Hi folks - I've got a 1999 (Mk1) 1.8i Focus with 80k miles on the clock.
Car wouldn't start the other day - could hear the fuel system pressurise with a whine, but only a 'click' when the starter motor should have turned over.
The central locking was sounding a big sluggish, so I checked the battery (original OEM) and the indicator was showing green, but the battery is only giving out 10.1V.
I tried the car again and this time the starter motor turned the engine over and it eventually started.
I turned the engine off, waited a short while, then tried turning it on again. This time, the dials did a full sweep and I could hear a repeated clicking sound - the dials then seemed to go berzerk !
I then fully charged the battery (out of the car), replaced it and the car started first time. The dials did the full sweep and an audible chime could also be heard.
I tried it a few more times after that and the response has been mixed.
Sometimes the car will start first time, sometimes it'll take a few goes and the starter motor sounds sluggish. Sometimes the dials do a full sweep and other times not. Sometimes they will sweep back and forth with a frantic clicking sound.
The car sat on the drive all day and when I got back, I checked the voltage and it was 10.6V. Can half a dozen failed starts take the voltage from 12.6 down to 10.6V that quickly, or does that point towards a battery problem ?
As a final experiment last night, I fully charged the battery - it reduced from 13.6V to 12.6V fairly quickly but then held it's charge at 12.6V all night.
I should add that the car has never ever failed to start first time up to this point, so I'm surprised that I've had no warning signs up until now.
At 80k miles on the original battery, I'm obviously overdue a replacement so I'm happy to replace it as a first attempt to sort this out as it's likely I'll need to replace it fairly soon anyway, but it's odd that a fully charged battery is still causing problems - I don't really know enough about car batteries and how they behave, but I wonder whether a new battery will behave any differently ?
I've also been told to check the earthing points (battery, starter motor and engine block to body - are there any more ?)
All comments appreciated - thanks.
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mike
If a fully charged battery, under no load, is sitting at anything under 12.2 volts shortly after a start attempt; then it has a dead cell.
Bin it; but remember that these MUST have a calcium battery - despite what spotty oiks in parts shops think. Personally; I'd get a genuine Ford one.
[The dials weirdness is normal if the voltage drops; it's doing a re-boot self-test.]
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Thanks for your help Screwloose.
On being left for a further 24 hours unconnected, the battery dropped to 10-odd volts so I've just bought a new battery, fitted it and the car started first time. Everything appears to be back to normal and it's also had a positive effect on the central locking, which I've been having problems with for many years.
The original Ford (Motorcraft) battery was a 390A lead battery, so I've just swapped it with the Halfords equivalent (HB065) which is actually rated a little higher at 470V.
The Haynes Manual states that the OEM battery should be a Lead-calcium battery (but marked Ca), so it's odd that my battery was marked as lead (Pb). I've had the car since it was 1 year old, so I know it hasn't been changed.
Halford's calcium equivalent is rated at 500A and comes with an extra year's guarantee (4yrs instead of 3) but, based on the extra cost and the fact that the OEM was lead, I didn't go for that one.
Why do you favour the Calcium batteries so strongly ?
P.S. Don't normally get stuff from Halfords (most of my spare parts come from Unipart or Ford), however I need the car tomorrow so had to to go for the convenience option this time.
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Mike
All the late [post c.'98] Motorcraft batteries are lead-calcium. Their Pb marking is required for correct recycling.
Get a Ford battery and take that mis-sold 065 back to the spotty oik. These cars have a smart-charge system that's controlled by the engine management ECU and they will destroy a sealed lead-acid battery. The initial charging voltage is around 16 volts; a lead battery can only cope with 14.4 before gassing itself to death.
The wrong battery can cause all sorts of electronic/alternator/ECU problems on these - even a single cylinder misfire. [No; I don't know why either - but it does.] They MUST have a calcium battery.
I won't even begin to diagnose any fault on a late Ford fitted with the wrong battery until it's been changed.
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OK - based on your advice, I've just swapped it for the Calcium equivalent.
It does say it's 30% more resistant to overcharging.
Also says it's 78% parc coverage (compared with 98% for the lead) - what does that mean and is a lower figure better ?
Cheers.
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Mike
What a load of twaddle Halfords note correct spelling! put on their batteries...?
It doesn't need to be resistant to overcharging; it's not being overcharged; it's designed to be charged at those voltages? [It would be more resistant if an conventional car was over-charging - but....]
"78% parc coverage" is a notional quantity of all the models in the UK that it will fit - only of interest to wholesalers. 100% coverage would mean that it would fit every car on the road - the national car parc. [Not the National Car Park - which is something totally different....]
Edited by Webmaster on 15/06/2008 at 18:34
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>>Screwloose
>>All the late [post c.'98] Motorcraft batteries are lead-calcium.
>>
Spot on. A thank you for a great reminder to the many Ford owners (I am a 98 Mondeo owner).
I stumbled on the information a while back and certainly was surprised.
To back you up, the info I found was at
www.boschautoparts.co.uk/pcBatt12.asp?c=2&d=1
Ford state Silver only
In a recent Technical Service Bulletin from Ford (who have been using Calcium Silver since 1997 as OE), they have stated that due to the Smart Changing System (SCS) fitted to its vehicles ONLY Calcium Silver batteries can be used.
Fitting anything other than Calcium Silver could result in a severely shortened service life, increased warranty claims and could even cause explosions.
The following Ford models must ONLY be fitted with Calcium Silver batteries as stipulated by Ford Motor Company Ltd.
( excuse the format )
Model
From
Mondeo
June '98
Cougar
June '98
Puma
January '99
Transit
January '99
Escort
January '99
Fiesta
January '99
Ka
January '99
Foc
January '99
Fusion
September '02
The battery types fitted to these vehicles are:
Part No.
Short Code
543023039
4P
550056054
5B
560077060
6H
571013068
7E
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