Short Life Battery

[Big Boy]

It was service day for my car yesterday afternoon. No problem, it has to be done when you're a mechanical ignoramus like me. I went to the counter to pay. The girl said before you go, your battery needs changing, it's only providing 1/3rd of the power it should be, and could fail at any time. Should we change it?

Normally, I'd have said yes, but this particular battery was just over 1 year old, and was sold to me with a 2 year warranty. I hadn't changed it at Ford because the previous battery failed after Ford had closed for the day. I'd gone to one of the big battery places in Hua Hin, and they sold me this super battery that was perfect for my car - I was a happy bunny, remember thinking at the time - a 2 year warranty, haha batteries don't die that fast. I filed the receipt anyway.

I drove straight to the big battery place to get the battery exchanged under warranty, in full knowledge that Ford would be closed if they refused.

When we got there, a guy came straight out to meet us, didn't query anything and told us to wait in the waiting room. We were sat there for about 10 minutes, when the guy came and invited us to the car:

• They'd tested the battery and agreed it was about to fail at any time.

• Could I prove there was a 2 year warranty? There was no warranty period written on the receipt. Long story shortened, no proof, no warranty - lesson learned .

• They explained the battery we had bought was fantastic for Toyotas, but useless on Fords

• They offered to replace my battery with a Ford specific battery (I was really going to do that after they'd sold me the right battery for my car last time, and wouldn't honour their guarantee)

I told them where they could stick their Ford specific battery, and left with them warning me my battery could fail at any time. It should be changed now.

I will have a Ford battery fitted at 08:30 tomorrow morning.

Now my question.................... Do you really have specific batteries for different models of cars here, or is this big battery place, which also specialises in tyres, a complete sham?

[Nereus]

Now my question.................... Do you really have specific batteries for different models of cars here, or is this big battery place, which also specialises in tyres, a complete sham?

Only in Thailand! While there are certainly different TYPES of batteries, and different CCA(cold cranking amps), none of them have anything to do with the brand of car.

Was the car taking longer to start than it usually does? There are also different types of "battery testers", and Somchai probably has one that helps him sell batteries!

[Big Boy]

Same results from Fords, who gave me very similar readings. I don't think there's any doubt the battery is on the way out. Ford have done this test many times over the years, and this is the first time they've warned me that it needs changing. I don't believe this is a Ford scam.

[Nereus]

Ford do not manufacture batteries. Any battery labelled Ford is made by a battery manufacturer, in Thailand I believe this is GS Siam, now part of Yuasa. Later model Ford Rangers have a "smart" charging system, no idea about yours, but SOME battery types will not be charged correctly with this type of system. Needs looking into further, but it may be that a "Calcium" based lead acid battery will be better.

The biggest killer of batteries besides heat, is short running, where the battery does not get charged sufficiently.

[Big Boy]

Sorry, I should have said, a Ford supplied battery.

My car gets its fair share of longish runs.

[Nereus]

Sorry, I should have said, a Ford supplied battery.
My car gets its fair share of longish runs.

Long runs need to be regular, but according to the following the "smart system" will reduce the charging voltage when there is very little other load on the system, such as day time running. The following was implemented in 2013, according to this:

the mechanic /electrician whom had done the latest course at Ford head office on the new charging system.
He informed me the new charge system uses a coil sensor that senses all current draw (amps) that are being drawn through the NEG earth cable and signals the ECU to raise or lower the output of the alternator to keep the voltage at approx 14.2 volts when under load, to as low as 12.6 volts when under virtually no load. EG: engine running, batteries fully charged and no lights or accessories on (fridge etc) or under hard acceleration.
This sensor is attached to the NEG battery cable right next to the clamp that attaches the earth cable to the battery negative post. It is black and approx 20mm x 30mm

Lead acid batteries require around 14.2 volts to bring them up to full charge, so according to above the battery may very well not ever be getting fully charged. A Calcium battery MAY handle this better. so, maybe that is where they are coming from with their "no good for Ford cars"!

[Big Boy]

Maybe, but the people telling me this story yesterday are the same people selling me the right battery for the job 12 months ago. I know very little, and have to trust the 'experts'. This is one 'expert' who has lost my trust.

[Nereus]

Maybe, but the people telling me this story yesterday are the same people selling me the right battery for the job 12 months ago. I know very little, and have to trust the 'experts'. This is one 'expert' who has lost my trust.

Not sure what your "maybe" means? I am just trying to help you, while at the same time recognising that a "technical" explanation may not be of much help. You need to find out just what they mean by the "right" battery for your car, otherwise you will be back again in 1 year looking for yet another answer.

[Big Boy]

maybe that is where they are coming from with their "no good for Ford cars"!

It won't be a problem, I'll simply get the Ford supplied battery in the morning.

My question was to identify whether I have been fed a few lines of B/S yesterday, or whether in fact apart from reneging on their guarantee and potentially selling me a battery that wasn't fit for purpose, they were telling the truth.

[Dannie Boy]

I guess some people are lucky and others aren’t, but I’ve had two Pajero Sports - the first for just over 4 years and the current one for just over 3.1/2 years and never had a problem with the battery and I don’t do many long distance journeys. Similarly, my wife is on her third Honda PCX, the first two for just over 3 years each and the current model is less than a year old but again mainly very short journeys and no battery problems. Hopefully I’m not opening the door for a flat battery in the morning!!

[Nereus]

maybe that is where they are coming from with their "no good for Ford cars"!

It won't be a problem, I'll simply get the Ford supplied battery in the morning.
My question was to identify whether I have been fed a few lines of B/S yesterday, or whether in fact apart from reneging on their guarantee and potentially selling me a battery that wasn't fit for purpose, they were telling the truth.

Have any of them bothered to check if the alternator is charging correctly? The car has been in for a service, so Buddha himself only knows how many times it may have been started / stopped and run without sufficient time to recharge the battery. And then you drive around the corner and stop and start it again before somebody else "tests" it.

It won't be a problem, I'll simply get the Ford supplied battery in the morning.

As I have posted, there is not much point in just getting a new battery without finding out why it is reading low, given that it only 1 year old. You have also not mentioned whether or not is becoming hard to start, which 99% of the time is the first indication that a battery is on the way out.

[Big Boy]

Hopefully I’m not opening the door for a flat battery in the morning!!

I hope not also - nothing worse than a flat battery. This was the first time I'd been advised that I needed a new battery - other times in Thailand, I've had to call the rescue services, who have always been very efficient. They get me started, and its straight down to Ford for a new one. Unfortunately, the previous flat battery was about 6:30 in the evening after Ford has closed.

Love them or hate them (mixed feelings here ) Ford will supply genuine Ford parts that should be suitable.

This has been quite an eye opener for me - I just didn't realise it was specific batteries for different cars if you want the best performance.

[Big Boy]

Have any of them bothered to check if the alternator is charging correctly?

I have been wondering that myself today - I'll get them to check in the morning. I would have hoped a garage would have checked that first, but this is Thailand.

You have also not mentioned whether or not is becoming hard to start, which 99% of the time is the first indication that a battery is on the way out.

Not hard to start, but I have been thinking for a couple of weeks that it didn't sound as powerful when turning over. I put it down to bad hearing because the battery was still, in my opinion, new.

[HHTel]

I agree with Nereus in that the alternator needs checking. I had a similar problem some time ago and it wasn't the battery but the alternator wasn't charging correctly.
In the UK you'd get an exchange alternator but here they actually refurbish the existing alternator while you wait.

[NOKYAI]

I think you have 3 options
1) go with a ford supplied part
2) go with a battery from the battery man
3) wait until it fails and see how long you get out of it

With the first 2 options get them to right down the guarantee on your receipt