Batteries are sure $$$!

JanJ

Battery opened up. New in 2017, so I got my money’s worth, but new one’s are $$$!
Called around, they are all within $10. Went with guy who threw in the corrosion felt washers.

Had to find the circa 1970’s battery charger in garage. I don’t think I ever unpacked it in 2015. It worked

PS: For all the $$, the 'core refund' was only $10.00 like 2017

markmich4

JanJ yup they're just getting more expensive..insider at adv auto said their batteries were going up even higher.. and adv auto probably has the most expensive batteries out there.. Best deal? Walmart,.

Guy54435

JanJ Had to find the circa 1970’s battery charger in garage

Sounds like you put it on the charger before use, smart move a lot of people just plop them in and go. I am in the camp of a long slow charge on a new battery before use.

cb0324

markmich4
Costco has good prices. I was out of luck, battery suddenly died when I was at the post office so I had to get one from AAA.

JanJ

The clock on the 2011 Ford Escape Limited is no longer operational, since battery died.... Space for it is totally DARK, though welcome message in that area display's fine... In Menu/Clock it is low talley, in other words, In-Accessable... Yes, I tried the reset (GPS, MAIN RESET, BMS reset, and a few from Google searches), but none were successful... and a 25 min Negative battery terminal disconnect... Nothing helped...

After much chasing I discovered this: The GPS is indicating GPS NOT AVAILABLE (RED Slash through GPS)... Ford GPS, that is!... EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS! and NO Error codes! All accessories work except Clock and GPS (which I don't use).. BUT: GPS has been saying that for years... Could it be that Clock was just free-wheeling from last GPS Lookup, and the battery change lost all it's data, and that's why there is no display in clock set up area, cause Now it can't find the GPS to sync a clock to????

(We use a Garmin GPS with LMT (Lifetime Map and Traffic), It runs rings around FORD GPS... Plugged into cigarette Lighter. As a GPS, GARMIN RULES!!!!!
Now IF Clock get's it data from GPS, and GPS is dead, as Ford GPS Mapping Program says, (and it thinks I'm a hundred miles from my actual location!) I'd rather spend the $$ to fix this on a replacement car when the time comes - as long as nothing important is dead.... and that seems to be the case!!
I'll buy a clock and put it on the blank area with double face tape!!!
Nothing else is throwing error codes, or not working at 100%... Gas Mileage did not change, since battery (26.2 on a 6 cylinder 2011 AWD Ford Escape) so computer mix program running as before, no error codes... ??? But I've a new Battery!!

Astyanax

JanJ

JanJ After much chasing I discovered this: The GPS is indicating GPS NOT AVAILABLE (RED Slash through GPS)... Ford GPS, that is!... EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS! and NO Error codes! All accessories work except Clock and GPS (which I don't use).. BUT: GPS has been saying that for years... Could it be that Clock was just free-wheeling from last GPS Lockup, and the battery change lost all it's data, and that's why there is no display in clock set up area, cause Now it can't find the GPS to sync a clock to????

That's probably what happened. When my parent's Lincoln's battery died the local dealer had to send their "mobile unit" out to their house. Before pulling the old battery the tech had a laptop to backup all the car's settings. Once that was finished he could replace the battery with a new one and then restore the car's settings. After he was finished the car started right up and worked like nothing happened.

That whole little affair would've cost over $500 the tech said but thankfully the car was still under the bumper-to-bumper factory warranty.

markmich4

JanJ I love the idea, just stick a regular clock there! And I agree with Astyanax, it's probably pulling clock data from the GPS signal. But you're right, why waste the $$$ to fix something you're not going to use anyway!? I'm glad your new battery though is starting the car quickly!!

PL1

Astyanax Before pulling the old battery the tech had a laptop to backup all the car's settings. Once that was finished he could replace the battery with a new one and then restore the car's settings.

Another way to keep the settings is to provide power to the battery terminal connections while changing the batteries. I just use a portable jump starter.

JanJ

Ongoing on this.... Lots of clocks with date, temp, time and such, but only want time... Finally found one that may fit the bill... It's a date only, Time only, or Temp only Display.... Select-able indicator color. Has Rechargeable battery, Wants dc supply, but range is 5V-18V, such that I'm gonna try and power it off USB port.. as Garmin GPS gets the lighter power port. Gimme a week to get it and see if it is worthwhile, and then I'll take a pix... It appears that it will fit in front of display where time used to be... So it will block the 'Welcome" power up message.... Anything for a laugh!

JanJ

PL1
The battery opened up on start in driveway. A couple clicks - then silence, so battery was dead an hour before new batt swap, and 15 min before I found the charger, to charge it enough before a 25 min ride to town get new battery. No error messages were ever seen.

markmich4

cb0324 The problem I've had with Costco is having a membership to their warehouse. If someone doesn't have that, then they'd have to add that to the price of the battery. It's why I like Walmart for my batteries. Just like you were out of luck when you needed one. It's always one of those situations where "Darn it.. I need one now and (fill in blank) store isn't around here" to get a warranty replacement. Murphy's law! But I like Walmart because if there is a problem there is almost a Walmart on every corner. And their prices are one of the lowest out there.

Plus the nice thing (ya I know I"m sounding like a commercial) about Walmart is they move a lot of batteries and they have fresh stock. I still have taken my battery tester with me to see what the "best" on is out of the Walmart bunch on the shelf.

EDIT:
I've heard the AAA batteries are pretty good, since they started offering that service.

cb0324

markmich4
Well I Do shop at Costco and because the store is like 2.5 miles from my house I always get gas there so get the 60 $ back ( and their tires are competitive plus free rotation/balancing and I get my synthetic oil and wipers whenever on sale there) but for someone who goes there just occasionally it does not make sense.
AAA batteries are good indeed and considered that the guy was there within 30 minutes it was not too bad.
the local Walmart has an awful customer service so Ii sometimes order on line there ( they have the best price on Freon cans for my truck's AC which needs to be recharged every year)

markmich4

cb0324 That's very true.. you have the membership and can get all those other things at a huge discount. wow guy was there in 30 minutes, very good too! ya that's the caveat you have to post, some Walmarts are really bad, the ones by me has been really good, which I'm lucky to have a nice one here.

JanJ

Ford confirms that clock data comes in via or through GPS.
Also agreed that $$ to fix better put toward new car, seeing that we use a garmin gps
The Service Manager there is one honest guy... He's always been straight and fair with us.. I trust him!

Splitpair

JanJ Ford confirms that clock come in via or through GPS.

Why do they need to over complicate something so simple?

bennor

Splitpair If it was simple they couldn't charge a fee for their doing it.

real_aurgathor

Splitpair Why do they need to over complicate something so simple?

Because:

that can set the clock without any user intervention
it is guaranteed to set the time correctly and very accurately in most cases

JanJ

I’ve a $10 clock coming. And have double faced tape!

Though battery opened up in driveway, that driveway is halfway up a mountain, and 25 miles from town and nearest place to buy... Walmart is 15 miles further... Sam's Club 35 miles from town... Not knowing for certainty it wasn't alternator, I went to closest..... and figured if it made it there, it was battery.... Guy with best option, was a mile further than closest... and I left car going while I called more places... As it turns out... It was the battery..

Jbob

Tell me about it. I put 4 new batteries in multiple vehicle in 2024.

Splitpair

real_aurgathor that can set the clock without any user intervention
it is guaranteed to set the time correctly and very accurately in most cases

And when the battery dies the clock needs to be replaced, yea that sounds like progress.

No thanks the one that came with my radio works just fine and doesn't need to be replaced when the battery dies.