nvf150

Brand new 2013 XLT F-150 purchased January of this year. Truck starts just fine one morning (2 months after purchase), but low battery warning indicator displays on dash. Dealer checks battery and finds dead cell; replaces battery. Just last week, same thing, trucks starts just fine and I drive to work, but low battery warning is displayed when I turn off the ignition at work. Again, the Ford service center checks the battery, alternator, amp draw when truck is powered off, looks for codes, EVERYTHING..... replaces battery saying it's bad and it won't charge. They seem confident that there is nothing wrong with the truck and that I just experienced bad luck getting two defective motorcraft batteries in a row, but it seems to coincidental to me. I guess my question is this: can a vehicle "kill" a new battery, to the point that it has enough juice to start the truck just fine, but not accept a full charge? I understand that you can run one down by leaving a light on or something, but in that case you can usually recharge a newer battery.

Thank you for any help or suggestions you can provide.

Toddman38

iTrader: (5)

At least their giving you new batteries, but something, dunno what isnt right!

tgwill

Possibly a bad alternator. I've had one fail on me before with the same symptoms. Have the dealer do a bench test on the alternator to see if that's the problem.

Mike.357

i had two bad batteries like that once.

**** happens, in China mostly where they are made.

schizbomb

I would treat this like I would hard drives. 2 defective ones is possible, 3 is probably not. If this new battery were to die, I would be convinced it's something else.

nvf150

That's what I plan to do.... I still have plenty of time left under warranty.

Magnus1350

What schizbomb said. 2 could be part of the same bad batch. 3rd one I'd be asking what the deal was. Oh & welcome to the forum!

Lthom

My 2013 is doing the same thing. Original battery lasted two months, now the replacement is giving the low battery warning. I have a appointment for service next week.

shawn6443

I bought my 2010 f150 in the spring of 2010 and had to replace the battery by November of that year. It was replaced under warranty with another motorcraft and has been good ever since. A friend of mine bought a new 2012 Escape and replaced the battery within a month of ownership. My moms car and a few friends (all Fords and all new vehicles) have had to replace their batteries within a year. All of these batteries had the same problem of one dead cell. I think Ford uses the cheapest batteries they can find in China.

RLXXI

Batteries like anything else made in batches will tend to have similar issues, I had to jump start a brand new truck just to get it off the transport truck once upon a time.

3 other trucks batteries failed within a month or so from the same shipment.



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