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Battery dead this AM- Under warranty?

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Posted by: Archer28

Well, the LS wouldn't start this morning. Dead battery. The little dot on the battery was red. The wife said the horn was weak lately.

I'm still under manufacturers warranty. Is the battery covered?

Posted by: owlman

The battery is generally a "consumable" item like tires and wipers and not covered. But you might as well call around and ask.

Posted by: o3sonicbluexlt

is it the original battery? i would also get the charging system checked out as well. through dealers, normally they will find something wrong with the car so they dont have to give you a new battery

Posted by: Quik LS

often it's pro-rated - so if it's 36months warranty - then you get 1/3 credit towards a new one if it's two years old.

With you having an 03 - take a look on the battery for a date sticker - but it's likely past.

Posted by: fuzzyb

My 03 factory Ford battery has labeled on it,
Warranty:
36 month free replacement
100 month pro-rated

Posted by: Archer28

Thanks for the replies all. The auto tech instructor here mentioned I may be able to use a gel cell battery in the trunk application. He says they usually have good service.

Anyone tried a non-oem battery?

I hope it IS the battery, and not something else causing it run down.

Posted by: Quik LS

for the most part - GEL batteries still produces gases when recharging.

Here is the current thread on this - > http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=17286

Posted by: Archer28

Thanks for the link Quik.

Posted by: o3sonicbluexlt

there is a tsb on this subject. it says that the car might use too much power, causing the battery to deplete.

Posted by: Antny

I got up one day and my battery was completely dead on my 04 LS. I jumped it and haven't had a problem since. Since they're trunk mounted, they don't get the exposure and beating of a typical car battery.

Did you already change it out??

Posted by: Archer28

I haven't replaced it yet, but I did put a 750 amp replacement battery on order from my local Lincoln dealer. Funny that the 650 and the 750 were the same price.

I'm not sure if the battery in my LS was stock. Its only got 26k so not got a lot of miles. Still the battery is getting on 4 years old now.

It has a charge indicator on the battery that was red this morning (normally green). I may give it a charge tomorrow and take it to advance auto and let them check it on their machine.

Posted by: my04lincoln

Quote:

Originally Posted by owlman

The battery is generally a "consumable" item like tires and wipers and not covered. But you might as well call around and ask.

Not so! If it still has the factory warranty then it will be covered.
Ryan

Posted by: macboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by my04lincoln

Quote:

Originally Posted by owlman

The battery is generally a "consumable" item like tires and wipers and not covered. But you might as well call around and ask.

Not so! If it still has the factory warranty then it will be covered.
Ryan

As are wipers (in Canada at least).

Posted by: Archer28

Thanks for the replies all, my04 was right, my local dealer is supposed to replace the batery free of charge today.

I charged the old battery up this morning and it started fine, didn't sound weak at all.

As my wife was driving to the dealership to have the battery replaced, she said that every time she stopped at a light or sign, the console would display "apply park brake". She also got a "check park brake" or "service park break" (can't remember which) on the way....

I don't know if that would be battery related?

Posted by: eastcoastLS

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archer28

Thanks for the replies all, my04 was right, my local dealer is supposed to replace the batery free of charge today.

I charged the old battery up this morning and it started fine, didn't sound weak at all.

As my wife was driving to the dealership to have the battery replaced, she said that every time she stopped at a light or sign, the console would display "apply park brake". She also got a "check park brake" or "service park break" (can't remember which) on the way....

I don't know if that would be battery related?

maybe the battery needs to be replaced, my 2 previous cars, when the battery needed replacing, the alarm systems would randomly go off, horn would be blasting consecutively for as long as the battery would last. just a thought

Posted by: owlman

Quote:

Originally Posted by my04lincoln

Not so! If it still has the factory warranty then it will be covered.
Ryan

good to know!

Posted by: NYC LS8

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archer28

I don't know if that would be battery related?

Yes. I've seen it happen in the Mark VIIs and the one Mark VIII I had.

Posted by: Archer28

UPDATE

Just spoke to the wifey and after taking the car in, they ran a diagnostics, and the battery checked as good. They said they couldn't replace it unless it failed the test. They did reset something that fixed the brake messages.
She hasn't had any issues on the way home.

I still can't for the life of me figure out what caused the battery to drain down. I thought the LS had a safeguard to prevent the battery from draining past its ability to start the car.

Posted by: beaups

$10 says it's bad. Seems places can't check these properly but you have the exact problem I had (including the warning messages) and the new battery fixed everything.

Posted by: macboy

You need to activate the park brake after the car loses battery power. That is because the computer forgets the positions that the electronic brake mechanism is in when it is applied and when released. You need to apply and then release it once so that it re-learns this. It is normal and necessary.

Posted by: GWL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archer28

This drove me crazy every time the battery went dead. The Dealer would reset the system to remove th warning without charge. However, one day while re reading the Owner's Manual I ran accross this little gem. It did not exactly match my problem, but it works most of the time.

"If the battery is disconnected (or removed), it will be necessary to reset the parking brake; the message center will display APPLY PARK BRAKE followed by FOOT ON BRAKE or APPLY((P)) followed by FOOTBRK. With the ignition on and the engine not running, depress the brake pedal and apply the parking brake. The brake lamp will illuminate; this is normal and the parking brake is now reset. To release the parking brake, push the lever down with your foot on the brake pedal."

Posted by: GWL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archer28

UPDATE

Just spoke to the wifey and after taking the car in, they ran a diagnostics, and the battery checked as good. They said they couldn't replace it unless it failed the test. They did reset something that fixed the brake messages.
She hasn't had any issues on the way home.

I still can't for the life of me figure out what caused the battery to drain down. I thought the LS had a safeguard to prevent the battery from draining past its ability to start the car.

Mine did the exact same thing and I got the same results when the battery checked OK. After the forth time it happened, the dealer replaced the battery despite it reading Good. Knocking on wood, but no problem since for about 1 month now. The problem was so intermittent, that I cannot be sure that it has been solved. My dealer even kept the car over night to try & check for an unknown draw without success.

Posted by: Archer28

Great info all, thanks for sharing. I appreciate everyone's taking the time to help out.

That is a great tip in the parking break after the battery dies. I disconnected my battery once (to reset the tranny shift points) and never got that message so it must take quite some time for it to completely lose its memory.

I have a feeling that the battery really IS bad. After charging the lil dot that should show green (on the battery itself) was still red. I understand that that dot only shows the reading for that one particular cell, but I would still think it should be green.

I have a feeling I should keep my battery charger handy...

Posted by: my04lincoln

I had a battery problem also! I went thru 2 of them and the car has a little of 17,000 miles. When it went thru the second one I took it in and went back the next day and they told me that the altenator was reading 24.5 volts. So you might want them to check that also.
Ryan

Posted by: fuzzyb

Quote:

Originally Posted by GWL

I am going through this currently with my 03 V8
I have a 06 Taurus 156hp 3.0 V6 (loner)

The dealer said my battery is good (actually it's not, give it two days the voltage drops quick). There was a code so they ordered a "E Brake module" to replace. When I get it back we'll see if that dam light comes on again.

Posted by: beaups

lol it's gonna be the battery. when the voltage drops too low you get the "service park brake" message and a code....

Posted by: fuzzyb

Quote:

Originally Posted by beaups

lol it's gonna be the battery. when the voltage drops too low you get the "service park brake" message and a code....

Yep, that is what happens.

Got my car back, Fordland waisted their time / money (factory warranty).
"Check for codes found # C1786 Diagnose code. Replaced park brake module per shop manuel"
There Man-U-el sucks but hey, I got a free part.

I beat the crap out of that Taurus too!