Battery question for the experts

[Bob Rooks]

'Jar' is the street term for a lead-acid flooded cell battery...

Not sure how old batteries killed your starter on your Powerstroke and I've replaced the starter on my 1997 and a new reman one was 120 bucks.

I have Interstates in my 1997 and when parked it's always on the battery tender.

"Jar" must be vernacular, never heard it on the left coast.
In my case I was forced to go to a Ford dealer that opened at 7 AM (I just got off work, had AAA jury rig a jump start), and had a NEW (reman n/a) $550 starter installed for $350 labor. Working a 12 hour shift didn't give me enough time to do the job myself and still get some sleep before work again. I was over a barrel with no lube!

https://www.elreg.com/blog/low-battery-voltage-can-destroy-your-starter/

 

[5030]

When mine crapped out, I was working (I'm retired now) at the local Freightliner dealership so I grabbed a hi-lo and pulled it in the shop and replaced it. Took about 20 minutes and it was done. the starter is secured with 3 hex bolts and two terminals. Called the local discount AP store and had the new reman delivered to the shop.

RV people (I'm one) use the term 'Jar'. Have for years. Easiest way to disengage a stuck starter is whack the case with a hammer. We did that all the time with the big Cat diesels, they have a habit of hanging up.

I would never pay that much to replace one. The 7.3 starter can be replaced in your driveway almost as quick. It's easy to access. I never have a low voltage issuue anyway, she's always on a batter tender when parked in the garage.

 

[ArlyA]

Tell you guys a funny* story about batteries. We traveled for a year and left our smaller auto in the storage shed while on the road. When we later decided to stay at a location, we tried to start that stored vehicle and found its battery was dead. Since that car was like 4yo, no big deal so we jumped it and drove it to our new location. I took it in and told the service guy to change all the fluids in it and replace the battery. His response was "ya, we can check that battery for you" and my answer was "you can check it if you like, but we still want a new one". As others have stated, batteries are a consumable part that eventualy fail.

* Was that funny?

 

[5030]

The inherent issue with modern cars and trucks (and tractors) is, the ECM is always using a bit of current, running or not so if you let them sit for an extended period with being on a battery tender, they will go dead and the other issue is that a discharged battery will freeze and once they freeze, bringing them back is a crapshoot. That is a non issue with my tractors as they are 100% mechanical with no power drawing ECM but the buggies are all new enough to have computers so they either get run regularly or on a battery tender.

My mother owned a Dodge Stratus at one time that was notorious for killing the battery if it sat for a week in the garage and the battery was behind the inner fender on the passenger side and very hard to get to.

I finally installed a double contact plug inside the passengers compartment in the glove box and kept it plugged in so it would start for her. The ECM was power hungry in that car.

Power usage all depends on how many electronic modules a car has because every one will draw a small amount of juice constantly.

 

[Bob Rooks]

I was working (I'm retired now) at the local Freightliner dealership ........

Cool! When I was with PACCAR we used to share the test track in Madras, OR with Freightliner back in the '70's. Also retired.

 

[ultrarunner]

The inherent issue with modern cars and trucks (and tractors) is, the ECM is always using a bit of current, running or not so if you let them sit for an extended period with being on a battery tender, they will go dead and the other issue is that a discharged battery will freeze and once they freeze, bringing them back is a crapshoot. That is a non issue with my tractors as they are 100% mechanical with no power drawing ECM but the buggies are all new enough to have computers so they either get run regularly or on a battery tender.

My mother owned a Dodge Stratus at one time that was notorious for killing the battery if it sat for a week in the garage and the battery was behind the inner fender on the passenger side and very hard to get to.

I finally installed a double contact plug inside the passengers compartment in the glove box and kept it plugged in so it would start for her. The ECM was power hungry in that car.

Power usage all depends on how many electronic modules a car has because every one will draw a small amount of juice constantly.

Probably my my 6-volt Model A or 53 NAA can sit a year and start!

 

[5030]

Probably my my 6-volt Model A or 53 NAA can sit a year and start!

Probably. No electronics draw.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Probably my my 6-volt Model A or 53 NAA can sit a year and start!

So does my skid steer, dump trailer, bulldozer, and excavator (although they rarely sit still that long). No parasites! My '20 JD X350 is another story - has a .05 mA parasite.