Re: Earlier Posting Mondeo Battery

We fitted standard batteries in place of the Calcium batteries for years at work, but that was after much argument between ford and a couple different battery companies. The bottom line was the SCS system charges the battery at a slightly higher voltage periodically, but the voltage was still within the range of a standard lead acid battery. The only downside was the possibility of having to top-up the electrolyte level periodically.

In practise, we only occasionally had to top up batteries, and the batteries didn't have any shorter a life than the original batteries.

The SCS system uses parameters that even the ford training guys didn't know about. By taking the intake air temperature, coolant temp, and battery voltage, the ECU somehow calculates the battery electrolyte temperature, and adjusts the charging rate accordingly (the alternator only has two charging rates). Nobody could quite understand how the ECU could calculate the battery temp, without actually measuring it, and I'm sure the whole process involved a bit black magic.

Also, I've never seen a faulty battery cause the battery warning light to come on. It's usually caused by an alternator that is starting to die (mondeo alternators had a habit of putting the light on intermittently a couple weeks before then failing completely), or faulty wiring (wires chaffing through on the conduit is a common issue on recent fords)

Yup. It's a load of bollocks from Ford. That slightly higher voltage is as nothing compared to what an old dynamo with mechanical regulator could do. Lead acid batteries are very tolerant - provided you realise they may need topping up under those conditions.

Not too many batteries have that option nowadays though...

Chris

Well how do you explain the fact that with the previous obviously failed battery (red dot showing)( battery tested some while ago said 'one cell down') and the replacement lead acid battery replacement the warning light was coming on spuriosly for both and, is if by magic, with the new Silver/Calcium battery not a hint of warning since fitting 300 odd miles yesterday?

Most of the ones I've come across can be topped up - but you may well have to peel off a label to get to the filler caps.

Luck/coincidence. I'd be looking for alternator failure shortly. I'd also like to know how the dealer decided there was a failed cell.

He put an electronic tester on the battery and it was only give out around 10volts. (14 volts in)

As could a battery that is simply low in charge. You really need to do a high current test. Electronic devices which do this via a pulse are available but expensive. Or there is the older resistance device.

It was a Ford Main Dealer (Oh my Gawd I hear you say) He used an expensive looking hand held electronic thingy that gave several sorts of readings. By the way, not a peep out of the warning light now the Silver/Calcium battery is in. Thats about 600 miles since the swap.