How many CCA for the batteries?

[Lilfarmrboy]

Hey guys. Just had our first really cold night here in DE. Went to start my truck this morning and it was a no go. Had to put on the Die Hard jump start battery to get the truck to turn over fast enough to fire up. The batteries I have in now are a set of Interstate's rated for 850A/1000CCA. Shouldn't this be enough or do I need more CCA on my batteries? Also the truck did not come with any block heater, is it possible to get one put on after the fact? My old one had one and it worked wonders, this truck originally came from NY, you would think it would have had one standard. Then again you would think Ford would make that a standard option no matter where you happen to live at...

[Lilfarmrboy]

BTW I checked the batteries over the past weekend and they were good. Tester showed them in the green and didn't even move to the weak part at all, of course it was in the 50's and didn't get down to the teens in the temps either... might be a case of the batteries getting weak when it gets really cold out.

[Northernl]

Try putting a battery heater under your batteries, a block heater (which should be installed by factory), and a battery maintainer. Plug all these into one power block and plug into a timer. If this doesn't help, check your batteries and alternator.

[2006PSDSD]

The block heater is installed in all the blocks, but the cord is not sold in all states depending on your demographics. The dealer should be able to get you a cord, or check Ebay. I have heard that Interstate battery quality is in the toilet for some reason. I'm running $80 Costco batteries and they haven't haven't missed a beat this winter

[Lilpooh]

Here is some info about your block heater.
http://www.forddoctorsdts.com/articl...icle-05-20.php

To properly check your batteries, they need to be load tested. Just because the window is green and you have 11.5-12v down mean squat.

[Lilfarmrboy]

Originally Posted by Lilpooh

Here is some info about your block heater.
DTS Articles - 6.0L Block Heater Cord Location and Routing

To properly check your batteries, they need to be load tested. Just because the window is green and you have 11.5-12v down mean squat.

I did load test the batteries... the needle on the tester barely moved after holding on the switch for 10 seconds. But I also know from my years of driving big rigs as soon as the temp drops that's when you know if you have bad batteries or not. Thanks for the info. I will look into it.

[turbotom1052]

did you load test the batteries individually? ive got 3 year old autozone 800cca batteries that have yet to let me down. And i live in the northeast. Also might want to make sure your connections are good. Especially grounds!!!

[Coach73]

I got quotes from Ford yesterday, one dealer quoted 750CCA, the other quoted 850CCA. I pulled my old batts, terminals were really bad and water level was low, I topped them off and load tested them without charging and they passed so I cleaned them up and put them back in, they were 850CCA Exides. If they still don't last I'll go with the Motorcraft 850CCA's. Coach

[pizza pig]

get the 880cca... batteries will show perfectly good voltage but can be bad, mine did. read 11v on both cranking but the cca only read 620 out of 880cca they replaced them on the spot.

[bfrank81]

I'm also in DE and my Motorcrafts have no issues kicking off the motor even on the colder mornings.