The good, the bad, and the ugly! In reverse order!

[SLB8SNK]

Ok, so first the ugly:

After several months of guests at my home, and little time to drive the car, this weekend was perfect for a cruise!! So I uncover the car and hit the fob... nothing..? Thought I had the wrong keys.... nope, battery dead as a door nail!!!! Oh yea, I am the guy who defended the battery bad comments and threads for the past two years. My car started without fail, every time, all the time. Even through a Michigan winter! With nothing more than a casual start every 4 to 5 weeks or so. Imagine the surprise, as I added my KR mufflers about a month ago and it started right up them?

The Bad:

So pissed now that I have the battery issue, I pop the hood and hook up my battery charger. That was a task as I had it set for start not trickle, and tried to start the car, the alarm (horn) started, and the fob would not shut it off? I had to unhook the charger to get it to stop? I then reattached it and did a slow charge. I waited about an hour or so, and gave it a try, and it started right up. Noting lost, no radio stations, or anything else, so I think all is ok.

The GOOD:

OMG, drove the car, first real time with the tune and KR's, and the car is a dream come true. What a difference.... the power was amazing!!! The sound of the KR's just got better and better.... I took a nice 50-60 mile drive, and it was pure pleasure. Top down, the KR's making music, the tune made SUCH a huge improvement. I am not sure, but if that was ONLY 40 hp gain, I would be surprised as the car is SO different!.

So Comments and questions:

Why did my battery go dead after so long and so many BS starts? My first thought was, could the TUNE change something that eats up battery while it sits? Sounds stupid, but how many guys had the battery issue, but also has a new tune? My car went through so much, so many cold nights and days back in MI, and now the heat in NV, and why now? Only thing that changed was the tune.... Or did it finally just get that low????

When the battery dies, does it do any damage to the tune, or car on the whole?

Why did the alarm (horn) go off, and how would you stop that short of pulling the plug on the charger like I did?


Ok, so in the end, the ugly and the bad were quickly over turned by the good and the car is amazing with the minor mods I did. I am very happy and would do NOTHING more as it is fast as hell as is now. Almost scary fast. And with the KR's it sounds like a king of cars coming down the road. Prior to, I barely had any head turns, with these baby's on, I got more attention and more thumbs up than ever!

So that is my story!

Thanks guys!!!

[black vert ss]

My battery went dead from sitting for only 2 weeks. There is a TSB about the problem and when I had the rear replaced the dealer recharged the battery and have not had the problem since. I believe there is a web site listing all the TSB's for the car if you google mustang TSB for your year you should find them.

[SLB8SNK]

Originally Posted by black vert ss

My battery went dead from sitting for only 2 weeks. There is a TSB about the problem and when I had the rear replaced the dealer recharged the battery and have not had the problem since. I believe there is a web site listing all the TSB's for the car if you google mustang TSB for your year you should find them.

Interesting. There has been a ton of guys here and over at TS (prior life) complaining about the battery, even on a new unit, dying in a couple weeks or less. Mine would go 5-6-7 weeks without issue.

I will have to check on the TSB, but if I recall most guys claimed Ford stated it was "normal" to which I always claimed BS.

[Joe G]

Mine died last winter. I started it up every few weeks like you did, but the last time (March??) the battery was dead. I, like you, wondered why it worked up to that specific point. Mine was so dead that it wouldn't take a charge at all - trickle charge or high-amp "start" charge - even from a heavy duty sucker my neighbor had.

I called Ford (still had the towing warranty). They sent a guy out who was going to flatbed it to the dealer but he tried jumping it again. It took a few minutes with his charger, but it finally fired up. I drove it to the dealer where they tested the battery and replaced it under warranty (wouldn't hold a charge very well).

I think it was just a gradual thing - for both of us. Eventually the battery, due to little use, got to a point where it just wouldn't hold a charge.



Since you live in good weather now, no excuse for not driving it at least weekly. I know you don't miss the winters anymore.


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[Joe G]

Oh, this year I used a charger (not a trickle charger, but one of these... BatteryMINDer® Plus 12 Volt 1.33 Amp Charger-Maintainer-Conditioner (Desulfator)*::*All*::*Battery Chargers by BatteryMINDers.com) You can get them cheaper elsewhere.

No problems at all. Battery is in top condition.


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[SLB8SNK]

Originally Posted by Joe G

Mine died last winter. I started it up every few weeks like you did, but the last time (March??) the battery was dead. I, like you, wondered why it worked up to that specific point. Mine was so dead that it wouldn't take a charge at all - trickle charge or high-amp "start" charge - even from a heavy duty sucker my neighbor had.

I called Ford (still had the towing warranty). They sent a guy out who was going to flatbed it to the dealer but he tried jumping it again. It took a few minutes with his charger, but it finally fired up. I drove it to the dealer where they tested the battery and replaced it under warranty (wouldn't hold a charge very well).

I think it was just a gradual thing - for both of us. Eventually the battery, due to little use, got to a point where it just wouldn't hold a charge.



Since you live in good weather now, no excuse for not driving it at least weekly. I know you don't miss the winters anymore.


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Interesting... not sure why some die early, others off the line, and ours after a much longer period of time? I am surprised they replaced it? I am going to dive or start mine up again tonight to see what it does. If I have issues, I am going to call Ford or drive it over and see what they do about it. I still think it is stupid for a new car and battery to have issues like this. Yea, I only have 650 miles on it, and hope to drive it more. The weather is great, but the move kicked my butt and took up a lot of time, so hoping things slow some so I can drive more!!

Thanks!

[Johnny Lupara]

I think it takes more than starting it every few weeks to maintain a charge.....you probably need to actually put it on the road for 1/2 hour or so at speed to really do much charging....otherwise you may actually be doing a net discharge to only start it up for a short while.......

[SLB8SNK]

Originally Posted by Johnny Lupara

I think it takes more than starting it every few weeks to maintain a charge.....you probably need to actually put it on the road for 1/2 hour or so at speed to really do much charging....otherwise you may actually be doing a net discharge to only start it up for a short while.......

Good point and I forgot to mention that, I do agree! When I did the starts I recall someone stating doing so at idle does not actually recharge the system. I did drive it after starting this time for about an hour, at highway speeds most the time, plus my usual burst to 90-100 on open desert highway runs .

Maybe I had a great battery and it just got weak from the start ups and very little long runs... I will see what it does tonight! Almost 80 here today..

[HSURB]

I had a similar problem. I bought a CTEK 7000. That's the best charger I've every had. No more problems on this end.

HSURB®

[Johnny Lupara]

Originally Posted by SLB8SNK

Good point and I forgot to mention that, I do agree! When I did the starts I recall someone stating doing so at idle does not actually recharge the system. I did drive it after starting this time for about an hour, at highway speeds most the time, plus my usual burst to 90-100 on open desert highway runs .

Maybe I had a great battery and it just got weak from the start ups and very little long runs... I will see what it does tonight! Almost 80 here today..

..don't know what more you can do other than to do what some are saying, and use a trickle charger....its a shame this issue is so inconsistent and hard to put a good handle on....batteries are not cheap, and it would nice if they held a charge for a few weeks....

[SLB8SNK]

Originally Posted by Johnny Lupara

..don't know what more you can do other than to do what some are saying, and use a trickle charger....its a shame this issue is so inconsistent and hard to put a good handle on....batteries are not cheap, and it would nice if they held a charge for a few weeks....

Agreed. I had a 69 Boss 302 vert, and did the same, limited driving, and NEVER had to replace or charge the battery. You would think in this day and age and this technology, they would withstand more down time on a charge. Oh well, tender is in my near future!

Does the BVM store sell them yet LOL... JOE/MAX... LOL

[Birdman]

Originally Posted by HSURB

I had a similar problem. I bought a CTEK 7000. That's the best charger I've every had. No more problems on this end.

HSURB®

Is that anything like Viagra ? LOL

























Seriously how much are they and do you have link or recommend a place to purchase one ?

[mastersmech1]

If I change the battery, does it de value the car?...Should I save the original?...

[Carnut]

Originally Posted by mastersmech1

If I change the battery, does it de value the car?...Should I save the original?...

The answer is yes, and yes. Wrap the old battery in plastic, sign and date it. You'll be covered.

[gr8snkbite]

Originally Posted by Carnut

The answer is yes, and yes. Wrap the old battery in plastic, sign and date it. You'll be covered.

make sure you crate it up, seal it in, band it, put it on rollers and tuck it in the garage....

[Johnny Dangerously]

Originally Posted by Carnut

The answer is yes, and yes. Wrap the old battery in plastic, sign and date it. You'll be covered.

Originally Posted by gr8snkbite

make sure you crate it up, seal it in, band it, put it on rollers and tuck it in the garage....

Make sure to poke a vent hole or two in the plastic so that any gases can vent to atmosphere.:fart.2:


`

[Johnny Lupara]

Originally Posted by Johnny Dangerously

Make sure to poke a vent hole or two in the plastic so that any gases can vent to atmosphere.:fart.2:


`

...and don't forget to send it off to have carroll shelby sign it.......and get the official battery plaque for it.........

[SLB8SNK]

And that my friends is a perfect high-jacking LOL... goofs!

Anyways, got home last night, car started right up, drove about 80 miles. Hoping the first depletion of the battery recovered with my last couple drives and recharged it enough to last me a while. Think it did any damage?

[King Cobra]

Here is some good info on the S197 electrical system and battery issues.

Electrical system on the S197 - Ford Shelby Cobra GT500 Forum

[gr8snkbite]

good link Cal...i see Fred's on now...been a while for him..