Coming up on 3 years - replace 12V?

Snakebitten

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I stopped at the small town grocer to grab some things for supper this week. It was $162.00

That wouldn't even buy 1 family outing for Mexican. (I admit having a lot of grandkids)

So apparently these days, replacing a battery, after it has served you for 3 years, isn't more than Taco Tuesday. ?
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DennisD

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WTF for??‍♂

If it ain’t broke what’s the point!

Are you going to change your right front tyre in case it gets a puncture next week?
For peace of mind.

Even though "it ain't broke" doesn't mean that it isn't near the end of life of said battery.

So I have to ask, do you purchase insurance? With your logic, what would be the point? If your car is not damaged, why would one purchase something to possibly fix it if it "ain't broke"?

Riddle me that............
 

Teslaeata

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For peace of mind.

Even though "it ain't broke" doesn't mean that it isn't near the end of life of said battery.

So I have to ask, do you purchase insurance? With your logic, what would be the point? If your car is not damaged, why would one purchase something to possibly fix it if it "ain't broke"?

Riddle me that............
Insurance is a legal requirement.
 

DennisD

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Insurance is a legal requirement.
Depends where you live and I believe if you are required, liability and not comprehensive is only needed.

With that being said, it is more peace of mind with insurance as well. Replacing the battery is an "insurance" that it will not fail in the immediate future and the outside cost (towing etc.) will be not needed thus saving you more money in the long run.

I have had batteries fail on ICE cars and it is not fun. Spending a mere $200 sooner than later is a no brainer. If you wait and need a tow, you will spend money for the tow, loss of time from work possibly along with replacing the battery any way. It could end up being a very expensive "repair" to wait.

Actually, I am quite confident replacing the battery is more of a sure thing than collecting insurance money. I would guess the chance of an insurance claim is less likely than replacing an older battery.
 
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markboris

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Replacing the battery in this car is not nearly as difficult as some think it is. Just because it is under some panels and a strut tower bar doesn't mean it takes an hour to replace. It is literally minutes to get to it and a few more to pull it out and replace it.

Accessing the battery by taking the frunk tub out OR by loosening and moving the strut tower brace, requires all 3 panels to be removed. Once those three panels are off, you have a choice to remove the frunk tub or loosen the nut on the passenger side of the strut bar and remove the nut on the drivers side to move it out of the way. It takes a total of 2 1/2 minutes from start to finish to remove the frunk tub (only 2 minutes on the 2024's as there are only 6 screws instead of 10 and 4 less beauty panels inside the frunk tub) and a bit less time if you go the strut bar method. In my case, I'm using the Steeda 3 point strut tower bar so it takes me less time to remove the frunk tub. Personally, I think less than 3 minutes to get to the battery no matter which method you use is not a big deal.

And yes I replaced the battery in my '21 at three years because I don't like being stranded. I have done that with pretty much every vehicle I've owned since the late 90's. The only time I was stranded was with my '16 Focus RS. The battery completely died without warning at 2 1/2 years.
 
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Teslaeata

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Depends where you live and I believe if you are required, liability and not comprehensive is only needed.

With that being said, it is more peace of mind with insurance as well. Replacing the battery is an "insurance" that it will not fail in the immediate future and the outside cost (towing etc.) will be not needed thus saving you more money in the long run.

I have had batteries fail on ICE cars and it is not fun. Spending a mere $200 sooner than later is a no brainer. If you wait and need a tow, you will spend money for the tow, loss of time from work possibly along with replacing the battery any way. It could end up being a very expensive "repair" to wait.

Actually, I am quite confident replacing the battery is more of a sure thing than collecting insurance money. I would guess the chance of an insurance claim is less likely than replacing an older battery.
I better change the transmission as well, then, because that might also fail ?
 

Space_Pony

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For peace of mind.

Even though "it ain't broke" doesn't mean that it isn't near the end of life of said battery.

So I have to ask, do you purchase insurance? With your logic, what would be the point? If your car is not damaged, why would one purchase something to possibly fix it if it "ain't broke"?

Riddle me that............
Why don't you buy a new car every year? That would give you "Peace of mind ".
 

DennisD

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Why don't you buy a new car every year? That would give you "Peace of mind ".
I actually do replace my cars quite often because I own a driving business. That gives me "Peace of mind" along with saving me money for less down time. I purchase at least one new car every year and rotate them. I have had very few repairs along with very few complaints for "down time".

I better change the transmission as well, then, because that might also fail ?
My brother in law had a transmission that was near it's end of life so to speak. He decided to take a trip to Chicago ( 800 mile one way trip ) and he thought he may repair/replace his transmission at a later time. You can about guess what happened, but when he got to Chicago it failed. It ended up costing him much more in the end along with "down time".

So in conclusion (not sure why this seems to be hard for you to comprehend), you should replace a part that is nearing it's end if said part can leave you stranded thus costing you more.

Once again, you will end up paying for the part anyway so why wait if you are in the "expiration" date period?

It is in effect an insurance policy that you are "claiming" on your time along with you shopping around and finding the best deal.

;)
 

HuntingPudel

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Could be. Bigger wire and a bigger connection point next to the charger point may be necessary. Maybe something like what you did inside the frunk.
Yep. I wanted to mount it externally but there was nowhere safe to do that. ?‍♂?
 

HuntingPudel

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Agreed this is a universal problem with 12vs, just wish Ford had thought ahead and made it accessible! I have changed every 12v myself my whole life, but I am not going to bother with removing the frunk liner to do so.
The frunk tub isn’t hard. 10 screws for the 2021-2023, 6 for the 2024+, plus two electrical connections. It takes me around 3 minutes to remove all of the frunk panels and the tub. ?‍♂?
 

markboris

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The frunk tub isn’t hard. 10 screws for the 2021-2023, 6 for the 2024+, plus two electrical connections. It takes me around 3 minutes to remove all of the frunk panels and the tub. ?‍♂?
30 seconds longer than me. ???
 

MacherAWD

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The frunk tub isn’t hard. 10 screws for the 2021-2023, 6 for the 2024+, plus two electrical connections. It takes me around 3 minutes to remove all of the frunk panels and the tub. ?‍♂?
Well maybe I will try it. I am kinda handy, but not great. I replaced the cabin air filter and snapped 1 of the 2 connections. I replaced my Chevy Bolt badges with black ones and snapped off all the connections and had to super glue them on. Not doubting it is easy to do, I just am not that good :) - I have an amazingly handy dad, when we do projects he still shakes his head and usually has to take over.
 

markboris

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Well maybe I will try it. I am kinda handy, but not great. I replaced the cabin air filter and snapped 1 of the 2 connections. I replaced my Chevy Bolt badges with black ones and snapped off all the connections and had to super glue them on. Not doubting it is easy to do, I just am not that good :) - I have an amazingly handy dad, when we do projects he still shakes his head and usually has to take over.
It really is easy and takes very little time. You may have a clip or two fly off when you are pulling up one of the panels but they are easily replaced if you loose it. I posted a video of me taking off the panels and removing the frunk tub on a similar battery thread last year and it took less than 3 minutes.
 

HuntingPudel

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