Battery Life & Push Button Start When COLD

[vinnievis]

This is my first Push Button start car.  I live in MN and last night it was about -20F...

I went out to the car and hopped in at 6 AM, pushed the button and it went  "rurr" and that was it.  No more cranking, nothing.  I hit the button again and again... Nothing happened except one short "Rurr" from the motor partially cranking each time.

In past vehicles when its really cold you might have to crank it for 5-10 seconds to get it to fire up.  It seems like you just push it, and the car determines how long to crank it over.  I checked the owners manual first, but saw nothing about it.

I jumped it and it started right up after this, so I am assuming i have a bad battery...  (2010 with 52K on the Odo)  I will get that checked sometime today as Monday is supposed to be a High of -3 or -8 (Friggin Cold!) with a low of about -20 Farenheit.

So... 
1. Is there any way to do an extended crank with the Push Button start?
2. Is the Motorcraft battery really that bad that it is probably shot after 2-3 years?

[bpd1151]

The batteries installed from the factory, at least on the SHO's, is a "Medium Duty" rated battery.

As such, & given all the electronics, these batteries are only lasting 2-3yrs at best.

So yes, swap that out A.S.A.P.

Most of us have been upgrading to the Motorcraft Max battery, which can be had at any of your local FMC dealerships, for between $115-$130.

As far as the crank goes, in relation to the push button feature, I personally really do not know.

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[crash712us]

As BPD stated your battery is shot. But the answer to your question about the length of start cycle. With once touch of the start button the engine will crank easily 15 seconds before it gives up.


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[TSS]

The battery in my 2010 did the same thing about 6 weeks ago. I replaced it with an interstate.

[n8rfastback]

I replaced my battery in my 2010 last spring. Same issue when it got really cold out it just had no juice.  I ended up with a duralast gold, been doing great

[vinnievis]

I'm going to replace the battery ASAP then. I did stop to have it checked at oreillys and it tested ok, but I know it will happen again if I don't replace it.

[crashnburn]

My 2013 SHO PP has about 52k and 1.5 years in service. When it was between 30-40 degrees it wouldn't start the car if I left it parked for more than 24 hours. After having to jump it two times, I replaced my battery with a Motorcraft BXT-65-750. In the BXT-65 line there are 3 batteries that have the exact same external dimensions. They are 650, 750, and 850 cold cranking amp batteries. The 650 and 750 are the same price from Ford parts, so I got the 750. Only bad thing is the 750 is 7-8lbs heavier than the 650. Hopefully that doesn't affect my ETs that much. Guess I could go on a diet to make up for it. Lol.

[themetalmaster]

For anyone who isn't interested in using a MotorCraft battery Advance Auto has group 65 AGM batteries.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_battery-group-size-65-750-cca-autocraft-platinum-agm_10310830-p

If you buy online and pick up in store you can use coupons, giving you a pretty good discount. I think right now Advance is running a 30% off sitewide and $40 off $100+ if you purchase online.

Using the online coupons you can get a $180 dollar battery for like ~$130 bucks. Depending on who you talk to, AGM is more resistant to deep discharge and the cold.

[Night Hawk]

3yrs is a good change schedule, figuring the 2010s hit the road in late 2009.

[vinnievis]

Picked up the ever start maxx. 850 cca for $109.99 with a decent warranty too.