Howdy from Alberta

[jerrydawg]

Hello everyone

I just signed up for this forum and I think it's great to have someplace to go and find everything I need for my toy.

I have an '07 Mustang with the V6 Pony Package.I have had a little problem with the battery going dead if I don't use the car for a few days. The service manager told me that the Mustangs and Lincolns anti thief system can kill the battery if it's not used.
I thought this was a bunch of crap so I phoned Ford Canada. They told me they've never heard of that. I think the service mamager was blowing smoke up my ass just to get me out of the door.
Has anyone else had this problem????

[GT4MT]

Welcome to MC jerrydawg!

Hmmmm.... if the anti-theft system is such a problem with the Mustangs and Lincoln's, ask your service manager they do with the ones that sit on the lot for weeks at a time..... I'd go back and throw Ford Canada's answer in his face and ask him to prove it. No need to be nasty or anything....I've never had that problem with my '06 GT when it's in storage. Sometimes it sits a couple of weeks before I fire it up, and i've never had any trouble-hope this helps.

[TheDutchGun]

Welcome

[Arbour88]

Welcome to the MC site jerrydawg.

As for the battery issue, it is a problem with Mustangs and has been talked about extensively on other sites. Ford even issued a TSB on the subject. I'll try and dig it up and post it on this site when I get home tonight. The power drain isn't only related with the anti-theft system, but numerous other electrical gadgets that remain powered (yet in sleep mode) such as the shaker stereo which continuously drain power from your battery over time. The TSB claims that your battery should be good for 3 to 4 weeks not a couple days, so I think your issue goes deeper than the Ford bulletin.

I keep a trickle charger hooked up to my battery and have not had a problem since storing it away on November 22nd. I remove the charger every couple of weeks and it fires up without incident, then I shut her down and hook up the juice until the next time.

John

[Halifax_GT]

Welcome aboard!

I'm kinda curious as to what powers the anti-theft system once the battery is dead.
Guess that might help explain why the Mustang is one of the top ten popular to steal cars.

[j-roc]

Welcome to the show!

[84stanggt-top]

Welcome to MC. Sounds like customer service in the auto industry is just about dead...apologies to the good guys/gals out there, but when you just keep hearing crap from friends about attitudes liek that makes you wonder.

if anti theft devices drain yer battery, all cars with them would be having similar problems, doesn;t seem right to me. Not to mention, an 07 should still be under bumper to bumper, why the hassle eh??

good like, lots of knowledge around this site fer sure

[Arbour88]

Well I couldn't find the Ford Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that related to the battery issue, but I found this quote from one of the guys that works at Auto Alliance International (where they build the GT500s) and he is somewhat of an expert on the Mustangs:

"FYI - You have to actually drive the car to get the alternator to charge the battery. The batteries in the new Mustangs will last about 3 weeks while parked. The electrical systems on these cars are what we call 'on the network'. While these cars are parked and turned off, the network actually powers 7 modules, anti-theft switches and the amps in the stereo. After 30 minutes the network goes into sleep mode but still powers all items mentioned. If you pop the trunk or open the door the network wakes up and stays awake for 30 minutes as long as nothing else is used in the car then goes back into sleep mode. The reason you hear sometimes to turn your radio off before you turn the car off is the ACM or 'audio module' draws 4 amps and usually the most likely module to go bad. If the ACM goes bad it never goes into sleep mode and draws 4 continuous amps until the battery is dead, which doesn't take long. Hope this helps."

I hope this helps you understand why your battery may be going dead after a short period of time.

John

[05canuck]

Welcome to Mc..
Get a bigger battery..lol really the factory ones are to small for the load required when sitting. I went through 3 factory ones in 2 yrs..they lost one..lol. I even went as far as to talk to one of the DOM reps and that was the advice I was given. I got a bigger bat and no problems since but when in storage she has her bat out anyway.

Here is a link for TSB's
http://www.s197forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=61

[Arbour88]

Thanks for the link 05canuck.

John

[BLOWNFOX]

hey,welcome

[jerrydawg]

I'd like to thank all of you that replyed to my problem and thanks for a great reception.So far my Ford dealership has replaced the starter, the neutral postioning switch and I'm on my 3rd battery, and the car is only 8 months old!!!
It has been 2 weeks now without a problem. I will keep all you fellow hosers updated

[John6T6]

Welcome jerrydawg, hope your problems are solved. Don't take any crap from the stealerships.

[YOJI96]

Hey Jerrydawg, welcone to the site

[smellslikewetdog]

great to meet you JerryDawg!