I think my factory S197 battery just met its end . . . . . I bought the car in Sept 05 . . . . 4 years, 3 months . . . . . I guess thats pretty good . . . . . I still think this is a case of jealousy . . . . . I have been driving my new 01 Bullitt everyday for the past 3 weeks!

BATTERY LIFE
4 years, 3 months (2 years in Michigan - cold, 2 years/3 months in California - warm)

WHAT BATTERY LIFE HAVE YOU GUYS SEEN?

I am a little leary because my 01 Bullitt still has its original battery (Probably due to the fact it has spent 9 years in California).

 

That is your problem...You did not use the car for three weeks. I can not leave my car for more than a week or the battery will need a charge...The electrical stuff...

 

Actually it was driven 11 days ago . . . . . let me jump it . . .. . and see . . .. . . but 11 days??? come on . . . ..

 

If you left the radio on it could drain faster. Something to do with the amp.

 

My 2000 Mustang GT runs still with the OEM battery...

 

Where do you live? Cold or hot climates?

 

In my case if I don't drive the car at least once a week. I have to have it on charging life support. I replaced the OEM batt about 1 1/2 years ago, replaced it with an Optima. I the beginning the Optima lasted longer between 2 and 3 week down times. But now it needs charging life support also. I installed a gauge clock so I have a constant drain. Plus I think 05+ stangs seem to have a constant drain of some sort may the alarm? Not sure, I just make in standard procedure to use a battery tender at all times since for me the car is not a daily driver.

 

OK . . . . I am going to buy a battery charger . . . . . I found this one at Amazon ($54.27).

Schumacher SSC-1000A Automatic Speed Battery Charger (good reviews on AMazon)


Anyone have recommendations on a good charger?

 

I´m living in germany.. average temperature is approx. 65° - 75° F.

 

I bought my 06 GT in Sept 05 also, I had to replace my battery March 09.

 

My car was new in May 07 and the battery was replaced the following summer ('08) as I did not realize how quickly these drain without trickle charging support. But mine also sits a lot as is not my DD and stays in the garage Nov. to March. So now I always put the charger on it when I know it will be sitting for more than a couple weeks.

 

My 2006 battery still is fine.
I let the car sit for weeks at a time in my heated garage during the winter, no problem.
My 2003 Ford Ranger OEM battery is still in the truck too.
It gets driven every day, but never goes in the garage. (Winter temps below freezing)

 

I like and use this one>

 

The battery tenders, float chargers are a good investment, I have 2, one for the stang and for my boat.

 

Well it depends...I have a 99 Ford Ranger that I have never changed the battery and that thing still going strong. On the flip side, I have a 2004 Ford Expedition who's battery lasted 3 yrs. I still have the stock battery in the 2006 stang...however, I have jump started that thing at least three times before I got me a battery tender...

 

I just jumped my S197 (with my Bullitt) . . .. . all appears good . . . . .my only problem was with the soft clutch and the long throw of my 05 GT (compared to my hard clutch/short throw of my 01 Bullitt)! I guess I start to drive them every other day!

 

My 2004 Mach1 still has original battery and still works fine............

 

i had to replace my OEM battery about 3 years ago with an Optima. I had the problemif I let it sit more than 2 or three days. I took it to the dealer and the replaced the shaker 1000 amp. i am now having the same problem with the optima yellow top battery. if it sits 2 days it will start but it's a struggle, leave it three days and it has to be jumped. funny thing is when i couldn't start my Stang, i could still start my 91 Firebird that was sitting for month's.

 

Hey watch the French jokes! There was a newbie today from france with a ivy green 66 stang in the intro section today! He probably has a some good american jokes!

I do have a shaker 1000 . . . . . I usually leave the radio on when I turn off the car (opening the door within 10 seconds usually) Somebody said this can drain the battery for some odd reason. After I jumped my S197 . . .. . .for a couple of minutes, the auto up on my window did not work (The window was completely down when I jumped it) . . .. . the auto up did work within a couple of minutes (I was envisioning a $120 electrical reset at the dealer).

 

9 months of summer here in Tx, my battery usually lasts 2 years, 3 if I'm lucky. Same when i had a civic.