Does anyone know about maintenance on the 2002 - 2003 battery? My Fords had "maintenance free" batteries. I was just putting some anti-corrosive on the heads and noticed that my battery has openings with o rings. Is this for distilled water?

 

Yes, the openings are for distilled water. It's in the owner's manual.

The factory battery is not maintenance free. I check mine about every 2 or 3 months. unlike some batteries the design of the factory battery makes it difficult to remove the caps without getting debris into the cells. However you should wipe around the caps before opening them to minimize the debris that falls into the cell. Use a paper towel or something that you can discard because it may have traces of acid on it. Use eye protection since sufuric acid splashed into your eye is very not funny. The acid is pretty dilute but it is still a good idea to wash your hands thoroughly after servicing the battery.

If you add water to the battery when the weather is below freezing, it is a good idea to drive the car soon afterward to assure that the electrolyte is thoroughly mixed and the battery is fully charged.