Batteries again...I can't believe this

[Graupp]

I've got a Y2K-X with 180K on it....
I'm into my 5th set of batteries.....
The originals [FOMOCO's] lasted approximately 2 years.....Went to Florida, and had to replace them at Sam's Club, back in 2002....In 2005, they went again....Returned them to the Sam's Club in North Carolina, got new batteries, and got a refund..none the less....The newer batteries cost less than the older ones....
Well in 2007, was in Florida again, and the batteries were acting up,,Went to Sam's Club again... replaced the batteries....Can't remember if I had to pay any money or not....But they gave me all new batteries....
Well, here we are in 2009, and guess what,,, the batteries didn't have the cranking amps to turn over the 7.3, and they just anted up for a new set of batteries...The cost to me this time was $16.00..
So, bottom line, I purchased 2 batteries back in 2002, from Sam's Club, and they have replaced the both of them """ 3 """ times now....
Cost to me NIHL....
The current and last set were Energizers manufactured by Johnson Controls....
I don't know what, but these 7.3's just eat batteries....

P.S. I clean my battery terminals every 6 mos like clock work....
I know you need the cranking power for the beast...

[farmtruck]

We have a fleet of 15 Fords, ranging from 7.3l IDI to 7.3, 6.0, 6.4 Powerstrokes, I usually replace the batteries every two years, I assumed it was because it is a commercial application, but I guess it is just Ford. We run Interstate batteries, when I replace them I take them back and get Interstate to check them out. Last week I had one bad and the other one probably could have been saved, but the guy wrote both of them as bad and prorated them. On my personal X and my brother's F250 we get around 4 years on batteries.

[01 Excursion]

I have 243k on my 01 Excursion and I am on my 5th set as well. The last set I bought was the Optima and they were replaced once for free after about 2 years and the second set lasted just over 3 years.

[444-4D]

I replaced my original batteries when they were 5 years old. They were still working fine. The replacements, Motorcrafts, are now five years old and are still working fine. I will be replacing them soon. I cleaned my cables when I replaced the batteries.

[da-bees]

How you use battries effect longivity as much as age. #1 enemy=overcharging(have system tested) #2 enemy=undercharging(have system tested)#3Long periods of inactivity(Connect "fully automatic charger" 24-7 during exspected inactivity of more than 1 week)I reccomend BATTERY TENDER,Wally carries a good 2amp also.#4=quick charge(don't do it unless emergency).#5 Improper boosting(both vehicles)#6=Rough jarring ride(bad or no hold down,off roading and farm use,marine use)#7=Cable corrosion(also carefuly clean top uf battery,current can flow thru the contamination) And drum roll please Mistro,Use the correct TYPE BATTERY. The most important specfication for your diesel (any diesel) is CCA=cold cranking amps More is better 600 to 900 cca is common and you can't have to many,seriously 1400 cca batteries WILL NOT harm your truck, IF,this is important,IF your charging system is up to par. Larger cca batteries will have corasponding higher reserve capacity that allows drains like inverter,winch,rv,aux lights to be run longer at idle or engine off without depleting battery. If you often use one or more of those things you should consider a charging system desighned for ambulance. There are not near as many manufactures as there are brands so just choose a brand/dealer who will still be around in case of warranty. That is probly a lot more than some want to hear but truth is there are many more considerations ,but someone will surly add some of those if you are still interested.

[BoilermakerSteve]

I have a 2000 X and the original batteries lasted until the fall of 2006. I put Costco batteries in it then and they have been doing ok, but not as much cranking power as the Motorcrafts.

Thought the Costco batteries were going to fail as the temps dropped this fall, but my original alternator bit the dust this week at 269,000 miles. Batteries seem ok now.

Steve

[browningbuck225]

interstate is the way to go, its what my dad and i run in both our strokers and in all of our tractors

[Beast]

If you still have the original starter I would look there. Even though it may be working it could be pulling a lot of amps on start up making it very hard on your batteries.

[SETexas X]

I have 185,000 miles on my X. Just replaced the original batteries a couple months ago. Replaced them with motorcraft hoping for the same luck.

[njneer1]

Originally Posted by da-bees

How you use battries effect longivity as much as age. #1 enemy=overcharging(have system tested) #2 enemy=undercharging(have system tested)#3Long periods of inactivity(Connect "fully automatic charger" 24-7 during exspected inactivity of more than 1 week)I reccomend BATTERY TENDER,Wally carries a good 2amp also.#4=quick charge(don't do it unless emergency).#5 Improper boosting(both vehicles)#6=Rough jarring ride(bad or no hold down,off roading and farm use,marine use)#7=Cable corrosion(also carefuly clean top uf battery,current can flow thru the contamination) And drum roll please Mistro,Use the correct TYPE BATTERY. The most important specfication for your diesel (any diesel) is CCA=cold cranking amps More is better 600 to 900 cca is common and you can't have to many,seriously 1400 cca batteries WILL NOT harm your truck, IF,this is important,IF your charging system is up to par. Larger cca batteries will have corasponding higher reserve capacity that allows drains like inverter,winch,rv,aux lights to be run longer at idle or engine off without depleting battery. If you often use one or more of those things you should consider a charging system desighned for ambulance. There are not near as many manufactures as there are brands so just choose a brand/dealer who will still be around in case of warranty. That is probly a lot more than some want to hear but truth is there are many more considerations ,but someone will surly add some of those if you are still interested.

Great and accurate advice ! Check/Do what he says and you won't regret it.

[Graupp]

Originally Posted by da-bees

How you use battries effect longivity as much as age. #1 enemy=overcharging(have system tested) #2 enemy=undercharging(have system tested)#3Long periods of inactivity(Connect "fully automatic charger" 24-7 during exspected inactivity of more than 1 week)I reccomend BATTERY TENDER,Wally carries a good 2amp also.#4=quick charge(don't do it unless emergency).#5 Improper boosting(both vehicles)#6=Rough jarring ride(bad or no hold down,off roading and farm use,marine use)#7=Cable corrosion(also carefuly clean top uf battery,current can flow thru the contamination) And drum roll please Mistro,Use the correct TYPE BATTERY. The most important specfication for your diesel (any diesel) is CCA=cold cranking amps More is better 600 to 900 cca is common and you can't have to many,seriously 1400 cca batteries WILL NOT harm your truck, IF,this is important,IF your charging system is up to par. Larger cca batteries will have corasponding higher reserve capacity that allows drains like inverter,winch,rv,aux lights to be run longer at idle or engine off without depleting battery. If you often use one or more of those things you should consider a charging system desighned for ambulance. There are not near as many manufactures as there are brands so just choose a brand/dealer who will still be around in case of warranty. That is probly a lot more than some want to hear but truth is there are many more considerations ,but someone will surly add some of those if you are still interested.

It's just normal everyday use.....around town, and occasional trips....
I've got a camper that we use every once in awhile...
I think that the 7.3 just draws a lot of amps for starting, and you need to keep your batteries in shape....That's why I clean my battery terminals every 6 mos, to get the volt/amperage thru ....I don't do anything to discharge them or abuse them...
That's why I can't believe I'm having this overall problem with these batteries.......

I guess the question to ask, is what do the commericals who have used the 7.3 in their trucks [like UPS, or Fedex etc] use for their batteries????

The question about the starter is reasonable, but I started having to replace batteries within the first 2 years....The UPS drivers shut-off their engines for every stop....SSOOOO you got to know how many times they use their starters/batteries everyday...
I know extremes in temperatures can be tough on batteries, but that's just not the case here....

I would guess that the on the bright side, the only set of batteries that I fully paid for, I purchased back in 2002...

[Beast]

If you still have the original starter I would still bet this may be part of your problem. Of course I off road and get into some water on occasion but a new starter made a big difference for me. I think you can test the starter. It is easy to remove and you should probabaly clean the terminals at the starter as well. Next time you disconnect the batteries I would at least clean the starter terminals and better yet take out the starter and get it tested. If you had a friend with the same starter I would swap it out for a test. If it turns over faster I would bet you have a weak starter.

[MotionMan]

Mine went thru 12/08, I bought the truck new on 12/03.....5 years with hard cold winters. I run 4 stereo amps, tons of accessories, big 150 watt lights and often ran the batteries down to nothing. Now I have 2 Interstates, 1000 cca, and I expect another 5 years out of these too. I am not sure but suspect the reason I went thru an alt in about a year was due to the batteries not really up for the job, I think the alt had to work too hard too long to keep the old batteries charged and they should have been retired sooner but they worked fine until winter came, then they showed their age. In any case I now have 216,000 and still have the same starter, heck even the same serpintine belt, so some how I got a really good truck, I do baby it and would let it sleep in my bed if I could, so it does have a lot to do with how it is treated, just like said before on the batteries, some people can trash something in a few months of ownership, the inside of my truck still looks like new and is cleaner than most new cars inside.....except for some black and yellow lab hair, they are the ones who won't let the X sleep in the bed, its theirs......

[Graupp]

Originally Posted by MotionMan

Mine went thru 12/08, I bought the truck new on 12/03.....5 years with hard cold winters. I run 4 stereo amps, tons of accessories, big 150 watt lights and often ran the batteries down to nothing. Now I have 2 Interstates, 1000 cca, and I expect another 5 years out of these too. I am not sure but suspect the reason I went thru an alt in about a year was due to the batteries not really up for the job, I think the alt had to work too hard too long to keep the old batteries charged and they should have been retired sooner but they worked fine until winter came, then they showed their age. In any case I now have 216,000 and still have the same starter, heck even the same serpintine belt, so some how I got a really good truck, I do baby it and would let it sleep in my bed if I could, so it does have a lot to do with how it is treated, just like said before on the batteries, some people can trash something in a few months of ownership, the inside of my truck still looks like new and is cleaner than most new cars inside.....except for some black and yellow lab hair, they are the ones who won't let the X sleep in the bed, its theirs......

The most recent batteries that Sam's Club sold me in Florida were 700 cca, and the sales person told me that's all that they had down there, because they didn't have any cold weather batteries....
Up here in NC, they had 850 cca batteries, and they just may make a LITTLE difference....
Your idea of of 1000 cca has me very intriged...
What kind of batteries are they, and who make them....
I think the next go around, which is almost assured, I may just spring for something like that....
Your reply would be very much appreciated

[MotionMan]

They are Interstate, it is the megatron plus, black top with white letters, they were about $300 for both....you get what you pay for. We get minus temps here and it is important to have a good battery, if it is weak winter will weed it out.