I’m not too happy with Ford dealerships, service times are outrageous. I’ve had so many recalls on this car – two major transmission issues, parking brake problems, etc. Now that the warranty’s up, we’re planning to sell it soon.
Can I just go to places like Napa, Autozone, or O’Reilly to replace the battery? I know I could probably YouTube it, but I’ve never done any car repairs before. If there’s anywhere that will do it same day, I don’t mind paying a little extra for the convenience.
Changing the battery involves taking off some plastic covers. I don’t think Autozone or similar places will do it, and I wouldn’t trust them to do it right. If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, maybe try an independent shop. The cables attached to the Positive distribution block are tricky, and if they’re not put back right, it could cause problems. I’d say it’s about a 3/10 in terms of difficulty. The battery could cost $200-$280, so don’t be surprised if you get an installation quote of $500-$600.
@Vann
Taking off the plastic covers is only about a 2/10 in difficulty. A battery costs around $140 (if you go to Walmart or Costco), unless it’s AGM. Installation is around $140, unless it’s AGM, then you pay more. Anyone asking $500 is way overpriced.
@Joss
The stock battery is AGM. Unless you buy it yourself, expect to pay at least $300. Dealerships charge $200/hr for labor.
Vann said:
@Joss
The stock battery is AGM. Unless you buy it yourself, expect to pay at least $300. Dealerships charge $200/hr for labor.
Who would pay that much? Just buy the battery yourself from anywhere that sells batteries. Walmart’s price is about $180. Many places will install it for free when you buy from them.
@Joss
No one will do this for free if it’s covered under plastic shrouds! And yes, there are people who will pay $1,000 for rotors and pads, so they’ll happily pay $500 for a battery. If you can’t do it yourself, you’re stuck paying.
@Vann
That’s not true. A plastic cover takes just a minute to remove.
And people who pay $1k for rotors are just wasting money. No one should think that’s normal. You don’t have to pay a lot for a battery if you can’t do it yourself. It’s one of those parts where you can get free installation if you buy the battery.
I get it though – I prefer doing it myself too, but you don’t have to pay a premium for just a battery replacement.
I’d just go to Walmart. They have the lowest cost for a good battery that’s easy to replace. If you keep it, their warranty is solid, and they’ll install it for you, so you don’t have to deal with the core fee.
@Carson
Best answer 
Walmart is everywhere, so if your battery fails, there’s always one nearby. Their premium batteries are solid too.
AutoZone might have the Explorer in their system as very difficult. They won’t sell you the battery unless you say you’re mechanically inclined. When I got mine, they didn’t offer to install it and I had to tell them I was doing it myself.
The battery management system might need to be reset. You might be able to do that through the car’s menu, or the person installing it will have to do it. If it’s not done, the new battery might not charge correctly or hold a charge.
I got my last battery at Home Depot. It was way cheaper than the local auto parts stores.
I replaced my 2020 ST battery this week!
A local independent shop could do it for you if you’re not keen on handling it yourself and don’t want to wait at the dealer. It might be good to find one you can trust.
Personally, I’d check out Sam’s Club or Costco, if you have one nearby, and replace it myself. But I totally understand if you don’t want to deal with it.
Honestly, just go to the dealer. You’ll need Ford’s software to reset the battery monitoring system after a replacement.
Ollie said:
Honestly, just go to the dealer. You’ll need Ford’s software to reset the battery monitoring system after a replacement.
No, you don’t need the software. Just let the car sit overnight, and it will recalibrate itself. The software just helps with immediately turning off the warning message if the old battery had triggered it. The car will relearn and calibrate with just the overnight rest.
Here’s a video that might help: https://youtu.be/1ijvlemTzLk?si=yLfuZkYT-vCZtAZf
Battery isn’t covered under warranty. I replaced mine a month ago for $290 at the Ford dealer. It’s the same battery you’d get at AutoZone.
Call CAA if you’re a member, or head over to Canadian Tire.