2024 big bend dead battery

[lakesinai]

Update: 4 years and 79,000 miles, my battery needed jump starting for the first time. Hadn't driven as much lately. (Previously, it did fine being left at airports). I jumped it with my NOCO 150 and bought the trickle charger, that I hardwired. However, even after trickle charging, it would die overnight. I replaced the battery at 79,971, out of warranty (inservice 10/21). Three weeks later, it's still working fine. Cost at dealer: $332.90 (252.95 battery, 79.95 labor).

Four+ years and 80,000 miles battery life on an electronics-laden vehicle seems reasonable to me, but those who report 1 & 2 year old vehicles dying is not reasonable. I will always have my NOCO Battery Pack with me--I have the powerful 150. Also, NOCO - 2A Direct-Mount Battery Charger and Maintainer - GENIUS2D https://share.google/l5d2spJuYjqnzbF9U
Photo of charger installed, which I might use if I went away for a week.

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[Brian_B]

For those of you that use tenders do you notice under hood noises while being charged. Both my ‘20 F350 and ‘24 Bronco have 10A NOCO tenders.
The F350 lives on a tender in the shop no where near a key and sits for weeks between uses. I frequently hear both headlight fans and clicking cycling on and off. It has Odyssey Extreme batteries and spent most of its life on a tender.
24 Bronco is my daily but not driven everyday. It has the OEM battery and has started similar clicking and fans.

Both vehicles on tenders will send the battery save message to ford pass after about 2 weeks of inactivity.

Curious what others experience.

My wife’s Sport does the same thing if you just walk near it - the proximity sensors prime stuff even if you don’t have the key

 

[crenca]

Which ones are (currently) QUALITY AGMs? I know Odessey was a few years back and now the Optima are not good. (Dependent on which one??)

I was browsing threads here and someone was convinced the O'Reilly line comes out of a factory in Pennsylvania that still makes durable AGM's, so when I needed to replace mine a few months back (at about 25k and 10 months off the lot if I remember correctly - was not going to go to the dealer for "free" warranty ) I picked one up.

Got home and was installing it when I noticed "made in Mexico" stamped on it

Not that it might not be a good battery, it just shows how fluid these retailer/manufactures are.

 

[Valhalla]

I gotta say, I'd hit the dealer once... I have 3 years on mine on January 10th. The build was complete on December 21 2023.

 

[Brian_B]

I was browsing threads here and someone was convinced the O'Reilly line comes out of a factory in Pennsylvania that still makes durable AGM's, so when I needed to replace mine a few months back (at about 25k and 10 months off the lot if I remember correctly - was not going to go to the dealer for "free" warranty ) I picked one up.

Got home and was installing it when I noticed "made in Mexico" stamped on it

Not that it might not be a good battery, it just shows how fluid these retailer/manufactures are.

Yeah there's some way to tell by the serial number or something to make sure you get a Penn/Deka battery, but I don't recall what the trick was.

You are correct though - batteries with the same "Brand" name can be made in a bunch of different places. It's a crap shoot. And this whole "pro-rated" warranty seems like a con.

 

[crenca]

I gotta say, I'd hit the dealer once... I have 3 years on mine on January 10th. The build was complete on December 21 2023.

My local one makes it so difficult it has to be, I don't know, something > $1000 worth of "free" warranty service before the cost in my time, effort, and frustration would ever be worth it.

There is a dealer south of me in El Paso that would be better, but the distance makes picking up consumables such as batteries just not worth it either.

Knock on wood I hope I will be able to avoid the local dealer compleatly...

 

[DALOLA]

Did a little interweb sleuthing... seems like Deka (East Penn) makes batteries for NAPA, so that would explain their good track record, at least in my experience. YMMV.

 

[boatnikloew]

My new Bronco was sitting in my pole barn for 2 weeks and the battery was completly dead. Average temp was about 35 degrees. Dealer said this is normal because of all the electronics. My 2016 ram diesel can sit for months with no issues. any help would be great.

UPDATE I must have trashed that battery when it went completly dead. After charging to 100% it fired right up and I drove it for quite a while. One day later it was dead again. Temp in pole barn 36 degrees. I may have got a bad one from the start. Going to bring it in under warranty. (YET ANOTHER UPDATE) after charging battery to 100% driving it and being on a charger for a long time. I still could not get this thing out of deep sleep and ford app would not work till I did this. I had to reset the battery management system by putting bronco in accessories and then flash the high beams 5 times and then press the brake 3 times. It actually confirmed on the dash that it was reset. They say you need to do this after a complete dead battery or swapping out. It worked like a charm and app works again. I will be starting this in the future every few days. I think this is all BS and it really Pi$$es me off to even have to go through this, but it worked. Time to get a vehicle with points and condensor and just keep a feeler guage with me. I don't like this computer bull crap. I hope this helps others and thank to all who responded to help.

 

[lakesinai]

Exactly! We gain wisdom through trial.

One thing this dummy found out the hard way: the "jump packs" do not work if the battery is completely, utterly drained. Which is of course the state of the battery when you really need to get the vehicle started.

That could depend on the capacity of the Jump Pack. The NOCO GB150 stores enough capacity to add charge before starting the engine. Holds a charge for months as well. Started me dead Bronco earlier this week. The unit I bought 3 years ago, I'm so impressed with, I bought a few more for Xmass presents. $300.
NOCO - 3000A Lithium Jump Starter - GB150 https://no.co/gb150

 

[wjtinfwb]

My new Bronco was sitting in my pole barn for 2 weeks and the battery was completly dead. Average temp was about 35 degrees. Dealer said this is normal because of all the electronics. My 2016 ram diesel can sit for months with no issues. any help would be great.

My '23 Big Bend V6 just sat for 2 weeks in my garage. North Florida so temps are mild, in the mid-50s. The remote start via phone was disabled due to sitting for 2 weeks but I opened the door, pushed the button and it cranked perfectly and fired right up. If you're still under warranty I'd have the dealer do a draw test after its sat for a few hours at least. Probably just a bad battery but the test will validate if thats an issue. I'm still on my original battery after 30 months and 23k miles. Johnson Controls makes Ford's Motorcraaft branded batteries, I don't know that they're any better or worse than the other major manufacturers. But I do know AGM batteries die very differently than the lead-acid we're all used to, failing without any type of warning like a slow crank.

 

[ecasazza]

Interstate Batteries are mostly in the US and are highly rated. Can gget them at costco 36 month

https://costco.interstatebatteries....1&model=2862812&engine=2862813&option=2862814

 

[gbub]

These AGM batteries suck

I have found AGM batteries to be very good. I have used them for many years in all my vehicles. I use Optima Red Top that many people don't like. I get very good life out of them. I have had one last 11 years before needing replacement. All my vehicle have non BMS systems except for my Bronco. I think it is the BMS systems and all the computer checks on newer vehicles that make the AGM and any battery suck.

 

[Brian_B]

I have found AGM batteries to be very good. I have used them for many years in all my vehicles. I use Optima Red Top that many people don't like. I have had one last 11 years before needing replacement. All my vehicle have non BMS systems except for my Bronco. I think it is the BMS systems and all the computer checks on newer vehicles that make the AGM and any battery suck.

You could very well be right. The AGM in my 2016 F150 lasts for years and years... I've only seen it replaced once.

 

[GoHawks63]

Did a little interweb sleuthing... seems like Deka (East Penn) makes batteries for NAPA, so that would explain their good track record, at least in my experience. YMMV.

I have heard the same thing that Deka makes many of the batteries now. Als have heard that their batteries are well rated.

 

[lakesinai]

I have found AGM batteries to be very good. I have used them for many years in all my vehicles. I use Optima Red Top that many people don't like. I get very good life out of them. I have had one last 11 years before needing replacement. All my vehicle have non BMS systems except for my Bronco. I think it is the BMS systems and all the computer checks on newer vehicles that make the AGM and any battery suck.

My Bronco battery went 4+ years and 79,000 miles before it went dead this week, after I let it sit for a week. Age is a factor: I've gone awayfor a week before, and it's started fine. I'll replace it at next Works. I'm not complaining.

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