2003 Battery problems solved | Ford Thunderbird forum club group 1955-2005 models

  • We're glad you found us via a search engine! Right now, you can join our club absolutely free and unlock member only features like the site search! This notice only appears once! It only takes 30 seconds to register, and we would love to have you as part of the World's largest Thunderbird Forum/Club! Click here to continue

  • 2002-05 Owners. As of August 2022 there is now an entire suspension kit for sale! Scroll down to the bottom of the first post click here.

2003 Battery problems solved

  • Thread starter Thread starter rhgiesen
  • Start date Start date
rhgiesen

rhgiesen

Click here to upgrade
Reaction score
2
Thunderbird Year
2003
A solution process for battery problems.
When Battery issues are noticed,
1. Have battery and alternator checked. A weak alternator or overpowering alternator will damage the replacement battery.
2. Look for broken or frayed ground cables trying and engine area.
3. Repair before the replacement.

This page contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated. As an eBay Partner, and Amazon Associate I may be compensated if you make a purchase at no cost to you.

 
Also,, when replacing the battery know all about the VENT TUBE, I knew. I checked prices & for some reason the dealer had the best price, with free installation, better than all the auto parts stores around. I told the FORD dealer several times about the vent tube. The tech said he would be sure to install the battery & the vent tube correctly. The tech replaced the battery and then said there was NO vent tube attached when he removed it. They suggested I buy a $5 vent hose at an auto parts store. I had to explain to them the difference between a circle and a rectangle. When I got it home, I pulled the battery out (without disconnecting it) and there was the vent tube, attached to the car and going down thru the trunk. I called the FORD dealer. I reminded them I told them about the vent tube several times. I told them I wasn't calling to complain. I was calling to inform them I was correct all along and the next retro that they install a battery in should be done correctly. They apologized and said for my trouble they would give me a free oil change. I was there at 9am the next day 'cause I didn't want them to forget.
 
Last year I purchased a 2005, and was replacing the battery because the incorrect battery already installed was not configured to accept the required vent tube. The correct model (with the design that accepts the tube) was MUCH more expensive than the non-vent tube one with the same specs (size, capacity, etc). I opted to get an AGM battery instead. Being a sealed battery, there was no need for the vent tube. I realize that the charging routine programed into the Tbird is not optimum for an AGM battery, and may affect longevity. I decided to go with that mismatch. Considerations included my driving habits (infrequent) and intended use of a battery maintainer. We will see how this works out.

Rust, your experience: "I had to explain to them the difference between a circle and a rectangle." and all that goes with dealings with those folks who are supposed to be the pros, the knowledgeable ones, is far too common these days!
 
Since the battery in located in the trunk, just inches from the spare tire, the battery must be vented externally. Though slight, the fumes from a battery that is not externally vented will deteriorate the tire over time. Since the air pressure in the spare tire is 50 pounds, you are literally driving with a bomb in the trunk.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

100_6915.JPG

100_6914.JPG
 
Rust said:
Also,, when replacing the battery know all about the VENT TUBE, I knew. I checked prices & for some reason the dealer had the best price, with free installation, better than all the auto parts stores around. I told the FORD dealer several times about the vent tube. The tech said he would be sure to install the battery & the vent tube correctly. The tech replaced the battery and then said there was NO vent tube attached when he removed it. They suggested I buy a $5 vent hose at an auto parts store. I had to explain to them the difference between a circle and a rectangle. When I got it home, I pulled the battery out (without disconnecting it) and there was the vent tube, attached to the car and going down thru the trunk. I called the FORD dealer. I reminded them I told them about the vent tube several times. I told them I wasn't calling to complain. I was calling to inform them I was correct all along and the next retro that they install a battery in should be done correctly. They apologized and said for my trouble they would give me a free oil change. I was there at 9am the next day 'cause I didn't want them to forget.
Click to expand...
I had a difficult experience with installation. Purchasing the exact replacement battery was not so easy. I went to O'Reilly's and matched them up side by side but when I attempted to put the new battery in it was a smidgen bigger and I had problems getting the forward hold down bracket in place. Rather than modify it by drilling out the holes, which I should have done, just turned it around instead of taking the time to modify it and somehow it held. But took me 1.5 hours of fiddling. otherwise installing the battery took 20 minutes to get the hose to stay on. And yes it was back there. The battery I bought had a rectangular bung hole and the hose was a rectangle as well, but was not so easy to get to stay on. When the battery was previously changed no one connected the hose even though the battery had a rectangular bung hole, and I always noticed a weird smell in the trunk. I got it on after some fiddling and when the battery was pushed back into place it seemed quite secure. And yes, buying a hose that hasn't been pre-formed to a rectangle will be very difficult to stay in place, I am sure of that. Using the original hose seems fine.
Also, the driver side window did strange things when the battery is removed; but if you just hold down the switch to open a few seconds after it is all the way up it resets itself and will drop down when the door is opened and operates correctly. After a battery replacement the window kept dropping down a few inches every time I opened the door which was anxiety producing cause I was wondering how I would lock the door.
 
I replaced the battery in my 2002 with a Motorcraft BXT-66 from my local Ford dealer, which is the original spec battery. Cost was $187.00; about $30 cheaper than Autozone. BTW the battery that came out of the car had a date code sticker of 10/10. It MAY actually have been 14 years old, as the car was always kept on a battery tender.
 
Johnson Controls makes Motorcraft batteries, and they use a date code on their batteries that indicates when it was manufactured. Locate the sticker or stamp on the battery that has a string of letters or numbers arranged in a code. On a Motorcraft battery, this is located on the side of the battery case.

Battery Date Sticker 1.jpg

Battery Date Sticker 3.jpg

Last year when I had to replace my battery, I purchased a DieHard Gold from Advanced Auto Parts. The battery fit perfectly and had the exact size and shape vent hose fitting as the Motorcraft battery. There is also a date code sticker on the side of the battery case.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

IMG_9413.jpg

IMG_9415.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top