Battery Died Without Warning

[SJW]

Lads & Ladies,

Today I drove to the gold coast (from Brisbane), I would have started my car about 6 times after various appointments.

Stopped for lunch and went to start the car again, and nothing. Not even enough power to put down the windows.

Did the usual ring Ford ( after checking the car was in park - lol ), They sent the RACQ.

The battery was so dead, there was no luck jump starting. The whole battery was to be replaced for $120. Not covered under warranty after 12 months.

The weird thing here is that there was no warning, the alternator is working fine. The RACQ presumed the cells in the battery separated causing extreme lack of power.

Thought I would share this with you all as it was fortunate I was in a populated area. Would have been crap if it happened on a road trip somewhere.

I am curious, anyone else had this happen to them ?

[XtRmn8]

I have had that happen to me a couple of times with my previous car, the EL. They just die with no warning, you go to start the car and it would just tick like crazy. Cost me about $100 each time for a new battery and they lasted about 2 years each. But I had a bit of audio gear running off the standard battery so that might have been the cause too.

[cqae]

yes that can happen. It is an open circuit in the battery causing now current flow at all. Is actually pretty common, but I have heard it happen maybe 15-20 times(I am an auto elec) in recent years. The weird thig is, I have only heard of it happening in falcons! from EA right thru to BA though. Construction is same for both holden & fords, just physical chrachteristics differ. Load from stereos & such dont reallymake a difference as far as I know. When I go on a big trip I just make sure I pack my booster pack just in case. Then again, I have even taken a spare battery before! But this is easy for me considering I only pay about 50 bucks for one & stock them anyways, so I can put it back on the shelf if I dont need it. but regardless, it is something you can do little about. Seems to be exide batteries that do it most, and I think they manufacture for other major brands too, but not too sure as I dont sell them. well just my 10 cents worth.

[ZAP]

I had 2 of my house batteries in the boat just die....they were only 2 years old

$700 later

[Lord Cyric]

Sam, get over it. happens....

To quote my favourite comedian Denis Leary:

"Life sucks. Get a helmet!"

BTW, I can get away with this since SJW and I are sorta related...

[citric acid xr6t]

This is exactly what happened to mine I would have a bit of a guess and say your car might be about 2 years old too???

[SJW]

Yes , coming up to 2 years old now.

[ColinT]

Going back prior to the XR6T. I had a VQ Statesman. It came with the usual sealed maintenance free battery. It played up once, with the wife, 4 months later it played up again with the wife. I thought 3 years that's the life. So had to find a new battery on the spot. I bought a plain label variety.

With the old battery in the garage and the wife gone on her trip I pryed the covers off the batery. It was nearly empty, so it may have only needed a fill and charge.

The battery I bought never let me down for 8 years. It started getting a bit slow cranking so I had it checked and replaced. The battery guy couldn't believe it. and stated it's good that all batteries don't last this long or he would be out of business.

On the other hand the wifes Mazda 14 months old looked under the bonnet and I could see a trail of white crusty corrosive substance. Two cells were overcharging or bubbling out the top caps. Mazda paid for the respray of the affected engine bay area. I had to buy a new battery and the new one is twice the physical size of the old.

So I guess this goes to show anything can happen with a battery.

[fish_351]

Does the heat of the engine bay affect the life of a battery?

I seem to remember a cooling shroud surrounding the batt with air piped in from the front in my T (or perhaps that was on one of the old Falcs I used to have?)

[Ninka]

Exactly the same happened to mine, when just over 2 years old

I was travelling overseas at the time (of course this kind of thing only happens when I am away), and my wife was using the car. She left work with no trouble at all, then made 1 stop about 5 minutes from home, after having driven the car fro 30 minutes, and when she went to start, absolutely NOTHING

Well RAC, and $134 later, all is good

I went for the premium battery option, to at least get 24 months warranty.