Three year old Ford Expedition

Good friend of ours and I were speaking last night as mentioned blower motor, he noted replaced there old Expedition with a newer one a little over year and half ago. Got thru a close by dealer and was one of the Ford Certified used cars, 1 year warranty as bought. The wife was driving it and all the Aux functions quit, radio, windows, dis have wipers on and working but would not shut off. So to a repair shop as no warranty remaining.

Came to find out the electrical system is split into TWO Separate bodies, engine/drivetrain and what can be considered Accesoiries, has TWO Batteries, Separated Charging Circuits thru a special Module where charges each battery separately, accessory battery was not accepting a recharge where was getting a charge value, replaced battery and all was good again for two weeks. Repeated. So replaced module ar Ford, again not warranty, $488, as well new battery was drained and would not recover so took back to first shop that replaced NC. So far seems good and been a couple months. He is now gunshy of it. Been explained are SEVENTEEN separate modules in their car. Charging Module one of the least expensive and known failure point.

Crazy. Hard to understand why these manufacturers want to make things so complex. No need for two batteries in a vehicle like that. 

Ed (Ont) wrote: Crazy. Hard to understand why these manufacturers want to make things so complex. No need for two batteries in a vehicle like that.

And there are many here that make fun of me driving my pre computer vehicles and I should join the modern world. NO WAY. everything I own is paid for and can be diagnosed the old school way: Past knowledge and experience.  99% of issues can be fixed on the side of the road with simple tools enough to get home, and with common preventive maintenance even that is rarely an issue to be concerned about. My FULLY mechanical diesels with manual transmissions, if they can roll, be pushed or towed enough to turn over will run with no electric whatsoever.

All US Batteries constructed here are crap, the lead is almost strictly recycled and not sure why that goes to Hell in a handbasket but does.

Recycling occurs at Doe Run site mid Missouri where some lead is still mined. Recovered batteries are broken up and the lead cells acid and plastic materials separated then the lead removed from cell plates and blended with fresh mined. Some type of unidentified contaminate remains and reduces life.

When I can afford it I buy Motorcraft batteries. I’ve gotten good longevity/ service from them and they have a good warranty which I haven’t needed but it’s there just in case.

Group 31’s from Auto Value for the Big Allis, but am not impressed. I’ve got plan B in mind for that, we’ll see what happens when I get the old girl back in service. Have a small tractor that was weak starting and then when temperatures got to zero she was done. There was an Auto Value battery in it and I was absolutely shocked and amazed that it was 9 1/2 years old!!!