Hi guys. Having battery drain issues. 2013 Focus ST. Started in the severe cold last year. Misses drives it in very short trips to mum's and work. Had all the electrics on. Jump started it and it been fine since then. Had to jump it maybe 3 times. But it happened Friday, I did a fairly long trip in it afterwards and it's already needed a jump again. Hoping it's just the battery needing replacement. Which I know is awkward due to how sensitive the car is to the battery power. Can't find an exact ford match. Found a Yuasa lifetime one. 700cca 68ah which is a bit over the current one fitted, and it's lead acid. Is this going to create any issues? It's not cheap but as all she does is such short trips I was hoping it would solve the battery drain issues? Any help is appreciated. As I can't find a lot apart from Yuasa saying how their non calcium batteries are fine for fords, but they would say that to sell you their batteries.

 

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Looks like short trips killed your battery. Just make sure that you take some time to use an external charger once a year and recharge the new battery. It pays off in the long run.

The battery chemistry Ford uses is so called silver-calcium for two reasons. One for calcium, batteries can take higher charge voltage and have less electrolyte loss during lifetime. Second, for silver component (0.1%), it enables the battery to withstand high under the hood temperatures. If battery was only Ca-Ca (w/o silver) than a new one would last approx 3 years (from my experience). 

Get a silver-calcium battery from a decent manufacturer like Banner, Varta, Mutlu. And just a piece of advice; get the battery that can fit inside of the battery box, more Ah and CCA the better for the car...also get the battery with the most recent manufacture date as well as the heaviest one.

All Yuasa use calcium plates, we have a contract with them as they work well with ford https://www.yuasa.co.uk/ click reg them technology.

I think Silver calcium is a Ford trade name.

 

• Approximately 30,000 starts
• Sealed tip/tilt double lid - Reduces water loss by up to 30% - VDA roll over test compliant*
• Calcium/Calcium plates
• Integrated carrying handle & flame arrestor
• State of Charge Indicator (SOCI)
• OE Quality, Performance & Specification

 

https://www.yuasa.co.uk/info/technical/silver-calcium-batteries/

Thanks for the replies. Never heard of banner or mutlu. A multi one came up in my searches. It's obviously a high powered battery. And like you say finding one to fit the box is the biggest issue. It's a pig to change. I think I'll just go with the Yuasa one that Halfords popped up with. Probably won't keep the car that long but as you say I know her short journeys are what has killed this one. https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?zygonManPartNum=010LIFETIME&zygonPrice=0&zygonId=15373144&zygonArticleNum=177430&zygonGenericCode=000000&catalogId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=165762&productId=1179117&storeId=10001
Not that much more than a good one really, might get a bit off with my trade card.

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Change of plan brought a Varta E38 instead. Similar battery but 35quid cheaper. Now the not so simple job of swapping it. I know it's a right pain.

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