Recharging a "dead" Optima battery


BlackICE

GT Owner
Nov 2, 2005
1,416
SF Bay Area in California
Given the gauges, I wouldn't reccommend it for a FGT, but you can try to bring one back to life.

 

Nafod

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Good add for CTEK...
 

Lorenzo

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Dec 28, 2008
626
U.S.A.
Nice find, thanks for posting.
 

thegtguy

*Supporting Vendor* GT Owner
Apr 20, 2006
552
MI
Battery

Nice video. One thing that we would like to share is:
If your Optima battery is dead and you jump/boost it to take your car out for a ride be extremely cautious as it may get extremely hot and start smoking. We had this happen in MD when one of the guys came from about 2 hours away to see us. We also had this happen 3 times when guys have brought their cars to our shop.
What happened in all 4 occassions is:
They pulled up and the front of the car is smoking.
We then opened the hood, removed the trunk and the battery is looking like it is getting ready to explode as it was smoking, hissing and was visibly balloned up.
We then disconnect it and walk away, just in case something bad happened. The car can be fixed.
After a hour or so we have went back and removed the battery and replaced with new.

Not to scare anyone just something to think about when your battery is completly dead and you want to go for a ride.
 

BlackICE

GT Owner
Nov 2, 2005
1,416
SF Bay Area in California
I would only boost jump my FGT in an emergency. Too worried about the gauges dieing. I have read on Fchat that fried instruments panels are common for F360 and F430 if they are jump started and the same is may to happen on a FGT.
 

gtforme

GT Owner
Apr 12, 2009
348
Nice video. One thing that we would like to share is:
If your Optima battery is dead and you jump/boost it to take your car out for a ride be extremely cautious as it may get extremely hot and start smoking. We had this happen in MD when one of the guys came from about 2 hours away to see us. We also had this happen 3 times when guys have brought their cars to our shop.
What happened in all 4 occassions is:
They pulled up and the front of the car is smoking.
We then opened the hood, removed the trunk and the battery is looking like it is getting ready to explode as it was smoking, hissing and was visibly balloned up.
We then disconnect it and walk away, just in case something bad happened. The car can be fixed.
After a hour or so we have went back and removed the battery and replaced with new.

Not to scare anyone just something to think about when your battery is completly dead and you want to go for a ride.

This dead battery issue just happened to me today and i quick charged the battery to get the car started , I did not go for a drive and now to be honest I am scared too

Has anyone else quick charged their battery and had a problem driving after , or had no problem at all

Why would this battery be any different than any other battery that has been quick charged

And when I say quick charged I did not jump the battery from another car , but the quick charger was 70 amps
 

Empty Pockets

ex-GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Oct 18, 2006
1,362
Washington State
Given the gauges, I wouldn't reccommend it for a FGT, but you can try to bring one back to life.

Regarding their "Multi US 7002" unit, the CTEK website sez:


"Compatible with other electronic equipment

Most vehicles today are equipped with sensitive electronic systems. Unlike less-sophisticated chargers, there is no need to disconnect the battery; the MULTI US 7002 is specially designed to not damage electronic systems."

I wonder if "systems" applies to the FGT gauges?
 

dbk

Admin
Staff member
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jul 30, 2005
15,242
Metro Detroit
Has anyone else quick charged their battery and had a problem driving after , or had no problem at all

This is the third year my battery has died and been resurrected by a trickle charger. Went to start it the other day and it just kept clicking, charged it overnight, drove it the next day no problems.
 

PL510*Jeff

Well-known member
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Nov 3, 2005
4,900
Renton, Washington
Still have the original battery. Last time I went home nothing in the electrical system.

Put on my normal gel cell battery charger, over nite @ 2amp, and the next morning everything worked just fine.
 

gtforme

GT Owner
Apr 12, 2009
348
I just hope that due to the fact that i hit the battery with a quick charger (70 amps) that It wont end up with the result like THEGTGUY above noted , maybe I should get a new battery to be safe

??????
 

BlackICE

GT Owner
Nov 2, 2005
1,416
SF Bay Area in California
This is the third year my battery has died and been resurrected by a trickle charger. Went to start it the other day and it just kept clicking, charged it overnight, drove it the next day no problems.

Dave have you ever had a gauge die?
 

dbk

Admin
Staff member
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jul 30, 2005
15,242
Metro Detroit
I don't even want to answer that question, because just by saying no, I'm gonna walk outside and the whole IP will kill itself....

But seriously, no, I haven't had a gauge die. When my battery has been dead, it's just been too weak to start the car. I've never had it drained to the point it won't turn on the accessories. Still the original battery it came with.
 

BlackICE

GT Owner
Nov 2, 2005
1,416
SF Bay Area in California
I don't even want to answer that question, because just by saying no, I'm gonna walk outside and the whole IP will kill itself....

But seriously, no, I haven't had a gauge die. When my battery has been dead, it's just been too weak to start the car. I've never had it drained to the point it won't turn on the accessories. Still the original battery it came with.

Good to know, gives me hope that my gauges will live on. Of course your results don't support the theory of weak batteries causing gauge damage, but a sample size of 1 is meaningless. As you said, I don't think there is enough evidence to what is causing the gauge failures.
 
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junior

GT Owner
Mar 9, 2007
1,152
So Cal
I just hope that due to the fact that i hit the battery with a quick charger (70 amps) that It wont end up with the result like THEGTGUY above noted , maybe I should get a new battery to be safe

??????

I wouldn't take the risk, just replace it with:

http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/s...s-replacement-battery&highlight=sears+battery
 

AJB

GT
Mark II Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jun 28, 2006
2,976
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Last summer, I left my key 'on' for several days with my car in the trailer as I went Detroit to Pennsylvania and then on to VIR for Rally V in the rain.
When I winched my car out of the trailer at the Umstead Hotel & tried to start it was REALLY DEAD!! NOTHING..I pulled out my portable jump starter from my trailer, removed the package tray , connected it to the battery, turned it on, got in the car and it started right up. Original Battery. Took car to the track 2 days, left it at the track overnight in the rain one night . It always started and no gage issues. (although I did always have my portable jumperbattery in the car just in case). Trailered home from VIR and it started right up in my driveway. I still have the Original battery in the car now in the garage and I always keep it on the OEM Battery Tender that came with the Vehicle from Ford.
You guys worry me..
AJB (Andy)
 

gtforme

GT Owner
Apr 12, 2009
348
AJB

I know what you are saying , as much as I love the advise sometimes it puts a lot of worry in my head , better than no advise at all

I feel very fortunate to have this forum as a wealth of information

Thanks guys
 
H

HHGT

Guest
Is there any way to correlate gauge serial numbers to vehicle serial #'s - fishing for bad delivery lots. Also is there a way to poll those with failed gauges to list the last 4 digits of their vin#. I read once that all the suppliers were pressured to make their deliveries due to the Ford GT tight schedules!
 

AJB

GT
Mark II Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jun 28, 2006
2,976
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Yes - we are all very fortunate...for many reasons !
AJB (andy)
 

AJB

GT
Mark II Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jun 28, 2006
2,976
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
I think DBK asked for all this info on failed gages several times... ONly a few responses. He also asked for the failed parts so he could give to SVT. Only a few responses.... Possibly it is not as widespread an issue as these threads indicate.
AJB