Stupid weather...stupid batteries

westend wrote:


I noticed the battery cable terminations were kind of crudded up. I'll have to pay more attention to those in the future. That, and Ford's stupid door ajar system that is probably the reason for the discharged state (it keeps the overhead light on even with all doors firmly closed).

Crudded up batteries are often a sign of end of life.

I never noticed that all Fords have the overhead light on all the time. You might want to explain that better.

Everything gets worse when the weather is cruddy. A door is a door and a jar is a jar and that relay gets YANKED!

I wonder how we ever survived without lights and buzzers screaming at us.

Some minor fratch gets out of adjustment and all hell breaks loose. Let the engine overheat and its "shhhh...I won't tell if you won't"

And the buying Sheeple just eat it up.

Ptooie...

Don’t you have a block heater? I never would have survived the winters in Duluth without it on those -40 Degree nights. Kept everything under the hood warm, even warned up the inside of the vehicle and kept the windshield clear. Only problem was stalling when I first tried to move because of the stiff differential and transmission oil (standard transmission).

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Everything gets worse when the weather is cruddy.

Your weather is worse. 100F is harder to fight than 20F, and humid marine air is near impossible to fight.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:

I wonder how we ever survived without lights and buzzers screaming at us.

Er... "we", meaning the great country to the North ;)... Mex locals are living (= permanently, not just "surviving") almost without electricity in many places. Generator for important tasks only, like boat or car repairs. Small solar powers a few lights and TV for aerial antenna - an evil thing, should be banned, 90% commercials (you wouldn't believe the cr-ap they are trying to sell), with the rest being Spanish-dubbed old episodes of Simpsons or Mex version of Wheel of Fortune. Though, now the womenfolk got spoiled and can't live without (unbelievably stupid) tele-novelas on satellite TV.

Yes, when it has been damp, cold and colder, these low voltage circuits aren't so cute anymore. I feel you're pain.
Brian

I am curious about the “Ford’s stupid door ajar system”. I have owned Ford trucks, cars, and SUVs since the 80’s and never had a problem.

same here BB, if I shut the door the ajar light goes off. :h

Crudded up battery connections?

Trying to charge a frozen battery?

Door left ajar?

Don't blame the stupid weather or stupid batteries. :S

Wishing you a Happier New Year! :@

Hi Westend,

Next time start with the 2 amp setting. The good news is that 2018 will start with a new truck battery. After I got tired of laying in the snow to check electrolyte levels I moved to AGM. Now I wear a smile you can see a mile.

-35C here today. The Toyota Sienna rear door doesn't fully latch no matter how hard it is slammed - and of course the door open light on the dash stays on and the dome light also. The door latch is not designed for cold. A few years ago that door wouldn't open when we left on a trip. Our suitcases had to go in the front doors and be worked into the back around seats. Fortunately the trip to the airport took an hour and it warmed up the van enough to get the back door open.

Never any trouble with our 1992 GM Vandura doors. They were built for the Canadian climate.