Dead Battery

Very interesting that this is happening to some people. We have had temperatures from zero to 20 degrees for the last 3 weeks and yesterday I started mine for the first time since before Christmas. Started right up, with no hesitation.

Thaser, I'm in Falls Church, Va, and, obviously, since you live next door in Annandale, I've had the same weather. Went to Hawaii for two weeks. Came back and started the tbird w/o a problem. Weird!

[This message has been edited by gmmoore (edited 02-03-2003).]

gmmoore, you must not have read my whole "book" (it was sort of long, sorry). I (er, my friend) left the interior lights on for two weeks -- that's what killed me. But jumpstarted like a champ.

Hope Hawaii was fun. I'm guessing it was a bit warmer there than here

I'm sure you've heard how outrageously freezing it has been).

I spoke too soon. Had to call roadservice because my bird wouldn't start. I thought it was the battery. Turns out I needed a "cold start". Had never heard of this. Just hold the accelerator down partially and keep cranking til it starts. Took a way long time, but it worked!!!! The guy said a lot of Audis and BMWs have the same trouble in cold weather. No trouble since. Good thing to know. A free fix!!!!

I spoke too soon. Had to call roadservice because my bird wouldn't start. I thought it was the battery. Turns out I needed a "cold start". Had never heard of this. Just hold the accelerator down partially and keep cranking til it starts. Took a way long time, but it worked!!!! The guy said a lot of Audis and BMWs have the same trouble in cold weather. No trouble since. Good thing to know. A free fix!!!!

I spoke too soon. Had to call roadservice because my bird wouldn't start. I thought it was the battery. Turns out I needed a "cold start". Had never heard of this. Just hold the accelerator down partially and keep cranking til it starts. Took a way long time, but it worked!!!! The guy said a lot of Audis and BMWs have the same trouble in cold weather. No trouble since. Good thing to know. A free fix!!!!

[hodgsonk]

My battery was fully charged before I parked the car in an unheated garage for about five months. When I went to take the car out of storage, the battery was completely dead. I had to boost the car to start it.

I suspect there are a few circuits in the car such as the electric clock, the security system, etc. likely have a very small, continuous draw on the battery, even when the car is not being used.

Normally my car can easily sit for a couple of weeks without a problem.

By the way, Ford recommends having the car running when you put the roof up and down, as this uses a lot of charge from the battery.

[Sophia]

A few days ago roadside assistance came over to jumpstart my battery (daily driver, garaged at home and at work). He tried to hook it up as instructed in the manual, connecting the negative to the screw coming out of the center of the spare tire, and the positive to the battery. Finally he just hooked both clamps to the battery and bingo, lights and everything!!
Dealer told me to check to see if the heated rear defrost light goes off when I turn off my engine. Don't know if he meant every time I drive or not.

[Quickdraw]

Sophia, if Im not mistaken they have a problem with the heated back window relay not shutting off the power and draining the battery. There are several relays that shut off headlights, trunk lights, etc after so many minutes. One of them stuck on me and drained the battery dead as a doornail. Don't know which relay it was, it only happend once however. This intermitent problem is very hard to diagnose as the dealer could spend hours on the car and not have it "stick." I think the dealer means for you to check this light frequently when you shut off the engine. If it ever stays on after you shut the engine off you've probably found the cause of the dead battery for the dealer.

[Sophia]

Didn't want to be caught again with a dead battery, so, yesterday when I parked my Bird in the garage, I turned on the rear window heated defrost, just before I turned off the ignition.
Just as expected, today the battery is dead.
They just towed it to the dealer.
It is my way of forcing them to deal with it instead of telling me to be sure the defrost light is off (they meant I should occasionally check to see if the light is off). I don't think I should have to do that.
There was no mention of a loaner vehicle while mine is in the shop, maybe I should give them a call. I see specks of snow coming down, but the streets are clear today. I don't really want to get my Vette out, but I might have to.

[Sophia]

Well, I am driving the Vette tonight, no snow in the forecast.

last week I saw a battery maintainence device on PBS's Motor Week in their Goss' garage segment. He highly recommended it, I ordered one today from griotsgarage.com $39.95 + shipping. Check it out.

[Sophia]

I think Ford should buy me one. hehe

[Sophia]

I called about my Bird today. They had to order the part. I sure hope it comes in early tomorrow so they can get it put in. I miss my baby.

[Sophia]

Months later . . . . . .

This is the first time I have had a dead battery since my last post on this topic, in February 05. They replaced something because the rear defrost wasn't shutting off.

This week Ford put it on the machine for several days and couldnt' find any problems. They decided that my driving 3 miles to work, one round trip per day, isn't enough to keep my battery charged. I don't ever let it warm up because I park inside at work and at home.