I was cleaning my car on Friday and left the stereo on by mistake and it drained my battery. Then I had to jump the car to drive it home and on my way home my lights kept dimming out and advance track light kept coming on. After I got home I took the fuse out for my amp and took out my subwoofer. The next day tried starting the car and it wouldn’t start. I think I need a new battery. I don’t want to keep driving around and kill my alternator. Can someone please tell me what I need and if it’s the battery how much would it cost me?
Need A New Battery??
- Thread starter JattGary
- Start date
I'm not sure how that would kill your alternator--when the engine is running, the alternator is powering the car and charging the battery, so it's not going to see any difference.
You can take the battery to AutoZone, O'Reilly's, Pep Boys, or the like, and they'll generally load-test the battery for free. I don't know how much a replacement battery will cost, but make sure you get a battery that uses a vent tube, and make sure you connect it to the vent tube. Battery gases in the passenger compartment are bad things...
You can take the battery to AutoZone, O'Reilly's, Pep Boys, or the like, and they'll generally load-test the battery for free. I don't know how much a replacement battery will cost, but make sure you get a battery that uses a vent tube, and make sure you connect it to the vent tube. Battery gases in the passenger compartment are bad things...
Yeah I got the battery tested and it doesn’t hold charge, and not a single place carries this size battery. I checked NTB, Sears, Firestone, PepBoys; no one has the battery for this car. Every place told me it’s a dealer item only. My car is under warranty but the battery is not covered I guess it’s considered ware and tare.
Yup, that's pretty much the size of it; you have to buy it from an FLM dealer. If you'll search, there was a recent thread that had the correct part number for the battery. Remember, it has to have the vent tube attachment.
2001LS8Sport
Dedicated LVC Member
Did you give the battery a complete charge before it was tested? If not, the test was worthless. Put the battery on a slow charge for a minimum of 24 hours and retest. Better yet, charge it and take it to a competent shop and have your entire charging system checked.
ToddG
Dedicated LVC Member
JattGary said:
I think you have to replace the vent tube when you replace the battery. Something about corrosion of the tube due to hydrogen gases, I think. IIRC, the battery is about $100, but the vent tube and mounting bracket is about $225!
eastcoastLS
Dedicated LVC Member
would one of those optima batteries work?
JohnnyBz00LS
Dedicated LVC Member
JattGary said:
Just go to your FLM dealer and tell them the year and model of your car. They'll hook you up w/ the CORRECT battery for a competitive price (mine was under $90). Been there, done that.
eastcoast27959 said:
Optimas can still vent gasses if they are overcharged. Do you want those gasses in your passenger compartment? Only Motorcraft makes the CORRECT battery with the correct venting provisions for our LSs.
ToddG said:
Interesting, that's the first I've heard of problems with the vent tube. It probably wouldn't hurt to flush it out w/ compressed air. But I can't imagine the material not being able to withstand the gasses and breaking down. This should've been a recall.
mholhut
Dedicated LVC Member
Napa was the only place I could find mine. Now that it's not holding a charge either, I'm about ready to throw it through their front window... I mean, take it back to them for a new one :shifty:
dertyclown
Dedicated LVC Member
groop 78/75 optima should fit size wise, but it is a dule post. they are grate yello or redeastcoast27959 said:
TheRebel
Dedicated LVC Member
mholhut said:
I'd go back and ask for a refund. NAPA does not sell a direct replacement for the LS. They do have universals that fit or gel batteries (does not need a vent tube) that fit, but not a direct replacement.
mholhut
Dedicated LVC Member
This one fit... terminals and vent tube all the same. But I am going back for a full/partial refund.
BatMobile
Well-Known LVC Member
Did you have to replace this vent tube too? I was just about to buy a battery myself. They quoted me $90.00.JattGary said:I Got The Battery Installed Today With An Oil Change For $130 The Car Is Running Much Better Lovin It
Small tip too:
My buddy that works a tow truck gave me this tip last year. He leaves all his lights on once every winter to drain the battery. When I asked him why last year, he says to get a new battery every year. I checked and the Motorcraft battery has a 3-year warranty. Do you guys think it would work for FLM? It works for DieHard/Sears?
dertyclown
Dedicated LVC Member
DieHard/Sears
having been an empliee there for years it works like this the gold is 3year free 100limoted after that. so you get 3 free bats that you don't need then you have to pay for them. you might pay $10 or it may be $5 off. it is impertant to check the date code on the batter and keep the paper work. the code on the battery may have a date up to a year old. then your a step back. and since that guy behind the counter is not as stoned as he looks, he will see that last year you got a free one he will want to look at the car, or charge the bat. and retest it. its a game of wits and it wont allways work
having been an empliee there for years it works like this the gold is 3year free 100limoted after that. so you get 3 free bats that you don't need then you have to pay for them. you might pay $10 or it may be $5 off. it is impertant to check the date code on the batter and keep the paper work. the code on the battery may have a date up to a year old. then your a step back. and since that guy behind the counter is not as stoned as he looks, he will see that last year you got a free one he will want to look at the car, or charge the bat. and retest it. its a game of wits and it wont allways work
TheRebel
Dedicated LVC Member
BatMobile said:
Depending on the retailer he will probably only get free batteries until the warranty expires from the orginal purchase date. Unless he gets them to redate the new battery everytime it is replaced
TheRebel
Dedicated LVC Member
Dertyclown, when I worked at a NAPA we had people that tried that all of the time. However we did not use the manf. date code. We stamped the battery with the actual date of purchase
BatMobile
Well-Known LVC Member
I guess some people will go through anything to save a buck. But, it probably at least keeps a good fresh battery for three years. I checked around last week too like JattGary said, no compatable DieHard. This is the first car that I won't be able to put a DieHard in. I have been pretty satisfied with DieHard over the years.
mholhut
Dedicated LVC Member
Went back to NAPA for my replacement battery. Free replacement up to 18 months after purchase... it had only been 13 months for this one. So they gave me a new battery and punched out the original date I purchased the crap battery! I asked if they made a mistake, and they said that they have to use the date from the old battery on the new one if it's a warranty replacement. So basicly, if my new battery craps out in 5 months, I'd still get a new one, but after that, any replacement gets prorated.
They actually put some tester on the battery which told them "Replace Battery." They said the tester give different readings, like "Charge battery before testing," etc. It would've been horrid if they tested my battery and it just said it was just in need of a charge. I hope they don't live by those tester readings... I actually put a voltmeter on mine and could watch the voltage drop off.
But, at least I have a new battery...
They actually put some tester on the battery which told them "Replace Battery." They said the tester give different readings, like "Charge battery before testing," etc. It would've been horrid if they tested my battery and it just said it was just in need of a charge. I hope they don't live by those tester readings... I actually put a voltmeter on mine and could watch the voltage drop off.
But, at least I have a new battery...
dertyclown
Dedicated LVC Member
that was on the recite and Im a dick no paper work, then if the computer don't show it your F in the B holeTheRebel said:
Actually, the warranty period for Diehard batteries is from the original purchase of the first battery. Therefore, if you took your battery in after one year and they condemned the battery, than you would get a new battery for free. The same would be the case for the following year and the year following that. After that, it would be prorated. At that point, you would have to pay a percentage based on months in use for the new battery.BatMobile said:
If the warranty on a replacement battery that you didn't get charged for was for that battery and not the original battery, than you would never have to buy a battery. Then, when you go back to get a new battery in 5 years there would be none to be found because they gave them all away for free.mholhut said: