Anyone try a different battery brand?

[rocks]

With the battery failure issues with Ford OEM batteries, has anyone installed a different brand. If so, any issues?

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[RSH]

With the battery failure issues with Ford OEM batteries, has anyone installed a different brand. If so, any issues?

If the factory installed battery is causing problems and your vehicle is still under warranty, I would have the battery tested at the dealer, that is the only way to have it replaced under warranty.

Obviously it is not the most convenient way to get another battery, it took me 3 visits.
The initial 2 visits the dealer said everything is functioning normaly
If the dealer wouldn't have taken care of the issue on my 3rd visit, I was ready to go aftermarket, my BS wasn't trustworthy.

The above can all go out the window depending on the situation.

Yes, someone did post here that they replaced their own battery with an aftermarket battey, they didn't have time to deal with Ford.

 

[rocks]

No problem with my battery. I was just curious if anyone went outside Ford for a battery. Only a couple of companies make batteries but the Ford OEM battery may be made with Ford specs.

 

[coopny]

My car is only eight months old and came with an AGM battery so zero issues thus far.

Given the number of posts here and on FB I've seen about BS owners having issues with non-AGM batteries, I'd definitely go with AGM on a replacement.

From there, replacement would come down to availability and price. Out of curiosity (having read all the battery failure posts and I've never owned a vehicle with an AGM battery before), I did price out a battery a few days ago. I didn't price out with my dealer for a hypothetical out-of-warranty battery change. All batteries are H6 (48) AGM size batteries rated for 760 CCA, which is showing for me as the appropriate battery size for both an Outer Banks with the 1.5L engine and the Badlands with the 2.0L engine. All prices excluding the core charge (if it exists in your state, refundable when you bring the old battery back)

Store	Price	Includes Installation	Notes
Walmart (Store Brand)	169.84	No, unless your Walmart has an Auto Center	4 year free replacement
Costco (Interstate)	169.99	No	3 year prorated (e.g. if your battery dies two years into the warranty, they would only give you 1/3 of purchase price back). Online with shipping is more.
BJs Wholesale (Interstate)	194.99	No	No online page. 2.5 year replacement.
Sam's Club (Duracell)	199.88	No	3 year free replacement
NAPA (Store Brand)	$249.99 $204.99 with coupon SPOOKY20	Yes, at store	3 year free replacement. Most auto parts store coupons exclude batteries.
AAA (Store Brand)	$239.99	Yes, mobile (comes to you)	Price $25 higher for non-AAA members. 3 year free replacement. No link as AAA site varies by zip code/club.
O'Reilly Auto Parts (Store Brand)	$249.99	Yes, at store	3 year free replacement
AutoZone (Store Brand)	$249.99	Yes, at store	3 year free replacement. EFB price is the same (AGM is better).
Advance Auto Parts (Store Brand)	$259.99	Yes, at store	Can't add link as website is having issues right now. 3 Year warranty.

So in terms of brands, there aren't actually that many companies making the batteries - Eastern Penn makes Duracell, for example. JCI/Clarios also makes a lot of batteries. The other brands (Store or known brand batteries) just slap their logo on the case.

Other thoughts:

1. Any battery replacement that involves a core charge has to be weighed against either the installation being taken care of by the store you buy it from, or your effort to bring the old battery back. In New York State, the core charge isn't the biggest deal in the world, because it's only $5, and any retailer that sells batteries with a core charge must take them back. They only have to give you the $5 back with proof of purchase at that store/chain, but any store selling cored batteries must accept them for recycling free of charge. In other states, the charge can be as high as $22, meaning getting it back is a bigger deal (if you have to drive back the old battery to that location after you installed the new one).
2. AAA's offering is pretty compelling if you're a member because it includes them coming to you to test the battery and replace it at that price if needed, assuming your vehicle won't start and it's in a safe/convenient place for you to have someone come out. The core charge is automatically refunded because they'll take the battery with them on the way out.
3. Walmart's battery price and warranty terms both beat the entire rest of the field, and most towns have a Walmart, which makes exchanges easy if the battery does fail. I've also heard that most Walmart locations without an auto center don't actually test (requiring a failure) to exchange a battery.
4. Costco's change of the battery warranty to three years prorated makes them absolutely non-competitive for battery purchase. Apparently Costco made this change because the auto center does not actually test batteries, so people were going in at 2 years and 11 months to get brand new batteries, but that just means if you are actually the victim of a failure (most likely to happen in the second half of year two if it happens before three years), you'd only get around $29 back. Everyone else above would give you a replacement new battery free-of-charge.
5. NAPA is probably the dark horse as an auto parts store that had a coupon that could be used on batteries (other auto parts stores generally exclude them blanket).
6. One thing to consider about batteries is their potential to fail you on a road trip, or if you move after purchase. If so, there are more Walmarts and most of the above auto parts stores than Costco (or BJs/Sams Club) warehouses. For me, the dealer and Advance/AutoZone/NAPA are pretty much all equal convenience.
7. I would price out the cost of a dealer battery replacement and see what they hit on price. parts.ford.com shows a $191 price for me on the battery and $225 MSRP. I assume if I got it installed at the dealer, that'd be $225 + tax with free installation. If so - that would be pretty competitive, the battery lists 36 month free replacement on the sticker. The only contenders against would be Walmart ($55 cheaper if I cared to install myself) or AAA (for $10 more someone would come to me and replace/recycle the battery if needed). Of course I hear some dealers are doing some mobile services like oil changes and whatnot, so it's possible that the dealer might be willing to come to the vehicle to install a new battery.

I will say that the BS battery, at least in the 2.0L, is not the least or most accessible battery I've ever seen. It isn't the battery I had in my 2015 2.0L EB Fusion (which was under the windshield cowling - the dealer was the only one that would touch that battery replacement), but it's not just two bolts like the battery in my sibling's 2012 Honda Accord. If WM had the battery and it was convenient, I'd probably have them do it. If not, and I could apply the coupon at NAPA, I'd get them to do it for the battery test (to make sure I'm not considering a slow start or whatever symptom wrongly as a bad battery before buying one), to install the battery, and to immediately take the core battery.

 

[Big Ben]

No problem with my battery. I was just curious if anyone went outside Ford for a battery. Only a couple of companies make batteries but the Ford OEM battery may be made with Ford specs.

A bit off topic, but if you install a cheap battery maintainer and plug it in while parked, your battery will last for years. Modern vehicles have a constant drain on the battery, even when the vehicle is off. That results in the battery often running at partial charge.

 

[rocks]

A bit off topic, but if you install a cheap battery maintainer and plug it in while parked, your battery will last for years. Modern vehicles have a constant drain on the battery, even when the vehicle is off. That results in the battery often running at partial charge.

I've used a battery tender plus for over 20 years. Hooked up to one right now.

 

[Big Ben]

I've used a battery tender plus for over 20 years. Hooked up to one right now.

Same here. My last battery in my F150 was 10 years old and still tested as good. I use an onboard GENUS from Canadian Tire.

 

[MAGPLM]

I use battery tender as well. Amazon.com: NOCO GENIUS2D, 2A Direct-Mount Onboard Car Battery Charger, 12V Automotive Charger, Battery Maintainer, Trickle Charger, Float Charger and Desulfator for Marine, ATV, Truck and Deep Cycle Batteries : Automotive and Amazon.com: NOCO GCP2 15A AC Port Plug, 125V Power Inlet Socket, and Waterproof Electrical Outlet Receptacle Box with Dual 18-Inch Integrated Outdoor Extension Cords : Automotive. Can Hook Block Heater into the mix if I need too. Blinks red when charging, and will flash green when done. Will maintain charge in Maintenace Mode after that. Just replaced my factory non-AGM battery, as it started to have issues. Put in a new Duracell AGM battery from Batteries Plus. Comes with 4 year full replacement warranty.

 

[Mrmike]

Not familiar with the difference. My OBX was built last December. How do you determine if you have a AGM battery or not?

 

[MAGPLM]

Ford Part Numbers on top of battery.
Examples: (not a complete list)
BEF-48H6-A,
BEF-48H6,
BHEF-48H6
Lead-Acid
EFB: Enhanced Flooded Battery

BAGM-48H6-760 (AGM)
AGM: Absorbent Glass Mat

 

[Mrmike]

Ford Part Numbers on top of battery.
Examples: (not a complete list)
BEF-48H6-A,
BEF-48H6,
BHEF-48H6
Lead-Acid
EFB: Enhanced Flooded Battery

BAGM-48H6-760 (AGM)
AGM: Absorbent Glass Mat

Thank you for that info. Unfortunately, my battery is a BEF. Hope I don't have any problems with it.

 

[Sojourner]

I use battery tender as well. Amazon.com: NOCO GENIUS2D, 2A Direct-Mount Onboard Car Battery Charger, 12V Automotive Charger, Battery Maintainer, Trickle Charger, Float Charger and Desulfator for Marine, ATV, Truck and Deep Cycle Batteries : Automotive and Amazon.com: NOCO GCP2 15A AC Port Plug, 125V Power Inlet Socket, and Waterproof Electrical Outlet Receptacle Box with Dual 18-Inch Integrated Outdoor Extension Cords : Automotive. Can Hook Block Heater into the mix if I need too. Blinks red when charging, and will flash green when done. Will maintain charge in Maintenace Mode after that. Just replaced my factory non-AGM battery, as it started to have issues. Put in a new Duracell AGM battery from Batteries Plus. Comes with 4 year full replacement warranty.

I'm a huge NOCO fan and was thinking of trying to do something similar. I had a NOCO Genius 2, but didn't want to go through the hassle of cutting the clamps off and setting up the ring connectors (easier to do on larger NOCO units).

So to find out that the NOCO 2D was available...? Gold. Ordered this a.m. Already had a GCP1 on-hand (don't need tbe extra AC plug), so good to go.

Three questions.

First, I guess you had to plug in a short AC cord to get from the Genius 2D over to the GCP2?

Second, I could see where you ran the Genius 2D black ground cable to. Not the battery, right?

Third, any/no issues with the vehicle BMS?

Again, thanks. Nice work!

 

[MAGPLM]

I agree, have everything NOCO. Other charger as well as jumpers. Will post more details later today on my setup.

 

[rocks]

I carry a NOCO GB40 jumper and use a Deltran Battery Tender Plus. I don't see the need to add an onboard charger unit under the hood and cut a hole in the bumper trim for a plug but that's me.

 

[Sojourner]

I agree, have everything NOCO. Other charger as well as jumpers. Will post more details later today on my setup.

I did a look at my NOCO purchases (over the last 5-8 years) this morning as I was responding (above)....

Given the amount of NOCO products I have (and am using) I should have bought stock!

Great products (especially if one can wait for a sale). Their lithium start-up batteries (for motorcyles, lawn tractors, etc.) are fantastic!

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