Opinions please - Does the dealer owe me a new battery?

[Buxus]

2017 M7060 died last week 220 hrs. (I will also provide follow up for that thread I started.) Dash lights up, but nothing else happens. Still under warranty.

Dealer's mobile crew comes out Monday a week ago, says it's the starter, that there has been a service bulletin about the ignition sticking, and that ignition and starter will be replaced on Friday 7/12.

I come to the farm Saturday 7/13, tractor still won't start, and now dash doesn't light up. I check to make sure battery still connected and it is. I stupidly figure they didn't come out. Sunday before bed I decide to look more closely, and I see they did in fact install a new starter. But surely the battery can't be dead, I think to myself.

Today I call the dealer. They say it worked fine after they installed the starter and ignition on Friday. I get to the farm this evening relatively late. Sure enough, battery is dead. I note that the headlight selector is in the on position. Presumably they hit it while working on it.

One of my battery chargers gives the error message that the battery is too dead to charge. The other battery charger says it's at 1%. I could get it to 37% before I have to disconnect it to come in for bed. The dash lights, the starter sounds, but engine won't turn over yet.

So:
1. If the battery does take the charge on Thursday, the next day I can be here, is the battery's lifespan greatly shortened now?

2. Should I just ask for a new battery even if it takes a charge, and certainly if it doesn't?

Thanks for your opinions.

 

[4570Man]

I had a truck that was draining batteries. I killed a new battery stone dead a couple of times before I got the problem worked out. I’m sure it didn’t do it any favors but it charged up and I drove it 2 years before I sold the truck.

 

[Diggin It]

I was once told never to use a charger on a 'too dead' battery, but rather to jump start the vehicle from a running vehicle. Whether or not they left a switch on and drained it, you may have damaged it with a charger. Or not.

 

[CalG]

Depending on your relationship with the dealer and service department, I would try to "be nice".

Inform the service manager and get acknowledgement in writing that the battery was fully discharged, with likely shortened expectant life.

But, give the battery a full charge and see how it fairs. I don't know why you pulled the charger when you went to bed. Is the charge no "Automatic". It should taper when full charge is obtained.

At any rate, make an agree ment that if the battery causes ANY issues in the next 12 month, you want a new replacement.

But, if the battery is already 2 years old, you are pushing a chain up hill on the issue. That's why I suggest you play nice with the dealer. You really have no grounds for a new replacement.

Heck, It's not cold, the battery didn't sit long discharged, and even if sulfation starts as soon as a wet cell goes flat, the battery you have may be good for another 5 to 8 years. No sense in getting your undies all bunched over a $130 battery. (if that)

 

[CalG]

I was once told never to use a charger on a 'too dead' battery, but rather to jump start the vehicle from a running vehicle. Whether or not they left a switch on and drained it, you may have damaged it with a charger. Or not.

Who ever told you that is an idiot!

Just don't "trickle charge" a dead battery, they need to gas!

 

[Industrial Toys]

IGNITION? Does Kubota make an M series in Gas? Who knew?

 

[Rustyiron]

I might pull the battery and drop it off to them explaining what happened by an innocent mistake, mentioning what your charger displayed and just didn't know what to do. At this point your an easy going, understanding customer that if the battery does fail, your a good guy shown by your initial actions and help (no fuss and brought the battery in). Yes, " catching flies with sugar vs vinegar":laughing:

 

[4570Man]

I was once told never to use a charger on a 'too dead' battery, but rather to jump start the vehicle from a running vehicle. Whether or not they left a switch on and drained it, you may have damaged it with a charger. Or not.

You might charge the battery using jumper cables but I have serious doubts about transferring enough amps to totally start with no assistance from the battery. I’m not sure what the point would be anyway. I can say from experience you won’t roll start a 7.3 diesel with a completely dead battery.

 

[AWSubie]

I would follow CalG's advice. And if you own a couple cars, plus the tractor and maybe some lawn equipment that also has lead/acid, sealed or gel cell batteries, consider buying one of the better battery chargers on the market that can condition an older battery. A decent battery charger can make life much easier. I don't think dealer owes you a new battery unless it turns out that one of the cells is shorted. If this is the case then the battery would probably still be pro-rated.

 

[Fuddy1952]

One electronics teacher I had many years ago said batteries "love to be tortured", in other words discharged, then recharged at varying rates, etc. He went into this lengthy talk as to why this is true.
I doubt if discharging it as they did shortened the lifespan.