K3XT

Hello All:

I own a 2006 GT convertible, purchased in August of 2006. If the car has not been driven in two weeks the battery will be completely dead. This is my dead battery woe.

First, the problem is not the audio system, bad relays, poor quality batteries, bad cables or a host of other theories I have been reading.

When I shut down the GT the electrical system will draw .14 amps for about 45 minutes. After 45 minutes the current draw will decrease to around .020 amps. This is the Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS) drawing the current. All of this is normal and by design.

Ford has a TSB document out on this very issue: TSB 07-5-13. It states that within 30 days of vehicle storage the battery will be dead and will have to be recharged. This is due to the on-board computers drawing current.

I took the GT to the local Ford dealership and like many others with this problem they told me nothing was wrong. These automobile batteries are not designed for a deep discharge. When this occurs it shortens the life and cranking capacity of the battery. I think my battery dies after two weeks because the battery was most likely discharged numerous times while sitting on the dealership lot. My GT was 5 months old when I purchased it.

So, I have installed a new battery and know I need to charge it if it sits for any length of time. There is no doubt that I will need to install a battery maintainer in the winter time.

pookawa

I don't have the same problem with my mustang GT (2007), but on the other hand I usually leave a solar panel battery charger hooked in when I have to go out of town for a while to keep the battery topped off. works fine. (just got home from a 5 month deployment). The discharged battery theory sounds right to me.

6xStang

I have the same car, with the same problem, and the dealer told me the same story (which is BS; I own several late model vehicles with all sorts of electronics and alarms and the batteries have gone as long as a month with no problems.

But when I took it to the dealer last fall, there was no TSB. Does the TSB recommend any fixes, or does it just say to assure the customer that this is normal?

GidyupGo

Sounds reasonable to me. You have a draw on the system, and over time, it goes south. Just undo the battery cable for long term storage. Simple enough.

mygt500

Probably says go out and get a battery tender. I did and never had a problem since. I always turn off the radio and roll up the windows before shutting the car down...but thats just me.

TPony

Have never heard of the TSB...I had it the battery completely dead one time...after 4 days of not starting. I bought a battery charger and charged it at 100%....I have been away for 21 days and has started right up. I have been away, again, for 21 days...so I can only expect the battery to be good to go again...if not..oh, well....here goes the charger again... It's nuts, I go....I have a 1999 Ford Ranger that I have never had to mess with the battery....

157dB

+1
Just install a solar panel and it will produce enough to overcome
the slight draw during storage. Or a battery maintainer but you
have to remember to hook it up. Now storing in the garage where
there is no sun..........

157dB

Is there not a relearning curve associated with battery disconnection over time?
What a pain, disconnect, connect, disconnect, connect, disconnect, connect.
When does it end? Battery tender, plug in, unplug, plug in, unplug, plug in.....
heck opening the door everytime I want to go somewhere is enough of an
inconvience for me.

Tri C

This TSB sounds like a weak excuse for an inexcusable issue. The two times that my battery has drained happened when the car sat for FAR less than 30 days. The first time it was after about 2 week with the active anti-theft system engaged and the radio left on. The second time was after just a couple of days with the anti-theft system not enabled and the CD changer (for an unknown reason) shuffling disks.

squid2006

I have a 2007 GT and the battery went dead after 2-3 weeks of non use. Happened about 3-4 times, had the car towed to the dealer each time ( on their dime) and during the last episode, they discovered that the cd changer was constantly trying to eject the cd-r. I now make sure that there is no cd-r in the radio and havn't had any issues for the past 6 months. Turns out that the thickness of the cd-r is greater than that of a regular cd and it gets jammed