantied for the remainder of the original warranty. So if, for example, our battery fails in September 2024, the replacement battery would only have a six (6) month warranty!

That is some weak sauce.

Any decent battery should last at least 4-5 years (ours last 6-7+). What is Ford worried about? Perhaps that the design of the BS is such that they know it will eat batteries at twice the rate of the average vehicle? Otherwise, why not warranty the replacement batteries for the same 3/36?

This is how the majority of all warranties work across the board. They don't reset on replacement.

 

[sajohnson]

This is how the majority of all warranties work across the board. They don't reset on replacement.

It depends on which mfr/vendor is offering the warranty.

For example, last I checked, Auto Zone had a lifetime warranty on parts like starters and alternators. Their lifetime warranty is defined as the life of the vehicle -- which could be 15-20+ years. Unlimited replacements.

Advance and Pep Boys only give one replacement.

IDK how they work now, but Sam's Club used to have a 3/36 battery warranty -- unlimited replacements.

Maybe some folks are OK replacing a battery at 2 years and 9 months and getting a three (3) month warranty on the new battery. I suppose expectations vary due to past experience.

The way I look at it is -- a new (OE or replacement) battery should last 4-1/2 to 5 years minimum. That's typical. 3 years is very short -- as in, something is wrong. Either with the vehicle, the operator, or the battery. If it's the vehicle or the battery the owner is being put out through no fault of their own. It's time-consuming at best to have to go to the dealer -- but OK, stuff happens.

However, to then be told that the replacement battery only has (say) a 5 month warranty -- that's lame. If the failure is "operator error" that's one thing, but if it's the battery or vehicle then that's on Ford -- and the owner can expect that the replacement battery will also fail in less than 3 years.

So the owner is on the hook for battery replacement ($$, time, hassle) every couple years.

 

[jsus]

It depends on which mfr/vendor is offering the warranty.

For example, last I checked, Auto Zone had a lifetime warranty on parts like starters and alternators. Their lifetime warranty is defined as the life of the vehicle -- which could be 15-20+ years. Unlimited replacements.

Advance and Pep Boys only give one replacement.

IDK how they work now, but Sam's Club used to have a 3/36 battery warranty -- unlimited replacements.

Maybe some folks are OK replacing a battery at 2 years and 9 months and getting a three (3) month warranty on the new battery. I suppose expectations vary due to past experience.

The way I look at it is -- a new (OE or replacement) battery should last 4-1/2 to 5 years minimum. That's typical. 3 years is very short -- as in, something is wrong. Either with the vehicle, the operator, or the battery. If it's the vehicle or the battery the owner is being put out through no fault of their own. It's time-consuming at best to have to go to the dealer -- but OK, stuff happens.

However, to then be told that the replacement battery only has (say) a 5 month warranty -- that's lame. If the failure is "operator error" that's one thing, but if it's the battery or vehicle then that's on Ford -- and the owner can expect that the replacement battery will also fail in less than 3 years.

So the owner is on the hook for battery replacement ($$, time, hassle) every couple years.

Who said they were happy or okay with any of this?

If you think that's bad, Costco's Interstate Battery warranty is now 36 months prorated. They changed it this past summer from 36 months non-prorated. If it dies at 30 months, you only get ~17% toward a new one. Used to be easy to find a battery that was 36 months non-prorated, then prorated out to 72+. Not so much anymore.

 

[Big Kahuna]

2021 Badlands daily driver suffered battery loss at 39,332. Add another two batteries for the truck last month and that's nearly $700 in batteries in the past month. Then we have to pay the Californian registration extortion next month of $592 for the Bronco and then a whopping $846 the next for the 10 year old diesel (thanks Newscum). I love living in California but damn the taxes and fees are really getting ridiculous.

 

[rocks]

Most batteries are dead when you go to start a parked vehicle. I've never heard, in my decades of driving, all these battery failures while driving or at a light, stop etc.

 

[KidWiff]

Most batteries are dead when you go to start a parked vehicle. I've never heard, in my decades of driving, all these battery failures while driving or at a light, stop etc.

Ditto !! Very strange. Does the BS have such a high draw on the battery that this has become “a thing” ?

I will say that I was away last week and had my fingers crossed when starting my BS for the first time, since I got back, this morning. (Success!)

 

[Mark S.]

Most batteries are dead when you go to start a parked vehicle. I've never heard, in my decades of driving, all these battery failures while driving or at a light, stop etc.

I'm sure that's why the service department suspects both the battery and the alternator.

 

[Broncoette]

Most batteries are dead when you go to start a parked vehicle. I've never heard, in my decades of driving, all these battery failures while driving or at a light, stop etc.

Agreed, but last week when my car died while waiting at a red light it scared the crap out of me. The flashers did not work, the doors would not unlock. I'm pretty sure it went into "auto stop" then into complete failure. I'm driving a 21 OB, <2.5 years old, <24,000 miles. I've never had any issues with it until now. Interesting tidbit, the battery health tested good earlier this month while having the oil changed at the dealer.

 

[westcoaster818]

Some of the 2021 BS's didn't have an AGM battery from the factory as they should have. I suspect by now most of them have failed and been replaced. Mine died at 18 months. It seems to me that start/stop takes a toll on batteries. In hot climes running the ac and headlights at every stop. I turn mine off first time it dies, if I haven't done it when I get in.

Ive been arguing on here to Never use Start/stop and its bad for the car. But the muppets dont believe me.

 

[Mark S.]

Ive been arguing on here to Never use Start/stop and its bad for the car. But the muppets dont believe me.

Primarily because you've offered no data to back up your argument, which appears to be based on a few anecdotes, and seems to ignore the millions of vehicles around the world using these systems with no issues.

Sponsored