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  • 2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk-

NO to off brand batteries

  • Thread starter Thread starter The Fang
  • Start date Start date Apr 26, 2008
T

The Fang

Member
Sep 11, 2005
602
0
16
Tallahassee Fl
Apr 26, 2008
#1
  • Apr 26, 2008
  • #1
So i've gotten up twice this week to a dead battery, I went to Battery Source (the local battery place) and the guy checks my batt and says it's crapping on me. OK dude give me a battery. So the guy goes and grabs one of those off brand batteries and tries to stick it in and he's fighting the screw bracket to go in and it wont line up. After five minutes of this torture waiting for him to scratch my car I said dude that battery dont fit right. He flagged his partner out and told him what was up, he walks to the back and returns with a Motorcraft battery. Fits fine. So the other one has a fat lip on the bottom, it may look the same but it's not.
 
H

Hoboattacker

New Member
Sep 7, 2005
542
0
0
Baton Rouge (LSU) / Houston, TX
Apr 26, 2008
#2
  • Apr 26, 2008
  • #2
Motorcraft batteries suck, a lot. I have had 2 crap out on me within the last year. Went with an Optima Red top this go-round. We'll see how it works out.
 

BlackRod

Member
Apr 8, 2005
55
0
7
Southern California
May 1, 2008
#3
  • May 1, 2008
  • #3
Wal-Mart batteries work fine for me!
 

99Light

New Member
Nov 20, 2006
9
0
1
May 1, 2008
#4
  • May 1, 2008
  • #4
Batteries are the same no matter what "brand". a group size 75. is the exact same if Delco, motorcraft exide or walmart. There are only 5 companies that even make batteries. They are just relabled from there with diff quality of lead cells inside.

Each car company tends to use a couple of common batteries in most vehicles. In Ford passenger cars its typicly a 58. The guy that just grabbed one off the shelf most likely grabbed the wrong group size. Or someone had put a diff battery size in the store shelf tray. His partner most likely knowing a lil more, grabbed a proper group size battery, and seeing you drove a mustang, figured you would spring for a lil more and popped a proper size Name brand into your car
 
H

Hoboattacker

New Member
Sep 7, 2005
542
0
0
Baton Rouge (LSU) / Houston, TX
May 1, 2008
#5
  • May 1, 2008
  • #5
I got both of the motorcraft batteries from Ford under warranty. I went to Auto Zone this last time and went straight to the Optima Red Top. From everything I've read, it's a great battery so we will see.
 

99Light

New Member
Nov 20, 2006
9
0
1
May 1, 2008
#6
  • May 1, 2008
  • #6
The optima's are a top notch dry cell tech battery, I run one in the lightning as well. You should have no problems with that at all. If you decide to go huge into the electronics stereo's/tv's and what not, think about upgrading to the yellow top
 
R

ranger04

New Member
Jul 28, 2007
245
0
0
May 3, 2008
#7
  • May 3, 2008
  • #7
I've had several new cars over the years and the motorcraft batteries last 5-7 years, it's an awesome battery. Those of you who say MC suck must be kiiling them or something, cause they work great for years.
 

GOLDENPONY

Founding Member
Jan 23, 2002
1,503
0
36
LOVELAND, OHIO
May 4, 2008
#8
  • May 4, 2008
  • #8
Optima

What size Optima works in our S197 cars?
 
H

Hoboattacker

New Member
Sep 7, 2005
542
0
0
Baton Rouge (LSU) / Houston, TX
May 4, 2008
#9
  • May 4, 2008
  • #9
ranger04 said:
I've had several new cars over the years and the motorcraft batteries last 5-7 years, it's an awesome battery. Those of you who say MC suck must be kiiling them or something, cause they work great for years.
Click to expand...
I have a supercharger and what not so maybe the added pull on the starter or something effects it? I don't know. All I know is it died on me and I have zero extra audio equipment. The only thing I have extra are 3 pillar gauges and that's it.

GOLDENPONY said:
What size Optima works in our S197 cars?
Click to expand...
I just got the Red Top from autozone that they had. Seems to work great.
 

GOLDENPONY

Founding Member
Jan 23, 2002
1,503
0
36
LOVELAND, OHIO
May 4, 2008
#10
  • May 4, 2008
  • #10
Hoboattacker said:
I have a supercharger and what not so maybe the added pull on the starter or something effects it? I don't know. All I know is it died on me and I have zero extra audio equipment. The only thing I have extra are 3 pillar gauges and that's it.


I just got the Red Top from autozone that they had. Seems to work great.
Click to expand...

No problems fitting? I put one in a 2000 and had some fit problems.
 

walter

Founding Member
Aug 13, 1998
1,054
0
46
Houston TX
May 4, 2008
#11
  • May 4, 2008
  • #11
I hear those with a Shaker stereo should make sure to turn it off manually before you shut your car down or it will drain the battery. Dunno if this may help or not.
 
H

Hoboattacker

New Member
Sep 7, 2005
542
0
0
Baton Rouge (LSU) / Houston, TX
May 4, 2008
#12
  • May 4, 2008
  • #12
GOLDENPONY said:
No problems fitting? I put one in a 2000 and had some fit problems.
Click to expand...

None what-so-ever. It fit in with a little room to spare, actually.
 

Roni

someone needs to pimp my ass
Mar 30, 2005
0
0
16
Edmonton, Alberta
May 4, 2008
#13
  • May 4, 2008
  • #13
Buy Johnson Controls Batteries. Optima, Interstate, Sears, Costco, Energizer...
 

Zax

New Member
Oct 22, 2007
14
1
0
Illinois
May 4, 2008
#14
  • May 4, 2008
  • #14
99Light said:
The optima's are a top notch dry cell tech battery, I run one in the lightning as well. You should have no problems with that at all. If you decide to go huge into the electronics stereo's/tv's and what not, think about upgrading to the yellow top
Click to expand...

Optima is a Gel-Cell isnt it???

And they are the best
 

Art161

Member
Sep 26, 2006
130
0
16
San Francisco
May 5, 2008
#15
  • May 5, 2008
  • #15
Zax said:
Optima is a Gel-Cell isnt it???

And they are the best
Click to expand...

No, it's AGM (absorbent glass mat). Wikipedia has a description of this type of battery. AGM batteries seem to have a generally good reputation at this time.
 
B

BLKNED

Member
Jan 27, 2008
67
1
9
May 5, 2008
#16
  • May 5, 2008
  • #16
Optima batteries rock! I have one in my Monte Carlo and it crancked right up after sittingfor a year! That car was killing Wal-Mart batteries within a week.
 

Jester67

Member
Sep 21, 2004
908
1
18
TN
May 5, 2008
#17
  • May 5, 2008
  • #17
walter said:
I hear those with a Shaker stereo should make sure to turn it off manually before you shut your car down or it will drain the battery. Dunno if this may help or not.
Click to expand...

Sometimes the amp relay sticks and will Kill a battery in a couple of days or less.
 
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