Ford Focus Battery issues
Discussion
Hi all, long time lurker here but decided to create an account as I need some help from the hive mind...
Short version:
Is there any reason why this battery is not compatible with my 2011 MK2.5 Ford Focus 1.6 Diesel?
The original battery was (The original) Ford branded Silver-Calcium rated to 60Ah and 590A. The batteries are the same physical dimensions and I can post additional numbers or even a photo if that helps...
The long version:
Sunday morning I tried to start the car and it wouldn't turn over. Immediately thought of the battery so whipped it out, connected it to a charger for a few hours then put it back in; car starts first time. I figured 6 years/130,000 miles is reasonable time to replace the battery, so took myself to Costco and asked them for a battery. They sold me this battery.
I installed the new battery and the car started right away so I took it for a run just to be sure. Before the end of the road, I got a red battery warning light on my dashboard. I figured it was an alternator issue and so took the car to my local Peugeot dealer (family connection and they did make the engine after all!)
The mechanics there seemed mildly perplexed about the new battery, so I took the old one down to them as well and left them to it. Sure enough a couple of hours later I get a call advising it is time for a new Alternator and told them to go ahead.
Now, when I went to pick up the car I noticed the new battery was in the boot. When I queried this, I was told that the alternator was getting "ridiculously hot with the new battery". They tried the old one and everything seemed to calm down. I asked the obvious question; is the new battery the wrong spec, or is it faulty battery. They couldn't say which but gave a vague suggestion about proprietary technology within the battery...?
Puzzled, I drove to my local Ford dealer and asked them what they made of the new battery. The guy on the parts desk told me that the new battery was higher capacity (72Ah, 680CCA) than the old one (60Ah, 590CA) and that was the issue. I put forward that in my limited knowledge I didn't see why the capacity would be an issue, so long as it at least matched the OEM specs, but a second employee agreed with the first and added some vague mumbo jumbo about tipping the balance between the battery and the electronics...
So, can anyone suggest what is going on here - have Costco sold me a duff, or just the wrong battery (I am sure I can get a refund still) or is there more to this than I know?
Cheers in advance for any response
Oh and since you asked, £308 fitted for the alternator, but I suppose that is dealerships for you?!!
Short version:
Is there any reason why this battery is not compatible with my 2011 MK2.5 Ford Focus 1.6 Diesel?
The original battery was (The original) Ford branded Silver-Calcium rated to 60Ah and 590A. The batteries are the same physical dimensions and I can post additional numbers or even a photo if that helps...
The long version:
Sunday morning I tried to start the car and it wouldn't turn over. Immediately thought of the battery so whipped it out, connected it to a charger for a few hours then put it back in; car starts first time. I figured 6 years/130,000 miles is reasonable time to replace the battery, so took myself to Costco and asked them for a battery. They sold me this battery.
I installed the new battery and the car started right away so I took it for a run just to be sure. Before the end of the road, I got a red battery warning light on my dashboard. I figured it was an alternator issue and so took the car to my local Peugeot dealer (family connection and they did make the engine after all!)
The mechanics there seemed mildly perplexed about the new battery, so I took the old one down to them as well and left them to it. Sure enough a couple of hours later I get a call advising it is time for a new Alternator and told them to go ahead.
Now, when I went to pick up the car I noticed the new battery was in the boot. When I queried this, I was told that the alternator was getting "ridiculously hot with the new battery". They tried the old one and everything seemed to calm down. I asked the obvious question; is the new battery the wrong spec, or is it faulty battery. They couldn't say which but gave a vague suggestion about proprietary technology within the battery...?
Puzzled, I drove to my local Ford dealer and asked them what they made of the new battery. The guy on the parts desk told me that the new battery was higher capacity (72Ah, 680CCA) than the old one (60Ah, 590CA) and that was the issue. I put forward that in my limited knowledge I didn't see why the capacity would be an issue, so long as it at least matched the OEM specs, but a second employee agreed with the first and added some vague mumbo jumbo about tipping the balance between the battery and the electronics...
So, can anyone suggest what is going on here - have Costco sold me a duff, or just the wrong battery (I am sure I can get a refund still) or is there more to this than I know?
Cheers in advance for any response
Oh and since you asked, £308 fitted for the alternator, but I suppose that is dealerships for you?!!
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