Replacement of Truck Battery October 11, 2014, 05:05:00 pm Yahoo Message Number: 148928I am interested in suggestions on when to replace the truck battery. The original equipment battery in our 2010 MB is 4.5 years old and is still working fine. I would prefer, however, not to have it fail in a remote location. I am wondering if it is best to simply replace the battery at a certain age (e.g., 5 years) rather than wait until it gives out.Paul H.
Re: Replacement of Truck Battery Reply #1 – October 11, 2014, 07:50:06 pm Yahoo Message Number: 148930The truck battery on my 2003 gave out a few years go; I don't remember exactly when, but it's likely close to replacement time for my truck battery, too. There was no warning; it just died, despite the Ford truck center's test showing it as OK during a service appointment about a week or so earlier. The timing was not good, as I was just about to go off on a road trip, but at least it failed in the driveway and not out in the middle of nowhere where repairs/replacements would have been problematic and inconvenient, even with a good emergency road service.JMHO, but if you regularly travel where finding an appropriate replacement battery would be difficult, or if your truck battery has shown any signs of weakening, e.g., hard starting, excessive corrosion around the posts, having to be "jumped", then I suggest replacing the battery before you wish that you had done so earlier! ;-)The truck battery certainly *should* provide more than 4.5 years of service, but there are several variables which can determine battery life; if your personal comfort level indicates that replacement now is a smart hedge against possible failure at the most inconvenient time, put in a new one. I haven't done the research on the best of the current choices (although I should, because, as mentioned above, this post reminded me that it is due!), but you're likely to get suggestions from board readers.Please post if/when you replace the truck battery, and do let us know the replacement. Thanks.Joan
Re: Replacement of Truck Battery Reply #2 – October 11, 2014, 10:31:34 pm Yahoo Message Number: 148931Since we're on the subject, I thought it worth mentioning the new generation of lithium-battery jump-start kits. I'm sure most of you have seen or perhaps owned the old lead-acid booster packs--I know I did. They worked (as long as you remembered to charge therm up every couple of months), but they were very bulky and heavy as, well, lead--typically twenty to thirty pounds.Mine finally gave up the ghost last year, and I went looking for a replacement. What I found was this:Antigravity Batteries Micro-Start PPS XP-1 Multi-Function Jump Starter / Personal Power SupplyThis battery pack is about half the size of a paperback book and weighs only 14 ounces. It supplies both 5 V power via a USB port and 12 V power to start your vehicle. It comes in a zippered case that contains a pair of short jumper cables, plus a 12 V charging adapter, a 120 V charging adapter, and a dozen and a half power-plug adapters that will fit just about anything from tablets to phones to you name it. (Not included: an Apple Lightning plug. However, you can just plug your iPhone's or iPad's USB Lightning cable into the battery pack's USB port.)OK, so it's a great backup power supply for phones, tablets and so on. But come on, how can something this size start a car or truck? Well, the reviews at Amazon were pretty convincing, but I recently had occasion to try it myself when I accidentally left my car's headlights on overnight. The little battery pack started the car not once but twice, and still showed four bars of charge!Now, I haven't yet put it to the ultimate test and started my Lazy Daze with it. But there are enough accounts online by people who've started V10 trucks that I'm fairly confident it will do the job if necessary. And I have used it to recharge my iPad and iPhone multiple times while tent-camping last spring.Seems like a good thing to have around. I bought one for my rig and one for my car.Andy BairdTravels with Andy As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Replacement of Truck Battery Reply #3 – October 11, 2014, 10:50:12 pm Yahoo Message Number: 148932I have replaced mine every 5 years as a preventive measure. Did not want to get stranded some place in the boonies.Chris
Re: Replacement of Truck Battery Reply #4 – October 12, 2014, 03:56:49 pm Yahoo Message Number: 148957"I thought it worth mentioning the new generation of lithium-battery jump-start kits."AndyThe new lithium jumpers are the new hot item. It is amazing that so small a package can start an engine. A lithium battery's ability to produce large amount amperage, for short periods, is the key. Need to get one of these for the wife's car.I have had decent luck with the big gell-cell jumpers. They do hold a charge for long periods. The problem is their size and weight. Another thing to consider, when thinking about starting an LD with a dead battery, is getting a good set of jumper cables. The coach battery is huge, compared to the starting battery and can be used to easily jump-start the engine. As long as the coach battery has a large enough ground cable, only one jumper, connected to the positive terminals of both batteries is needed. Do learn the proper procedure for using jumper cables before needing to use them.You can be even more prepared by wiring a relay or battery switch to connect the starting battery and coach together for emergency starts. Many MH manufacturers install this system at the Factory. A flick of a switch is all it takes. https://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/1416467334/in/set-72157602104740457 2-gauge welding cable was used to connected the coach battery, starting battery and the battery switch together. When the rig is parked for more than a couples weeks, I will occasionally connect the two batteries together to keep the starting battery topped off.Larry
Truck battery Reply #5 – October 12, 2014, 11:04:17 am Yahoo Message Number: 148941Like all of Bill Darden's "battery sites", this one is very informative! One can figure out which battery manufacturer makes which brand(s).http://jgdarden.com/batteryfaq/batbrand.htmThe engine battery on my 2003 is numbered BXT 65 750; BXT is the Motorcraft part designation, the "65" is the group size number, and the "750" represents "CCA", or "cold cranking amps".Thanks to "paul 373" for the "battery replacement" reminder; depending on what comes of my research, I will either replace the current engine battery with a Ford Motorcraft branded battery or another with the appropriate specs.Hope the battery page is helpful to those who are considering engine battery replacement, but, as ever, YMMV.Joan
Re: Truck battery Reply #6 – October 12, 2014, 11:49:24 am Yahoo Message Number: 148943One of the best places to get an auto battery is Costco. The biggest one they carry was the 900 cc but do not know if that is still there. May be the 800. I always get the largest CC bat that I can. One thing that I did make up is a jumper cable to reach from the coach bat to the engine start bat. I took a set of bat cables and separated them then cut the one black clamp and red clamp and joined the two. Now I have one cable that will reach to both bat in case one is dead.GeorgeRetired plumber.
Re: Truck battery Reply #7 – October 12, 2014, 04:32:27 pm Yahoo Message Number: 148959"One of the best places to get an auto battery is Costco."While our LD has a Costco battery, I will not endorse it. I'm on my third Costco battery, none of them have lasted three years, less than half of the warranty period. The good news is Costco's battery warranty is easy to use, the last replacement cost only $22. Glad to have a battery jumper switch to start the engine so we can get to Costco for a replacement.I will endorse Sears DieHard Platinum AGM Battery. I have had one in my Jeep for several years and it still has the power to operate an 8000-lbs winch, even after killing the battery twice, the result of leaving lights on. If jumping the LD's starting battery wasn't so easy, I would buy a DieHard for it.Larry
Re: Truck battery Reply #8 – October 12, 2014, 05:01:35 pm Yahoo Message Number: 148965Larry, this Die Hard Platinum AGM starting battery?http://www.diehard.com/products/automotiveJoan
Re: Truck battery Reply #9 – October 12, 2014, 06:31:00 pm Yahoo Message Number: 148968"this Die Hard Platinum AGM starting battery? http://www.diehard.com/products/automotive"JoanThat's the one.Larry
Re: Truck battery Reply #10 – October 12, 2014, 06:53:21 pm Yahoo Message Number: 148970Like Chris, I have replaced by truck battery about every 5 years. All of them have been Motocraft and acquired via the Ford dealer that does my service. If I recall correctly these batteries have a "7-year warranty" which IMHO doesn't mean very much.Doug Baker
Re: Truck battery Reply #11 – October 12, 2014, 06:55:33 pm Yahoo Message Number: 148971How much does the thing weigh? Can I lift it into the battery cradle?Joan
Re: Truck battery Reply #12 – October 12, 2014, 07:53:35 pm Yahoo Message Number: 148976"How much does the thing weigh? Can I lift it into the battery cradle? "JoanNo, it's too heavy for you. Let the gorillas down at Sears do it . Just keep an eye on them...like you wouldn't be watching them like a hawk.Larry
Re: Truck battery Reply #13 – October 12, 2014, 10:53:22 pm Yahoo Message Number: 148977I have the Costco battery in my LD. No problems so far but only a year old. After reading Larry's experience I think I'll invest in a Jump Starter battery like Andy pointed out. But I could always jump LD from my Jeep or coach battery's if I had to.Bob 01 23.5 TK with toys
Re: Truck battery Reply #14 – October 13, 2014, 08:30:55 am Yahoo Message Number: 148982like you wouldn't be watching them like a hawk.--- ;-)Joan
Re: Truck battery Reply #15 – October 13, 2014, 11:41:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 149004"I could always jump LD from my Jeep or coach battery's if I had to."Right. And in fact, I have jump-started my LD from its coach batteries on several occasions. I carry extra-long jumper cables made from AWG 1 welding cable for the purpose.But in an emergency, it's good to have alternatives. :-) And it's a lot easier to connect a 14-ounce battery pack than it is to hook up twenty pounds of jumper cables.Andy BairdTravels with Andy
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Topic: Replacement of Truck Battery (Read 22 times)
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