Bad battery , emissions light question

[aangel]

Hello, board! Been a while since I've been on here. Was trying to figure this out on my own but thought WTH, I'll ask some StangBangerz!

As the weather turned cold, Sally doesn't want to fire up in the morning! Had to jump her a few times when it got really cold but she's doing better. Since then, my emissions light has came on. Had to travel to NC, weather a bit warmer, light went off. I know, I know, should have took her right in...

So my question(s), can that light be related to the battery going bad? I realize the only way to know is to take her in, but just thought I would ask. Second, do I have to buy a Duralast battery? Those puppies are no less than a 100 bucks. Any recommendations would be most appreciated.

Thanks,

"First Time Mustang Owner" / ~Angel~

[aangel]

Oh... Was going to buy one on Friday when I get paid. On a traveling RN assignment down in North Carolina. I'm near Advance Auto Parts, Auto Zone, and O'Reilly's. They're all within a block of one another. Not crazy about Advance b/c the one in Withamsville, Ohio pissed me off. Any suggestions on which place is better.

Thanks, All!

[06V6Andrew]

O reilly's is usually cheaper...i enjoy them anyway. Since oxygen sensors are heated and goes in to a cold start (open loop) mode while starting up it could effect the o2 sensor since your battery died. Try a new battery and it might fix the problem...not for certain though.

[aangel]

Thank you, 06! Appreciate the help! Keeping my fingers crossed the $100+ new battery will do the trick!

[motox159]

If you can make it up around Tri-County mall, go to Interstate battery. Seems like any I have gotten from the "parts stores" are junk. Never had any problems with these....good luck!

[1987coupe]

deka (napa) batteries arnt bad either

[1987coupe]

check your gas cap also they actuall loose vac when they go bad that might be the light prob

[06V6Andrew]

Agree.

[redfirepearlgt]

I assume that "Sally" is an S197 late model -

There has been a battery drain issue with some S197 models according to other websites. There may even be a TSB on the problem that is newer than my 411 here. I have an 05 and have not driven mine for 4-6 weeks and just went out and started it for the first time since I put it away in November. Car started fine. Idles fine, etc. Has the original battery and 39000 on the car.

Ford is claiming that there is a potential issue with the Keep Alive Memory (K.A.M.) and/or amplifiers on the Shaker 500/1000 that may be generating this problem. Many however are skeptical. I have a Shaker 1000 system on mine and I have no current issues. What I do not have that many others do is the 6 gauge multicolor instrument package option that may be tied to this problem.

To resolve this several state that they have changed to an Optima Battery and they have had no further issues. Others state that they have to resort to using a Teather style charger that maintains battery levels when sitting for longer than 10-12 days without being driven. This includes a Ford Service Technician that has been working this problem with Ford Techncal Services which has no answer to the problem currently other than it is related to K.A.M. or Shaker amplifiers not properly shutting off when the key is powered off and removed.

I have yet another suggestion that is much simpler and could be related to the drain issue. Several with late model S197 mustangs have found their trunk light staying on even though the trunk is or appears to be closed. The remote FOB gets bumped and the trunk opens slightly and you don't notice it until driving down the road and begin getting that irritating intermittent door/trunk ajar warning or the actuator is not changing state with the trunk closed thus allowing the trunk light to stay on. You cannot see the trunk light shining around the trunk because of the big seal on the trunk. Either way try taking the lamp out and see if the problem goes away. My car has the trunk light removed after reading about this on anther forum and experiencing the trunk being popped open on occasion. Based on my calculations a 10 watt 12 volt bulb can eat away 830 mA (0.83A)of current per hour which equates to around 200 AH's of stored energy over 12 days. That is significant.

As for your Engine light coming on (more to it these days than just emissions), some have experienced this to be the case when they change out the battery on the car. After starting the car and seeing the light they shut the car off after a brief drive and perform the 5 minute reset (disconnect pos battery terminal for 5 minutes) which resolves the light issue.

hope this helps.