# 2002 Ford Windstar battery keeps doing dead

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-ford-windstar-battery-keeps-doing-dead/74308>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** ford\
**Created:** [August 27, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-ford-windstar-battery-keeps-doing-dead/74308 "2012-08-27T02:36:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dvjkmack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@dvjkmack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dvjkmack)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-ford-windstar-battery-keeps-doing-dead/74308/1 "2012-08-27T02:36:11Z")

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I have a 2002 Ford Windstar, mileage 61,234, garage kept and in excellent condition.  
On 6/30/12, I went to take the car out but the system was completely dead. We put a charge on the battery overnight to no avail. We then replaced with a new battery and it started right up (7/1/12). The car ran well until 7/18/12 (17 days) when the system again was completely dead.

This time I had the car towed to the Ford garage where they kept it for 2 days and could not find a problem. They installed another new battery (charging parts and labor). The car drove well again until 8/15/12 (less than a month) when the styem was dead again.

The car was towed back to the Ford gagage and kept for another 2 days. They said the electrical system was checked completely and they could find nothing wrong. They put a charge on their battery and told me to drive the car at least twice a week. That’s where we stand at this time.

I am not satisfied with their diagnosis and would appreciate any suggestions or comments you may have about this problem.

Many thanks,

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**Author:** ![euryale1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@euryale1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/euryale1)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-ford-windstar-battery-keeps-doing-dead/74308/2 "2012-08-27T03:12:04Z")

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Try an independent shop. This should be a really easy trouble shoot. At worst it takes a few hours of removing fuses while monitoring the power drain on the battery. An alternator test and a starter drain test are also called for. But this should not be days of checking if you kill a battery in three weeks.

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**Author:** ![RemcoW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/remcow/32/2471_2.png) [@RemcoW](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RemcoW)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 4:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-ford-windstar-battery-keeps-doing-dead/74308/3 "2012-08-27T04:05:06Z")

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You may be able to determine where the current is flowing with one of these gadgets. It basically plugs instead of a fuse and allows you to read the current.  
[http://www.harborfreight.com/20-amp-automotive-fuse-circuit-tester-67725.html](http://www.harborfreight.com/20-amp-automotive-fuse-circuit-tester-67725.html)

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**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-ford-windstar-battery-keeps-doing-dead/74308/4 "2012-08-27T04:57:51Z")

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I wouldn’t be surprised if the alternator was at fault and needs to be replaced.

@RemcoW  
That is a nice current tester for a good price. I think I need one of those myself. Good find. Thanks.