New battery time

Adam1979 · Oct 27, 2012

My battery seems to be struggling to turn over my engine now the mornings are getting a lot colder. I do not understand batteries one bit!! Not sure what is on there at the moment, will have a check later but was wondering what is the largest I can get away with using on my 90. Does it matter if I go for one with more CCA than the one I have now or can I damage something by fitting one that is too big??

Cheers

Cutty Dyer · Oct 27, 2012

Adam1979 said:
My battery seems to be struggling to turn over my engine now the mornings are getting a lot colder. I do not understand batteries one bit!! Not sure what is on there at the moment, will have a check later but was wondering what is the largest I can get away with using on my 90. Does it matter if I go for one with more CCA than the one I have now or can I damage something by fitting one that is too big??

Cheers

Installing a battery with greater cca will not damage anything. Go for a min of 750 cca; Optima red tops are a quality long life battery:
Optima Red Top Batteries - Optima Batteries
When you take into consideration their extended life, they probably cost no more than a budget battery.

mundungus · Oct 27, 2012

I recently bought two Numax 1000amp batteries from tayna for about 70quid each.

Although before you start spending money, check the battery voltage first to make sure it is your battery that's fecked. Just stick your voltmeter across it in the morning before starting the engine. It should be around 12.5volts.

A fecked starter solenoid or corroded battery cables would give the same bad starting symptoms.

DEFENDER90-DAZ · Oct 27, 2012

Yep test it as above and before starting the engine put a jump lead from your battery negative (-) to the engine block - if it starts straight away your earths from battery to chassis and engine need sorting out

Daz

Adam1979 · Oct 27, 2012

Thanks chaps will test it in the morning before starting it up after my night shift. It was a bit lazy through last winter but always managed to start and has been fine through the warmer months but this morning she struggled quite bad. Just been and checked and the battery on there is a 600amp and it says 63A/H whatever that means. Is this the correct battery for a 300TDi because it looks very small.

Jongould · Oct 27, 2012

A 600 amp is ample for a starting battery but bigger is better. The Numax ones are great batteries for the price, mine has never let me down although that's my winch battery, I have got a red top as a starting battery and that too is a good battery although pricey. Do you have many extras i.e. light bars etc?

Adam1979 · Oct 27, 2012

I have a light bar with four 55w spots although I never use it to be honest. Nothing else on there which needs any sort of power although I would like to add a winch sometime in the future which will be for occasional/emergency use only so do not want to go down the 2 battery route if I can help it so I might as well add 1 big battery now which should do me ok when I do eventually get a winch fitted. What numax one is recommended because all the ones I am looking at seem to be leisure batteries and I thought these were no good for starting but better for leaving things running without going flat??

Jongould · Oct 27, 2012

The marine battery, 1000CCA twin post, they say leisure but they are a starting battery, it's a deep cycle battery which gives a good AH rating that's all.im in my iPad so can't linky

LeadFarmer · Oct 27, 2012

Cold Cranking Amps are your friend.

You could always buy a 12v battery monitor to check your battery. I got one on ebay recently for £5. Just put it in the 12v socket before you start your engine and see what it reads.

For my caravans leisure battery I use the following guide, which I assume is the same for a car battery?...

12.7v - 12.8v = 100%
12.5v - 12.6v = 75%
12.2v - 12.4v = 50%
12.0v = 25%
-11.8v = DEAD

An intelligent charger like a Ctek MSX5 is a worthwhile purchase. I have one for my caravan battery.

New battery time

Adam1979

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Cutty Dyer

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mundungus

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DEFENDER90-DAZ

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Adam1979

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Jongould

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Adam1979

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Jongould

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LeadFarmer

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