Simplified "slide out" method for replacing 12V battery (new to me)

[dtbaker61]

Man I just lost about half of my clips on the rear center piece. What a wonky design for a clipped in panel. Those things are absolutely gone into the ether.

the rear center cover I leave off.
not because I lost the clips, but because I like to see the fluid levels, and have easy access to where I stow my 12v jumper cables.

Sponsored

 

[Schmedlack]

To me one thing is not clear. If I replace my original battery with the same Motorcraft battery, is there anything which I have to do with the touchscreen, FDRS, or any other means to finish the job? I am confused by some of the things I see online.

it is a good idea to 'reset' the 12v capacity and age counter, there is a procedure in this thread to do after remove/replace.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...r-12v-battery-recommended-at-36-months.36526/

Thank you. This is valuable information.

 

[GolfCoyote]

the rear center cover I leave off.
not because I lost the clips, but because I like to see the fluid levels, and have easy access to where I stow my 12v jumper cables.

I thought about doing that, I was concerned about water/rodents though.

 

[Schmedlack]

Question for those who did the research. The Die Hard LVB is $80 more expensive than the Motorcraft. They seem to have similar specs - the Die Hard is 40Ah capacity and the Motorcraft is 36Ah. Is there really much (if any) diference between the two, and is the Die Hard LVB worth the extra 80 bucks?

 

[dtbaker61]

I thought about doing that, I was concerned about water/rodents though.

I think the rear cover left off lets in more light, which rodents don't like, and enables easier visual inspection.... water sprays up from wheelwells regardless, so as long as you don't put anything there that can't get wet, you are fine.

 

[azerik]

It doesn't look like pulling out the frunk tub is that big a deal? Or am I missing something?

It's not, but it is awkward and heavy'ish. Plus you get many more chances of losing one or more of the $5 clips if you take the whole front apart!

 

[Jerrytball]

As Mach-Lee mentioned earlier, it is possible to slide out the battery aft by removing one side of the strut bar but it won't just pop out as easy as it is shown in the video. As Lee said, it's a tight space and you have to lift straight up while keeping the battery cables out of the way with the hood right above that area. In my car, having the Steeda strut brace which is secured with three bolts on each side, the entire brace must be removed. It's easier and faster for me to remove the frunk tub (don't have to touch my strut bar) plus you have much more room to lift the battery out (forward).

I timed myself removing the frunk tub and it took about 2 1/2 minutes:
https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0c5p3ichEIQlg

Plenty of room to take out the battery once the frunk tub is removed:

What if you never use the frunk? Totally remove it would it cause any problems weatherwise driving in the rain and etc. then you wouldn’t have to worry about all those covers lol maybe one solid cover over the top

 

[HuntingPudel]

What if you never use the frunk?
<SNIP>

Bite your tongue! The frunk is for chillin’! ??

 

[doogie63]

Surprise some company hasn't made a replacement cover with access door to the battery. Would be nice instead of drilling holes to have access, just have a new panel with access door.

 

[jober03]

Since there are a lot of people here looking at their batteries… can anyone tell me how to find the manufacturing date of the battery? Is it the white sticker on top of the battery? Mine shows 220516. Would that be 5/16/22?

 

[Schmedlack]

Since there are a lot of people here looking at their batteries… can anyone tell me how to find the manufacturing date of the battery? Is it the white sticker on top of the battery? Mine shows 220516. Would that be 5/16/22?

My original battery has a code of 20271. I was assuming that this was for the 271st day of 2020. (early September) My car rolled of the line on 31 December 2020. This could fit into a supply chain timeline. I can't help with yours. Is it the original? Is it labeled FOMOCO or Motorcraft? My original battery was made in China.

 

[Blue highway]

I replaced the 12v battery without removing the tub. The process works.

 

[Blue highway]

The only weird thing that happened to the car settings when I replaced the 12v was that my wifes phone as a key setting got broken (it showed in her profile in the car, but did not work in her phone)

I get messages in my phone that phone as a key has been set up for her, when we try to enable phone as a key, but it is not working... If anybody knows how to fix this, please DM me or point me to the right thread here... greatly appreciated.

 

[Schmedlack]

I replaced the 12v battery without removing the tub. The process works.

Did mine this morning. It's a "tight squeeze". I have big hands, so I made a "helper" tool. Made the "slide out" technique easy for me.

Sponsored