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Old 08-06-2015, 08:28 PM   #1
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Battery battered

Took The Surprise cross-country and every day the van started up like a champ. Took it into Ford for an oil change and look-see and the next day it wouldn't turn over. The tech didn't tighten the clamp at the battery post, and somehow it must have discharged the main van battery.

When I took it back in, they said the battery was toast. OK. Forget the obvious idiocy inherent in the above. Here's the issue.

I had to replace the battery. But my diesel has two van batteries, the second of which Ford swore was in tiptop shape.

Did I err in not replacing both?

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Old 08-07-2015, 04:46 AM   #2
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Re: Battery battered

It would have been better to replace both batteries at the same time but if they're equal ratings and size you should be ok for quite some time.
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Old 08-07-2015, 11:06 AM   #3
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Re: Battery battered

I never trust Ford on their testing. Most batteries don't just fail over night and if the other battery has been packing the others load it might cause problems. I'd say if the old battery is less than a year old and if that battery held a good charge during the short time the second one was failing you're probably ok to replace just the bad one.
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Old 08-07-2015, 11:54 AM   #4
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Re: Battery battered

Quote:
Originally Posted by daveb
I never trust Ford on their testing. Most batteries don't just fail over night and if the other battery has been packing the others load it might cause problems. I'd say if the old battery is less than a year old and if that battery held a good charge during the short time the second one was failing you're probably ok to replace just the bad one.
I took my 2005 StupidDuty in to Ford for a coupon on oil and filter change. I was told that both of my batteries and alternator were bad. I got two more years out of the batteries and never changed the alternator.

Get second opinions.
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Old 08-07-2015, 04:14 PM   #5
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Re: Battery battered

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Originally Posted by BajaSportsmobile
Quote:
Originally Posted by daveb
I never trust Ford on their testing. Most batteries don't just fail over night and if the other battery has been packing the others load it might cause problems. I'd say if the old battery is less than a year old and if that battery held a good charge during the short time the second one was failing you're probably ok to replace just the bad one.
I took my 2005 StupidDuty in to Ford for a coupon on oil and filter change. I was told that both of my batteries and alternator were bad. I got two more years out of the batteries and never changed the alternator.

Get second opinions.
I don't doubt it at all. I had electrical issues... took it in and was told everything was OK. Took it to a different dealership who said the alternator was out but the batteries tested good. So they put in a new alternator under warranty...same issues with difficult starts. Took it back to the first dealership and they said oh, you have a bad battery but the second is good. So they put one battery in under warranty and said its partner was fine. Still had problems and the old battery started off gassing less than a week later Took it to a buddy that owns a shop had him drop both batteries and bench test them...the old battery had a shorted cell
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Old 08-10-2015, 07:29 PM   #6
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Re: Battery battered

Just wanted to report in that the new battery replacement is working great.
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