Who has the oldest functioning original 12V battery??

[rhougey]

Spoke too soon! My 12V battery just died last night. No warning. Drove several places that day, and then the last place my wife parked, it died. I went to my local Ford dealer, who tried to charge me $150 for the $130 MSRP battery (Part# BAGM-H3). There is an $18 core charge that you get back when you bring them the old battery. It took me 30 minutes start to finish. You have to remove a couple of panels to get to the battery, and unbolt and slide over he strut brace bar. You'll need a 10mm socket with extension, 8mm socket and 18mm socket. Very easy to do. I asked the dealer what they would have charged, and they said $230 and they said it takes an hour. I told them I did it in 30 minutes, and the service guy told me I need to have them reset the BCM for $115. I looked that up on YouTube, and apparently, Ford cars reset the BCM automatically if you let the car sit for 8 hours. If you are at 36 months, get a new battery. If you are over 36 months and think yours will not die, like I did...get a new battery.

It only takes about 30 seconds to reset the BMS while sitting in the driver seat.

I have purchased a new Ford Motorcraft battery from RockAuto, but have not installed it yet. Waiting for this storm to pass through so I can dry the car off and do the job out in the driveway. RockAuto’s price is $87.79. With shipping and core charge added, the total comes to $118.78 before any sales tax. Ordered it on 1/25 and it arrived on 1/29. It is dated 11/24, and arrived with an 83% charge of 12.6V. I put it on my AGM charger at 3amps, and it took 4-1/2 hrs to charge to 100%/float and showed as 13V according to the charger. I will not ship back to RockAuto for the core refund. My two nearby auto parts stores (Auto Zone and O’Reilly) will both give me an in-store credit of $10 if I bring the battery to them. I’m thinking I’ll just hang on to it for now and keep it charged since it’s still good at this time. I’ve got various uses in mind.

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[Mach-Lee]

the service guy told me I need to have them reset the BCM for $115. I looked that up on YouTube, and apparently, Ford cars reset the BCM automatically if you let the car sit for 8 hours.

That is false, BMS does not automatically reset. You need to do it, takes one minute. Procedure is in my FAQ: https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/12v-battery-faq.32744/

 

[MuckyMach-e]

Remember folks, this isn't just a race to see whose battery lasts longest - it's a masterclass in tempting fate. Sure, you could be boring and replace it preventively at 36 months... OR you could live on the edge and find out what it's like to explain to your daughter why her dress is stuck in your frunk on her wedding day.

Bonus points awarded for:
- Battery dying during a first date
- Getting stranded at a remote camping site (extra points if bears are involved)
- Missing your kid's graduation ceremony because you're waiting for a tow
- Having it die exactly 5 minutes after your roadside recovery membership expires

May the odds be ever in your favour, and may your final stranding be somewhere with decent phone service and a bathroom nearby.

 

[efisher]

Post up! and for everyone over 3 years old, you've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well?

Got one of the first in NJ back in March 21. My low voltage battery is going strong.

 

[Fjd]

March 2021 to February 2025.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Build date 12/09/2020, original battery.

 

[Richard L.]

Build date December 2020. Like me, still alive!!!

Went to dealer for my yearly inspection. Asked them to check the health of my battery. All is good after 4+ years.

 

[superdave80]

Nah, this is me………..wait for my post this week when I’m locked out during the tea ‘n’ pee stop half way though the next 400 mile day trip Tuesday ???

“I know what you’re thinking. ‘Did I replace the LVB three years ago, or two years ago?’ To tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I lost track myself.“

“But being as this is a Mach-E, with one of the worst 12V battery access setups in the world, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?”

 

[Snakebitten]

If all these 3 year old Mach-E AGM batteries could talk, they'd likely have very different lifespan stories to tell.

Or put another way, those 3 years of life are far from identical across the whole lot. One might have been tortured for much of its life. Another might spend many nights on a maintainer.

 

[Teslaeata]

“I know what you’re thinking. ‘Did I replace the LVB three years ago, or two years ago?’ To tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I lost track myself.“

“But being as this is a Mach-E, with one of the worst 12V battery access setups in the world, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?”

This punk feels lucky…………?

 

[Teslaeata]

If all these 3 year old Mach-E AGM batteries could talk, they'd likely have very different lifespan stories to tell.

Or put another way, those 3 years of life are far from identical across the whole lot. One might have been tortured for much of its life. Another might spend many nights on a maintainer.

I’m at 109,000 miles and 44 months on original 12v battery, never f**ked about with chargers, maintainers or fapped about it and ? still going strong.

 

[MuckyMach-e]

I’m at 109,000 miles and 44 months on original 12v battery, never f**ked about with chargers, maintainers or fapped about it and ? still going strong.

I wonder if those who drive just a few thousand miles a year are more likely to encounter an early battery failure than those who keep it topped up with regular long distance driving?

 

[Teslaeata]

I wonder if those who drive just a few thousand miles a year are more likely to encounter an early battery failure than those who keep it topped up with regular long distance driving?

Theoretically, shouldn’t matter, because 12v batt charges whether plugged in, driving, unplugged in garage or whatever so long as HVB is over a certain percentage charge.

Have a look at attached from page 4, very interesting!

 

[Richard L.]

I wonder if those who drive just a few thousand miles a year are more likely to encounter an early battery failure than those who keep it topped up with regular long distance driving?

I purchased my 21 FE when I retired. I'm currently at 11,000 miles. Dealer just confirmed battery health is excellent.

 

[Teslaeata]

Remember folks, this isn't just a race to see whose battery lasts longest - it's a masterclass in tempting fate. Sure, you could be boring and replace it preventively at 36 months... OR you could live on the edge and find out what it's like to explain to your daughter why her dress is stuck in your frunk on her wedding day.

Bonus points awarded for:
- Battery dying during a first date
- Getting stranded at a remote camping site (extra points if bears are involved)
- Missing your kid's graduation ceremony because you're waiting for a tow
- Having it die exactly 5 minutes after your roadside recovery membership expires

May the odds be ever in your favour, and may your final stranding be somewhere with decent phone service and a bathroom nearby.

Always have a gallon of petrol in the froot and a gas torch and am not afraid to use them.

If you see a Mach-e burning brightly in a lay-by, it’s not thermal runaway, it’ll be Stangy after it let me down with a failed LVB?

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